Danielle Hanke
Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD)
Developing small molecule inhibitors of STAT1 protein in rheumatoid arthritis
Canada Graduate Scholarship Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement
Deadline
Likely in May 2026
Value
up to $6,000 for two to six months
Citizenship
Canadian
Permanent Resident
Degree Level
Masters
Doctoral
The Canada Graduate Scholarships - Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements (CGS-MSFSS) Program supports high-calibre Canadian graduate students in building global linkages and international networks through the pursuit of exceptional research experiences at research institutions abroad. By accessing international scientific research and training, CGS-MSFSS recipients will contribute to strengthening the potential for collaboration between Canadian and foreign institutions.
This program is available to Canadian citizens or permanent residents who hold a Tri-Agency Canada Graduate Scholarship (CGS) at the Master's or doctoral level or a Vanier CGS from CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC. Note that international students who hold a Vanier CGS are not eligible for this competition. SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship holders and NSERC PGSD holders are also not eligible (as they do not hold a 'CGS').
Travelling outside of Canada: When students are planning travel outside of Canada for university purposes, they have obligations under UBC’s Student Safety Abroad Policy (SC12). Students are required to have adequate travel medical insurance, to register their travel on UBC’s Safety Abroad Registry, and to use the resources provided by UBC to support safe travel planning and risk management. In locations where the Government of Canada has official travel advisories in place, students are required to request High-Risk Authorization before travelling. For more information, see: https://safetyabroad.ubc.ca or email safety.abroad@ubc.ca.
Note: The content of this webpage currently reflects details of the MSFSS-Spring (May 2025) competition. This will be the final launch of the MSFSS program in its current format; there will not be a Fall competition in 2025. The supplement will be rebranded and redesigned as a supplement for the new harmonized Canada Research Training Awards Suite in 2026.
Eligibility
For complete eligibility criteria and program details, please review the harmonized program description hosted on NSERC’s website: http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Students-Etudiants/PG-CS/CGSForeignStudy-BESCEtudeEtranger_eng.asp
Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be evaluated on the basis of the linkage between the CGS research goals, the activities outlined for the proposed research study period abroad, and the applicant’s future research/career goals, considering:
- the significance, feasibility and merit of proposed activities at the foreign institution
- the justification for the choice of host institution and/or host supervisor
- the relevance and anticipated benefits of the proposed activities to the candidate’s current graduate-degree training
For reference, the program objectives are as follows:
- to support high-caliber Canadian graduate students in building global linkages and international networks through the pursuit of exceptional research experiences abroad
- to strengthen the potential for collaboration between Canadian institutions and other research institutions outside of Canada
Application Procedures
Applicants submit their application materials directly to Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies via online submission (see application submission link below) by 4:00 pm PT on May 16, 2025. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the following materials are submitted by the deadline:
1. Signed and dated CGS-MSFSS application form
Each agency has its own application form and instructions, and care should be taken to ensure that the appropriate form is used. Please obtain the application form from the website of the funding agency from which you received your CGS award. For example, an NSERC award holder (CGSM, Doctoral, Vanier) would apply for the MSFSS via NSERC.
- CIHR: The application form is a fillable PDF (view instructions here)
- NSERC: The application is available via the NSERC Online System (view instructions here)
- SSHRC: Applicants must complete the SSHRC Online System (view instructions here) and verify it online
Note: The budget proposal is a part of the application form.
2. Outline of proposed research (maximum two pages)
- Outline of proposed research while abroad, including:
- a description of your intended research activities during your study period abroad (including objectives, methodology, timelines, and expected outcomes)
- an indication as to how this relates to your main graduate research topic
- a description of the potential benefits that you will derive from the host institution in relation to your current research objectives
- Refer to the following links for presentation standards (ex. font size):
3. Two signed letters of support (maximum one page each)
- letter of support from your current CGS research supervisor detailing their support for your research study period abroad and confirming that your proposed research aligns with the research from your CGS award
- letter of support from host supervisor detailing their support for your research study period abroad and the resources they have available (financial [if any], supervision time, equipment, library access, etc.) to support your planned research activities
4. Signed consent form(s)
Please obtain the required form(s) from the appropriate funding agency website:
CIHR
- The "Applicant consent form for use and disclosure of personal information provided to CIHR for peer review" must be completed and signed by the applicant (1 signature).
- The "Consent to Disclosure of Personal Information" form must be completed and signed by the applicant, research supervisor, and host supervisor (3 signatures).
NSERC
- The "Terms and Conditions of Applying Form" must be completed and signed by the applicant.
SSHRC
- The "Consent to Disclosure of Personal Information Form" must be completed and signed by the applicant.
ONLINE SUBMISSION
All application materials should be submitted as 1 PDF document via online submission (see link below). Applicants are strongly encouraged to collect letters from their supervisors and include all PDF documents in one online submission.
If a referee would prefer not to submit their letter to the applicant, they can email their letter to Joanne Tsui (Graduate Awards Clerk) at joanne.tsui@ubc.ca. The referee should clearly indicate in the subject line of the email "MSFSS application - [applicant name] letter of support". If a referee is emailing their letter directly, it remains the applicant's responsibility to ensure that their complete MSFSS application (including reference letters) has been submitted by the application deadline.
The PDF document should adhere to the file naming convention as specified below. AGENCY represents the funding agency from which you received your CGS award (i.e., CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC). File naming convention:
- AGENCY_Last-Name_First-Name
Applicants: It is your responsibility to ensure that your application is complete by the deadline. Please follow up with your referees before the deadline as appropriate.
Adjudication Procedures
The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies will review applications for eligibility and completeness and forward eligible applications to the participating funding agencies.
Results of the MSFSS Spring competition are announced by the funding agencies in mid-August. Results of the MSFSS Fall competition are announced by the funding agencies in mid-December.
Meet Award Holders
Further Information
Please review the harmonized program description hosted on NSERC’s website: http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Students-Etudiants/PG-CS/CGSForeignStudy-BESCEtudeEtranger_eng.asp
The CGS-MSFSS Award Holder's Gulde: http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Students-Etudiants/Guides-Guides/CGSMSFSSRegs-BESCSEEMSRegs_eng.asp
For questions about UBC's MSFSS application and review procedures, please contact Joanne Tsui at joanne.tsui@ubc.ca.