Canada Graduate Scholarships Doctoral (CGS D) Program

Students registered in a UBC degree program (or on an approved leave of absence from UBC) between 1 January and 31 December 2020 must complete their application by Tuesday, 15 September 2020 at 12:00 pm PDT.

1. Confirm eligibility
2. Confirm research area: Select the appropriate funding agency. Applicants should complete the agency application that is best aligned with their research subject matter.  
   1. Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
   2. Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
   3. Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
3. Determine where to submit an application (through a Canadian institution such as UBC or directly to the appropriate agency). See the CGS D program page for guidance. If applying via UBC, complete the application by the UBC application deadline, Tuesday, 15 September 2020 at 12:00 pm PDT.
4. Read the instructions and apply online
5. General guidance on preparing transcripts for submission (see individual agencies application instructions below for further details)
   • UBC transcripts: Applicants can request the “Academic History” document from their UBC graduate program instead of ordering an official UBC transcript.  The “Academic History” should include the 2020W1 (Fall 2020) registration.
   • Other transcripts:
     • Must be official and up to date (include degree conferral, if applicable) as of August 31, 2020. 
     • Required even from institutions in cases of transfer credit or exchange terms.
     • The applicant’s graduate program may already have some of the transcripts on file in eVision.  The “G+PS Official” stamped transcripts from eVision are acceptable.
     • Applicants may still need to order some of their transcripts to complete their transcript package.  Given current uncertainties related to COVID-19 and the difficulty of obtaining/processing paper transcripts, it is recommended that applicants order official transcripts that can be sent electronically from their previous institutions to themselves or UBC, rather than by mail, where possible.
     • Foreign transcripts: if the transcripts are not presented in one of Canada’s two official languages (English or French), a certified translation must be provided, in addition to the official transcripts in its original language.
     • The transcript key/legend for each institution must be included.
     • Regarding COVID-19 and potential transcript delays: Students should contact their grad program first if they have any concerns about obtaining official transcripts in time for the application deadline.

CIHR: ResearchNet | application instructions

• Submission of transcripts: Applicants are required to upload their up-to-date official transcripts of their complete academic record as 1 single PDF file under "Transcripts" in the "Attach Other Application Materials" task. For more details about the transcript requirement, see this CIHR link.
  • The required “Doctoral Studies Timelines” form is located here.  This form must be included with your transcript package.
  • It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that they submit their complete, official, up to date transcript package in their online application, even if some of the transcripts were obtained from their UBC graduate program.
• Online submission of sponsor's assessment: Applicants invite their referees via ResearchNet. Applicants must enter the sponsors' names within their application, update the Assessment Required Deadline Date* and press on "Click and Send Sponsor Request". (*Applicants can manage the deadline by which sponsors must submit their assessments. By default, the Sponsor Required Deadline in ResearchNet is set for two days before the application deadline.) Assessment forms are to be submitted by referees via ResearchNet. These assessments should come from people under whom the applicant has trained and/or who have had a good opportunity to assess their potential for research.
• Signatures are not required before UBC’s application deadline (15 September 2020):
  • Not required: Signatures (include supervisor’s signature**, signature of institution paid, and signature of research institution) are not required for the Signature Page (or Routing Slip).
    • Applicants may upload an unsigned copy of the Signature Page (or Routing Slip) to complete the “Print/Upload Signature Page” task on ResearchNet.
    • The signature page/routing slip document should be 3 pages.  If your document is 2 pages, it is because you have not added your primary supervisor in the “Identify Participants” task in the online application.  Note: The supervisor’s CIHR PIN is required to complete the “primary supervisor” participant details.
  • Not required: Supervisor’s signature** is not required for the Confirmation of Scientific Area Form.
    • Applicants may upload a blank copy of the Confirmation of Scientific Area Form to complete the “other” document type of the “Attach Other Application Materials” task on ResearchNet.
  • **If an applicant already obtained signature from their supervisor, the signed form will be accepted.
  • Not required: Research Project Information Form (RPIF)
    • Applicants do not need to complete and submit the RPIF to the Office of Research Services before the September 15 application deadline. 
    • Applicants do not need to contact the Office of Research Services for signatures before the September 15 application deadline.
  • In November, the highest-ranked applicants (i.e., UBC’s nominees) will be contacted to submit the signed forms required to complete their CIHR CGS-D application.
• Indigenous applicants:   Applicants who would like to self-identify as Indigenous to be considered beyond their institutions quota (ie. the instution's cap on total nominees that can be selected) must complete the Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarship Doctoral Awards (CGS D): Voluntary Self-Identification Form for Indigenous Applicants. Once completed, the form must then be uploaded as a single PDF document under “Other” in the “Attach Other Application Materials” task.

NSERC: Online application system | application instructions

• Online submission of transcripts: Applicants who submit their application to UBC will be asked to identify a ‘university designate’ (i.e., the applicant's graduate program staff) who will upload the applicant's transcripts to their NSERC application. Applicants are responsible to confirm with their graduate program which transcripts need to be provided by the student and which transcripts the graduate program already has on file to be uploaded. Please note that applicants must request certified true copies of transcripts from their graduate program, not from the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure their graduate program has their complete, official, up to date transcript package on file.  The transcript requirements are outlined in the application instructions.
  • NSERC has indicated that they will accept unofficial transcripts temporarily.  Applicants should order and submit their up-to-date, official transcripts as soon as they are available, and preferably by the 15 September 2020 application deadline.  We will permit applicants to provide official transcripts up to 6 November 2020.  In cases where an official transcript is delayed, a scan of an official transcript must be submitted in its place by the 15 September 2020 application deadline.  CIHR and SSHRC applicants: This exception applies to NSERC applicants only.
• Online submission of reports on the applicant: Applicants invite their referees via the NSERC online application. Reports are to be submitted by referees using the online system. Applicants are responsible for inviting two referees: one referee should be very familiar with their research and abilities (i.e., current or previous research supervisor) and the other should be sufficiently familiar with their research and abilities to provide a meaningful commentary. Applicants will not be able to verify their application until each referee form has been successfully verified and completed. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure their referees complete and submit their assessments in advance of the application deadline.
• Note: ‘Form 201’ (the NSERC PGS D application form) only lists the NSERC PGS D in its materials; however, ‘Form 201’ is also for applying to the CGS D. The highest-ranked PGS D applicants will automatically be considered by NSERC for a CGS D.

SSHRC: Online application system | application instructions

• Online submission of transcripts: Applicants are required to upload their up-to-date official transcripts of their complete academic record as 1 single PDF file. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that they submit their complete, official, up to date transcript package in their online application, even if some of the transcripts were obtained from their UBC graduate program.  The transcript requirements are outlined in the application instructions.
• Online submission of letters of appraisal: Applicants invite their referees via the SSHRC online application. Letters of appraisal are to be submitted by referees using the online system. Applicants are responsible for inviting two referees: one referee should be very familiar with their research and abilities (i.e., current or previous research supervisor) and the other should be sufficiently familiar with their research and abilities to provide a meaningful commentary. Applicants will not be able to verify their application until each referee form has been successfully verified and completed. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure their referees complete and submit their assessments in advance of the application deadline.

Complete application procedures are available on the CGS D program page.

Affiliated Fellowships-Doctoral application: CGS D applicants applying through UBC do not need to submit a separate Affiliated Fellowships-Doctoral application. To be considered for criteria-based Affiliated Fellowships, students should submit the checklist of criteria-based affiliated fellowships to their graduate program by the application deadline.