CGRS-M — Canada Graduate Research Scholarship - Master's (NSERC / CIHR / SSHRC)
$ 27,000
$27,000 (single year)
Heads up: this scholarship was renamed from
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Government of Canada — Tri-Agency (NSERC, CIHR, SSHRC) · National
CGRS-M — Canada Graduate Research Scholarship - Master's (NSERC / CIHR / SSHRC)
Reviewed by G Paul · verified April 30, 2026
$27K
Total value
About this award
$27,000 federal Tri-Agency master's scholarship for 12 months — administered by NSERC (engineering / natural sciences), CIHR (health), or SSHRC (humanities / social sciences) depending on your research area. Quebec students fully eligible. Budget 2024 increased the value from $17,500.
The Canada Graduate Research Scholarship - Master's (CGRS-M) is the federal Tri-Agency's master's-level research funding programme — the new name (post-2024 Budget) for what was previously the Canada Graduate Scholarship - Master's (CGS-M). The award provides $27,000 for 12 months of full-time master's research, a substantial increase from the pre-2024 amount of $17,500. Administration runs across the three federal granting councils: CIHR funds master's research in health, NSERC funds research in natural sciences and engineering, and SSHRC funds research in humanities, social sciences, arts, and letters. Your application goes to the council aligned with your research area. The CGRS-M is highly competitive and is typically a stepping-stone to the CGRS-D doctoral funding for students continuing past the master's. Quebec students are fully eligible — research scholarships are excluded from the Quebec opt-out of federal student financial assistance — and many Quebec master's applicants apply to BOTH the CGRS-M and the parallel FRQ master's award (B1) in the same cycle, with holding rules forbidding both at once if successful.
Can you get it?
- Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident — citizenship requirement
- Graduate — study level
How to apply
Review eligibility and gather your documents~1 hour
Read the official award page end-to-end. Confirm you meet every requirement before you start.
Request your official transcript1–2 weeks
Order through your school registrar: allow 1–2 weeks.
Collect reference letters2 weeks
Give your referees at least two weeks' notice and share your résumé.
Submit before the posted deadline~1 hour
Check the official source for the current deadline: save a copy and submit at least 24 hours early.
More details
Strategy
Apply during your final undergraduate year if you intend to start a master's the following September — the funding then arrives at the same time you start.
Strategy
Most applicants miss this timing and apply during their first year of the master's, which still works but means a one-year delay before funding starts.
Strategy
The application emphasises your proposed master's research project even if you're applying as an undergraduate — work with a prospective supervisor on the proposal months in advance.
Quebec students
apply to BOTH CGRS-M and the parallel FRQ master's (B1) in the same cycle.
Strategy
Holding-rule kicks in only if you win both — most students take the longer-duration or higher-value award.
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How do I apply?
Click the Start application button above: it opens the official application page in a new tab.
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When is the deadline?
The provider has not posted a firm deadline. Check the official source before applying.
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Can international students apply?
Eligibility is limited to: Canadian Citizen, Permanent Resident.
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