Fully Funded Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships 2023

Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship Program Overview

The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (Vanier CGS) program, named after Major-General Georges P. Vanier, Canada's first francophone Governor General, assists Canadian institutions in attracting highly qualified doctoral students.

The Vanier CGS program was established by the Canadian government in 2008 to strengthen Canada's ability to attract and retain world-class doctoral students and to establish Canada as a global center of excellence in research and higher education. 

Vanier Scholars demonstrate scholarly achievement and leadership skills in graduate studies in the social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and/or engineering, and health.

Students who wish to apply for a Vanier CGS must do so through the Canadian institution where they intend to pursue doctoral studies. Canadian institutions will forward a limited number of nominations to the Vanier CGS program based on their quotas.

Each year, up to 166 Vanier Scholars are awarded, which are distributed among three federal granting agencies, each of which offers 55 awards. The additional award is rotated annually between NSERC and CIHR.

The Vanier-Banting Secretariat, housed within CIHR, is in charge of the program's day-to-day administration.

Eligibility 

Citizenship:

• Canadian citizens
• Permanent residents of Canada
• Foreign citizens

Area of Study 

• Health research
• Natural sciences and/or engineering
• Social sciences and humanities

Eligibility requirements

A complete criteria consists of:

• Application details (form)
• Canadian common CV (CCV)
• Nomination letter – maximum two pages (signed by the relevant department head of the nominating institution)
• Institution transcripts (scanned and attached by the institution’s administrative staff)
• Personal Leadership Statement – maximum two pages in English applications; maximum of 2.5 pages for French applications (self-evaluation written by the student)
• Two Leadership reference Letters – maximum two pages each (written by someone who knows the candidate in a non-academic capacity – this letter is attached to the nomination by the candidate)
• Research proposal – maximum two pages in English applications; maximum of 2.5 pages for French applications (written by the student)
• Project references – maximum five pages (written by the student)
• Research contributions – maximum one page (written by the student)
• Special circumstances (optional) – maximum one 0.5 page (written by the student)
• Two referee assessments – three sections each

Notes:

• The "application/ nomination instructions" section describes and summarizes the steps candidates must take to complete and submit their nominations. The "instructions for nominating institutions" section details and summarizes the steps that must be taken by the Canadian institution submitting nominations, including the nomination letter. Members of the selection committee should carefully read this information and refer to it when reviewing the nominations assigned to them.
• If you are having trouble evaluating international transcripts, please notify the Secretariat staff right away.

Criteria for selection 

Nominations are evaluated and chosen based on three equally weighted criteria:

• Academic Prowess 
• Research Potential
• Leadership (Potential and Demonstrated Ability)

Both the prestige of the Vanier CGS and the stage and nature of the candidate's academic career should be considered when evaluating nominations.

Below is the details of the selection criteria:

• Take into account individual workstyles, contributions, commitments, and variations in disciplinary, community, and cultural standards, for example, collaboration, teamwork, and mentoring are important and valid contributions to research and training highly qualified personnel.
• The applicant's sex, gender, or diversity should not influence how these contributions are valued.
• The same standards apply to single-authored and multi-authored publications.
• If applicable, the merit of non-academic contributions to research that involves Indigenous Peoples in a respectful manner must be considered.
• Evaluate excellence/productivity in relation to the candidate's career stage, taking into account the life and career trajectory outlined in the Personal Leadership Statement. It should be noted that nominees cannot include a special circumstances document on the Vanier CGS application form.

Criterion	Indicators	Sources
Academic Excellence The academic history of the candidate, as well as their demonstrated excellence in academic achievement throughout their scholarly career.	Academic Record, such as: Transcripts Previous study duration Courses taken and program requirements Course load Relative standing in program (if available)	Academic transcripts Academic Background section—Common CV Personal Leadership Statement
	Institutions comments	Institutional Nomination letter
	Scholarships/award (competition, quantity, duration, and prestige)	Common CV

Criterion	Indicators	Sources
Research potential Demonstrated by the candidate's research history, interest in discovery, proposed research and its potential contribution to field knowledge advancement, and any anticipated outcomes. Reviewers should consider candidates' spheres of influence in relation to others along the following expanding impact continuum: Research program University Research community International research community Society at large Consideration should be given to the candidate’s standards of research productivity, etc. for their level of experience/qualifications relative to their personal circumstances (applicant’s stage of study, lived experience and knowledge systems).	Education and relevant work experience (co-op included) Traditional teaching and lived experience	Work Experience section – Common CV Personal Leadership Statement Referee assessments
	The extent to which contributions advance the field of research - contributions may include publications, patents, reports, posters, abstracts, monographs, presentations, creative outputs, knowledge translation outputs, community products, and so on.	Research contributions Referee assessments Common CV
	Research Proposal (feasibility of research, merit, significance and expected contributions to research)	Research Proposal
	Demonstration of sound judgment and ability to think critically Demonstration of responsible and ethical research conduct, including honest and thoughtful inquiry, rigorous analysis, commitment to safety and to the dissemination of research results and adherence to the use of professional standards Enthusiasm for research, originality, initiative, autonomy, relevant community involvement and outreach Ability or potential to communicate theoretical, technical and/or scientific concepts clearly and logically in written and oral formats	Personal Leadership Statement Referee Assessments Institutional Nomination letter Research Proposal

Criterion	Indicators	Sources
Leadership (Potential and Demonstrated Ability): Given the prestige of the Vanier CGS program, this is an important criterion that has to be assessed in an indirect manner, since there is no opportunity for the selection committee to interview candidates. When assessing the leadership criterion, consider how the nominee has gone above and beyond the expected norms to overcome obstacles, foster others, spearhead change, or otherwise demonstrate Leadership. Weigh achievements according to the opportunities presented (lack of opportunities due to socio-economic status, culturally different academic settings for students with foreign academic backgrounds, etc.). Note: consider that for foreign candidates, these opportunities may not always present themselves due to culturally different academic settings.	Personal accomplishment Excellence in professional programs/associations such as sports, arts, science, and business, among others (look for impactful involvement; mere participation is not enough) Entrepreneurial success (founding a company, establishing a non-profit or charitable organization, establishing arts/sports festivals/competitions) International education Despite numerous challenges, the ability to overcome personal obstacles and commit to research excellence (ex. socio-economic reasons, familial or parental responsibilities, trauma or loss, etc.)	Common CV Personal Leadership Statement Referee Letters Institutional nomination letters
	Involvement in academic life mentoring/teaching; supervisory experience; involvement in student government and in the institution community, including committees, teams, senate, boards, ethics committees, etc.; project/lab management; roles in academic/professional societies; organization of conferences, meetings, courses, etc.
	Volunteerism/community outreach involvement in charity or not-for-profit organizations.
	Goal achievement a clear vision of what they want to accomplish; a developed personal vision for the future that defines an impactful/meaningful change for the community or a group, cause or organization; strategizes on how to achieve desired outcomes and has specific, realistic and timely goals.
	Self-management knows how to prioritize and complete tasks to reach the desired outcome and is confident of success; establishes learning goals and tasks; reaches goals in an efficient, organized and innovative way; and is constantly working on self-improvement
	Integrity acts consistently with core ethical and personal values and convictions; and accepts personal accountability for the consequences of their actions/decisions.
	Other characteristics is creative and takes initiative; is curious; deals well with complexity; has a strong sense of reality; is courageous; is strategic, a big-picture thinker; focuses on solutions, not problems; is capable of producing extraordinary results; and is able to solve real problems and create real products.
	Social skills knows how to develop positive relationships with a diverse range of people; cares about and listens to what others say and gives feedback; knows how to motivate individuals; is persuasive; is supportive of peers; is able to negotiate; is viewed as trustworthy, ethical and dependable; is well-respected; and displays mastery of presentation skills and public communications.

Process of Nomination: 

Candidates must be nominated by a Canadian institution with a Vanier quota*.

Candidates should only seek nominations from the institutions where they intend to study.

*A "quota" is the maximum number of nominations that an institution can submit to the national competition.

Deadline for submission: 

Students should check with their nominating institution for the submission deadline.

November 1, 2022 (20:00 EDT)

Website: The official website for the  Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship

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