Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master’s Program 2027 | $27,000 Scholarship | Study in Canada 🇨🇦
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The Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master’s (CGRS M) is a postgraduate research scholarship offered through the Government of Canada’s Canada Research Training Awards Suite. The scholarship provides $27,000 for 12 months to eligible master’s-level graduate researchers pursuing research-oriented programs at eligible Canadian universities.
The CGRS M scholarship supports outstanding graduate students across health, natural sciences and engineering, and social sciences and humanities. The program is jointly administered by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).
For students looking for a Canada master’s scholarship, graduate research scholarship in Canada, or postgraduate research funding, the CGRS M is an important opportunity to consider.
Important: The CGRS M eligibility requirements include Canadian citizenship, permanent residence, or protected-person status. It is therefore not an international scholarship open to all foreign students.
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Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master’s Program 2027 Overview
| Scholarship | Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master’s (CGRS M) |
|---|---|
| Country | Canada 🇨🇦 |
| Study level | Master’s / eligible graduate programs |
| Program type | Postgraduate |
| Funding | $27,000 |
| Duration | 12 months |
| Institution | Eligible Canadian universities |
| Fields | Health, natural sciences & engineering, social sciences & humanities |
| Application platform | Research Portal |
| Application deadline | December 1 before 8:00 p.m. ET |
| Administered by | CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC |
| Citizenship requirement | Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person |
About the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship
The Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master’s is part of Canada’s Canada Research Training Awards Suite (CRTAS).
The program is designed to recognize and support outstanding graduate students who demonstrate strong academic achievement and research potential.
The scholarship aims to help develop the next generation of highly qualified innovators, knowledge workers and creative thinkers while strengthening Canada’s research capacity.
The CGRS M supports up to 3,298 students annually across all disciplines, according to the official program information.
Students apply through the Research Portal to the Canadian institution or institutions where they intend to hold the award.
What Does the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship Provide?
Successful CGRS M recipients receive:
- $27,000 in scholarship funding
- 12 months of support
- Opportunity to conduct graduate research at an eligible Canadian institution
- Support for research training and graduate study
The scholarship itself is valued at $27,000 for 12 months.
The program also lists a number of possible joint initiative supplements, although eligibility for individual supplements depends on the applicable program and requirements.
Applicants should therefore distinguish between the standard $27,000 CGRS M scholarship and any additional supplements for which they may qualify.
Who Can Apply for the CGRS M Scholarship?
The Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master’s has specific eligibility requirements.
To apply, you must be:
- A Canadian citizen
- A permanent resident of Canada
- Or a Protected Person under subsection 95(2) of Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
You must also be registered in, have applied for, or intend to apply for admission to an eligible graduate program at a Canadian institution with a CGRS M allocation.
Important Eligibility Requirement
As of December 31 of the application year, applicants generally need to have completed between 0 and 12 months of full-time study or equivalent in the program for which they are requesting funding, subject to the specific program situations outlined by the agencies.
There is also a separate eligibility pathway involving 4 to 12 months of full-time study in an eligible master’s program where degree requirements will be completed before the award is activated and the award will continue into an eligible doctoral program at the same institution.
Applicants should carefully review the official rules because the calculation of graduate study includes relevant previous study, even when it was completed at another institution.
Academic Requirements for the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship
Academic excellence is an important component of the CGRS M scholarship application.
Applicants are expected to have achieved a first-class average, as determined by the host institution, in each of their last two completed years of study on a full-time-equivalent basis.
However, institutions have discretion to accept applications from candidates who do not meet this first-class-average criterion.
Because institutional practices can differ, prospective applicants should contact the faculty of graduate studies at their intended Canadian university.
What Type of Master’s Program Is Eligible?
The CGRS M scholarship is primarily designed for research-oriented graduate programs.
An eligible program must generally include a significant research component leading to an outcome such as:
- A thesis
- Major research project
- Dissertation
- Scholarly publication
- Performance
- Recital
- Exhibit
The research component must be subject to merit review by a panel of experts at the institution.
Are Coursework-Only Master’s Programs Eligible?
Master’s programs based only on coursework are typically not eligible because they do not normally contain the significant research component required by the CGRS M program.
Some joint professional and research programs may qualify if they contain a significant autonomous research component.
Fields of Research Covered
One of the major strengths of the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master’s is its broad disciplinary coverage.
Research can fall within areas supported by:
Health
Research connected to health-related fields may be considered through the appropriate agency.
Natural Sciences and Engineering
Students pursuing research in natural sciences, engineering and related disciplines may be eligible through NSERC.
Social Sciences and Humanities
Research in social sciences and humanities may be supported through SSHRC.
Interdisciplinary research that crosses multiple fields can also be supported.
Applicants should ensure that their proposed institution has an allocation for the relevant research field.
How Competitive Is the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship?
The CGRS M is a competitive research scholarship. Applications are assessed by eligible Canadian institutions according to the program’s selection criteria.
The three major assessment categories are:
1. Academic Excellence – 50%
Academic excellence accounts for 50% of the assessment.
Reviewers may consider:
- Academic record
- Scholarships and awards
- Duration of previous studies
- Program and courses pursued
- Relative academic standing, where available
2. Research Potential – 30%
Research potential accounts for 30%.
This includes factors such as:
- Quality and originality of previous research contributions
- Relevance of academic and work experience
- Quality and feasibility of the proposed research
- Critical thinking
- Application of knowledge and skills
- Initiative and autonomy
- Research experience and achievements
3. Personal Characteristics and Interpersonal Skills – 20%
Personal characteristics and interpersonal skills account for 20%.
Relevant evidence can include:
- Work experience
- Leadership
- Project management
- Communication skills
- Academic involvement
- Volunteerism
- Community outreach
- Collaboration
How to Prepare a Strong CGRS M Application
Because academic excellence represents 50% of the assessment, applicants should make sure their academic record is presented clearly and accurately.
Your research proposal should also demonstrate a clear research question, meaningful objectives, appropriate methodology and a realistic approach.
When preparing your application, make sure that:
- Your research topic is clearly explained
- Your proposed research is feasible
- Your previous research experience is relevant
- Your academic achievements are properly documented
- Your leadership and extracurricular activities are included where relevant
- Your research contributions are clearly described
- Your application follows all Research Portal instructions
Do not wait until the final hours to submit the application.
The official program warns that the Research Portal may experience delays as the deadline approaches because of high user volumes.
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How to Apply for the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship
Applications for the CGRS M scholarship are submitted through the Research Portal.
Eligible applicants can submit an application to up to three institutions where they intend to hold the award.
The application process requires applicants to follow the official instructions carefully.
Application Deadline
The Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master’s application deadline is December 1 before 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
If December 1 falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the application must be submitted by the following business day before 8:00 p.m. ET.
Late applications are not accepted.
Applicants should also check the internal admission deadlines of their intended universities because the university’s admission deadline may differ from the CGRS M deadline.
Application Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid:
- Waiting until the final hours to submit.
- Ignoring the university’s internal admission deadline.
- Applying for an ineligible coursework-only program.
- Failing to verify the citizenship or residency requirement.
- Choosing an institution without checking its CGRS M allocation.
- Providing an unclear or poorly structured research proposal.
- Ignoring the official application instructions.
- Applying to more than one CRTAS program in the same academic year.
The official instructions contain 11 steps that applicants are expected to follow before submitting the application.
When Are CGRS M Results Released?
Offers of awards will be available in the Research Portal as of April 1.
Alternate offers may continue to be made until January 31 of the following calendar year.
Applicants are responsible for regularly checking the Research Portal for their results.
Additional Opportunities and Supplements
The CGRS M program is connected with several joint initiative supplements and designated funding opportunities.
These include opportunities related to areas such as:
- Canadian forest sector workforce diversity
- Research travel
- Strategic master’s research
- Atmospheric and meteorological graduate research
- Systematics research
- Impact assessment research
There are also specific initiatives supporting Indigenous and Black student researchers, subject to the applicable eligibility and selection requirements.
For example, eligible Indigenous students successful in the CGRS M competition may, subject to available funding, be offered an Indigenous Scholars Supplement valued at $5,000.
The Government of Canada has also provided additional funding for meritorious CGRS M applicants who self-identify as Black and consent to consideration for designated funding. Each agency has up to 20 additional CGRS M awards reserved for Black student researchers.
Career and Academic Benefits of the CGRS M
Receiving a Canada Graduate Research Scholarship can provide valuable support during graduate research.
The scholarship can help a student dedicate time to research while developing:
- Research skills
- Academic expertise
- Critical-thinking skills
- Communication skills
- Project-management experience
- Research networks
- Graduate-level professional experience
For students planning a research-focused career or future doctoral study, the CGRS M can provide an important foundation.
Is the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship Open to International Students?
This is one of the most important points prospective applicants should understand.
The CGRS M eligibility criteria require applicants to be Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada, or Protected Persons by the application deadline.
Therefore, international students who do not hold one of these statuses should not assume that they are eligible for this particular Canada graduate scholarship.
International students interested in studying in Canada should instead explore scholarships and funding programs specifically open to international applicants.
Official Application Information
Applicants should verify all eligibility conditions, institutional allocations, application instructions and deadlines directly through the Government of Canada’s official sources before submitting an application.
Final Thoughts
The Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master’s (CGRS M) is a major Canadian postgraduate research scholarship offering $27,000 for 12 months to eligible students pursuing research-oriented graduate study.
With applications assessed on academic excellence, research potential, and personal characteristics and interpersonal skills, applicants should prepare well in advance and carefully align their application with the official requirements.
The key point for prospective applicants is eligibility: the CGRS M is not a general international scholarship. Applicants must meet the program’s Canadian citizenship, permanent residency or protected-person requirement.
For eligible applicants, however, the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master’s provides substantial financial support and an opportunity to develop advanced research skills at an eligible Canadian university.
