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 2021 must complete their application by Tuesday, 14 September 2021 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.  The "Where should I submit my application?" CGSD chart is particularly useful.
   • If applying via UBC, complete the application by the UBC application deadline, Tuesday, 14 September 2021 at 12:00 pm PDT.
4. Read the instructions (general instructions and links provided below) and apply online
5. General guidance on preparing transcripts for submission (see individual agencies application instructions below for further details)
   • UBC transcripts:
     • The SISC “Academic History” (provided by graduate program – not available on SSC) can be submitted instead of ordering an official UBC transcript.
     • The “Academic History” should show 2021W1 (Fall 2021) course registration.
     • Must be dated or issued in the fall session of the year of the application (ie. print date of September 1 or later) if currently registered or after the last term completed (if not currently registered).
   • Other transcripts:
     • Official transcripts are preferred. 
       • CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC have indicated that, due to COVID-19, unofficial transcripts will be accepted in cases where applicants were not able to obtain an official transcript in time for the deadline.
       • If an applicant is providing an unofficial transcript, it must still be authentic, complete and up to date.
     • Acceptable:
       • Official transcripts from UBC admission application (evision system): Scanned copies of official transcripts, accessed by the UBC graduate program from evision, that were validated and uploaded by G+PS (i.e., transcripts listed as “Transcripts & Diplomas – Official” under ‘Document Type’ in evision)
       • "Certified true" copies of official transcripts from the UBC graduate program’s own files.
       • Official transcripts sent directly from the issuing institution to the UBC graduate program.
       • Transcripts uploaded by the applicant for UBC admission (ie. official transcripts in evision system that are not verified by G+PS)
       • Applicant’s personal copies of official transcripts
     • Acceptable, but not preferred:
       • Unofficial transcripts (no water mark or registrar’s signature or registrar's stamp and/or may note ”unofficial” on each page and/or copied from institution student account)
     • The graduate program may have some of the applicant's transcripts on file already; if so, well in advance of the application deadline, the applicant must confirm with the graduate program which transcripts the program has on file and will provide to support the CGSD application, and which transcripts the applicant must still order from their prior institutions.
     • 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 UBC, rather than by mail, where possible.
   • Up to date transcripts: Dated or issued in the Fall session (Fall 2021) (if currently registered) or after the last term completed (if not currently registered).
   • Foreign transcripts: For students including 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 transcripts in its original language.
   • Include one copy of marking key / legend (usually on back of transcript) for each institution.
   • Transcripts are required even from institutions in cases of transfer credit or exchange terms.
   • If your institution does not provide transcripts, you must submit, in lieu of a transcript: a certificate of matriculation, a letter bearing the official institution seal/stamp or a letter signed by the dean of graduate studies.  This document must confirm:
     • your program of study
     • your registration status
     • the date on which you started the program of study
     • the fact that the institution does not provide transcripts (not necessary for a certificate of matriculation)
   • It is the applicant's responsibility to confirm that they have provided all of their required transcripts for their CGSD application

CIHR: Online application system | application instructions

• Submission of transcripts: Applicants are required to upload their up-to-date 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, refer to the CIHR application instructions.
  • 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, 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 sponsors (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.  It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure their referees complete and submit their assessments in advance of the application deadline.
• Special Circumstances (optional): In the Canadian Common CV (CCV), in the section entitled "Employment", sub-section entitled "Leaves of Absence and Impact on Research", applicants can outline any special circumstances that have affected their performance or productivity.  As part of this section, applicants may want to consider including disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, if applicable. 
• Signatures are required before UBC’s application deadline (14 September 2021):
  • Supervisor's signature on the "Signature Page" document 
    • Applicants must upload a signed 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 to your ResearchNet application 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: Signature of institution paid and signature of research institution on the “Signature Page”.
  • Supervisor’s signature for the Confirmation of Scientific Area Form.
    • Applicants must upload a signed copy of the Confirmation of Scientific Area Form to complete the “other” document type of the “Attach Other Application Materials” task on ResearchNet.
• 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, up to date transcript package on file.  The transcript requirements are outlined in the application instructions.
• 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 in the application system 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.
• Special Circumstances (optional): In the application form, in the section entitled "Special Circumstances", applicants can outline any special circumstances that have affected their performance or productivity.  As part of this section, applicants may want to consider including disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, if applicable.
• 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 transcripts of their complete academic record as 1 single PDF file. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that they submit their complete, 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.
• Special Circumstances (optional): As part of the application, applicants can submit a 1 page “Allowable Inclusions” document to outline any special circumstances that have affected their performance or productivity.  As part of this section, applicants may want to consider including disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, if applicable.

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.