The master’s (CGS M) program of the Canada Graduate Scholarships is a prestigious scholarship program that aims to develop research skills and support the education of highly qualified individuals in Canada. Students who have demonstrated exceptional intellectual achievement during their undergraduate and early graduate studies are eligible to receive financial aid through this program.
The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) are Canada’s three awarding organizations. The scholarship, which is worth $17,500 for a 12-month period and is not renewable, is administered jointly by these organizations.
Program Objective
The CGS M program’s primary goal is to support students who have excelled academically in order to improve research abilities and support staff training. Scholars are able to focus more on their academic endeavors and research in their chosen fields because to this financial support.
Prospective applicants can learn important details about the Canada Graduate Scholarships — Master’s program, including its goal, eligibility requirements, application process, selection criteria, and the value of diversity and equity in the Canadian research environment, from this comprehensive overview.
Concerning NSERC:
A federal agency called the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) supports university-affiliated research and innovation in the fields of engineering and the natural sciences. To develop highly skilled people and raise Canada’s stature in science and technology internationally, NSERC funds research projects, partnerships, and scholarships.
By encouraging cooperation between academia, industry, and government, NSERC aims to advance scientific discoveries, foster innovation, and support Canada’s economic and social well-being.
Academic Qualification Level
- For students pursuing Master’s level programs at Canadian universities, the NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarships – Masters Program 2025 is available.
Check Also: University of Waterloo Global Scholarship – Apply Now
Benefits of Latest Nserc Graduate Scholarships
- Master’s Scholarships: For a maximum of two years, the NSERC CGS-M (Canada Graduate Scholarships-Master’s) normally offers financing of about $17,500 annually.
- Doctoral Scholarships: For a maximum of three years, the NSERC CGS-D (Canada Graduate Scholarships-Doctoral) provides up to $35,000.
- Postgraduate promote: Postdoctoral research and fellowship funding options are also available to promote the advancement of academic and research careers.
- Access to Top Researchers: Students who get NSERC scholarships have the chance to work with some of the nation’s top researchers, which helps them develop their professional abilities.
- Innovative Projects: Students who participate in research sponsored by NSERC frequently work on cutting-edge scientific initiatives that further science, technology, and engineering.
- Recognition: A graduate’s academic and professional profile can be greatly improved by receiving an NSERC scholarship, which is a highly coveted honor.
- Networking Opportunities: Students have access to a professional, academic, and institutional network that may prove invaluable for future partnerships and employment prospects.
- Impact on Society: The scholarships support innovative research that is also useful and advantageous for Canada’s technology, environment, economy, and health.
- Support for New Technologies: The development of new technologies is a major focus of many NSERC-funded projects. These initiatives have the potential to directly boost industry innovation and raise Canada’s competitiveness in international markets.
- Flexibility: Students in a broad range of engineering and natural scientific fields are eligible for the scholarships, which provide flexibility in terms of research topics.
- Complementary Funding: To provide even more extensive support, NSERC scholarships are sometimes paired with additional funding sources including industry-sponsored research, provincial money, or university-based grants.
Qualified Nationalities
- Only domestic students are eligible for this grant.
Criteria for Eligibility
Candidates must meet a number of requirements in order to be eligible for the CGS M program:
- Citizenship: By the application deadline, applicants must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or Protected Persons as specified in Immigration and Refugee Protection Act paragraph 95(2).
- Eligibility: Candidates must be enrolled full-time in, have applied for, or plan to apply for full-time admission to a master’s or doctoral program at a Canadian university with a CGS M allocation, starting within the competition year’s specified dates.
- Academic Progress: By December 31 of the application year, candidates must have finished 0–12 months of full-time study (or its equivalent) in the program for which they are applying.
- Eligibility Requirements: Candidates cannot have been awarded or be in possession of a CGS M scholarship from NSERC, CIHR, or SSHRC.
- Academic Excellence: During each of the previous two full academic years, a first-class average as specified by the host institution must have been obtained.
Eligibility for Program of Study
As a requirement for program completion, an eligible graduate program must include a significant research component that culminates in a thesis, major research project, dissertation, scholarly publication, performance, recital, and/or exhibit that is subject to institutional merit or expert review. If the program requires additional admission, acceptance into the major research component stream must be verified before the grant is given out.
Professional degree-granting joint programs (e.g., MD/PhD, DVM/PhD, JD/MA, JD/PhD, MBA/PhD, MA/MBA) and academic programs with a clinical focus, such as clinical psychology, are eligible if they have a significant independent research component, as described above.
As previously mentioned, master’s programs that are entirely coursework-based are typically ineligible because they lack a significant research component.
Schools are recommended to seek clarification on program eligibility from the appropriate authorities due to the unique requirements of certain fields.
Research domain and topic eligibility
The three main areas of health, natural sciences and engineering, and social sciences and humanities are where NSERC, CIHR, and SSHRC support and encourage top-notch research in a variety of disciplines. This includes studies that combine other disciplines or call for the knowledge of different fields.
Make sure the university where you plan to pursue your studies has a specific allocation for it when you apply. Applications that a host institution determines have been incorrectly labeled will be re-labeled in compliance with the agency’s standards for research subject matter (see Choosing the right federal funding agency). For additional help regarding subject matter eligibility, get in touch with the graduate studies faculty (or its equivalent) at the university where you intend to present the award.
Application Process
Procedure for Application:
- Research Portal: Use the Research Portal to create or access an application.
- Go to the relevant website and construct a Canadian Common CV.
Criteria and Process for Selection
Each school’s graduate studies faculty, or its equivalent, oversees the selection process for the CGS M program. Three main factors are used to evaluate applications:
- Academic excellence (50%) is evaluated based on comparative standing, program type, courses taken, academic records, scholarships, and awards.
- Research Potential (30%): Assessed according to the significance of the planned study, the relevance of professional knowledge, and the quality and originality of research contributions.
- Personal Qualities and Interpersonal Skills (20%): Proven by prior leadership positions, extracurricular and professional involvement, and ability to communicate scientific ideas.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI)
Equity, diversity, and inclusion are given top priority in the CGS M program’s selection criteria. The initiative is committed to supporting a diverse range of scholars, particularly Black student researchers, by providing more resources to improve direct assistance. This help is available to anyone who self-identify as Black and consent to being assessed for targeted group finance.
Announcement of Outcomes
The Research Portal will start publishing the results on April 1, 2025. The deadline for submitting alternative plans is January 31 of the following year. Candidates need to keep an eye on the portal for any developments.
Fraquality Asked Question:
-
How competitive is the NSERC-graduate scholarship?
The competition at NSERC in each subcommittee is pretty fierce, and its really important data you take the time to make your application the best package you can.
-
How many NSERC-scholarships are awarded?
There is a total of 3,000 USRA-allocations available each jar from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and 95 each for the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).
-
What GPA do you need for Nserc?
Applicant must have a cumulatieve GPA-score (CUM GPA) of at least 3.60 or higher (using 4.00 scale). Preference will be given to applicants with at least 3 terms completed (e.g. U3, U2, U1 with freshman year).
