- The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship has been discontinued and folded into the harmonized Canada Graduate Research Scholarship Doctoral, worth 40,000 dollars per year for three years, effective from the fall 2025 competition
- The University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship now pays doctoral students up to 25,000 dollars per year
- The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholarship offers up to 70,000 dollars per year combined.
Canada remains one of the most rewarding destinations for doctoral study, and a range of funding is available to help international students cover tuition and living costs. In 2026 the biggest change is the retirement of the Vanier program and the launch of a single harmonized federal scholarship. This guide covers the leading national and university PhD scholarships in Canada, their current values and who can apply.
What Are the Top PhD Scholarships in Canada in 2026?
Canada offers several major PhD funding options in 2026. The harmonized Canada Graduate Research Scholarship Doctoral pays 40,000 dollars yearly, while university awards such as the Manitoba Graduate Fellowship and Trudeau Foundation Scholarship add further support. Most are open to international doctoral students studying at eligible Canadian institutions.
- Canada Graduate Research Scholarship Doctoral (CGRS-D) - the new tri-agency award that replaces Vanier and CGS-D
- University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship (UMGF)
- Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarship
- University of Waterloo International Doctoral Student Award (IDSA)
- University of Calgary graduate awards and doctoral recruitment scholarships
| Scholarship 2026 | Value | Duration | International Eligible |
|---|---|---|---|
| CGRS - Doctoral | CAD 40,000/year | 3 years | Yes (unrestricted) |
| Manitoba UMGF (PhD) | CAD 25,000/year (up to 100,000) | Up to 48 months | Yes |
| Trudeau Foundation | Up to CAD 70,000/year combined | 3 years | Limited number |
| Waterloo IDSA | About CAD 5,140/term | To end of year 3 | Yes (international only) |
| Calgary FGS DDRS | CAD 17,000/year | 4 years | No (Canadian/PR only) |
How Does the Vanier CGS Change Affect PhD Applicants?
The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, worth 50,000 dollars per year for three years, has been discontinued. From the fall 2025 competition it was folded into the new Canada Graduate Research Scholarship Doctoral, which pays 40,000 dollars annually for three years and remains open to both domestic and international doctoral applicants.
The three federal granting agencies, CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC, have merged their doctoral funding into one harmonized Canada Graduate Research Scholarship Doctoral. It replaces the former Canada Graduate Scholarships Doctoral, the agency-specific doctoral awards and the Vanier CGS. Applicants no longer apply to Vanier and are instead directed to apply for the CGRS Doctoral through their Canadian institution, which nominates candidates to the agencies.
What Is the University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship?
The University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship is a merit based award for full time graduate students. Doctoral fellows receive 25,000 dollars per year, up to 100,000 dollars over a maximum of 48 months, while master's students receive 20,000 dollars per year, up to 40,000 dollars. It is open to all nationalities.
UMGF applications are department-driven, so students apply through their program or unit, which then recommends candidates to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Departments determine the exact value and duration of each award, and total UMGF support for any single student cannot exceed four years. The Master of Business Administration is not eligible. Selection is based on academic excellence and research potential.
Intakes in Canada explainedRead →What Does the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholarship Offer?
The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarship supports research in the humanities and social sciences. It provides up to 50,000 dollars per year for living costs plus up to 20,000 dollars yearly for research and travel, over three years. Up to 15 scholars are selected annually, including a limited number of international students.
The Foundation looks for doctoral candidates whose research is rooted in the humanities and social sciences and aligned with one of its four themes, addressing major issues facing Canada and the world. Candidates are nominated by their institution and apply through the online Foundation portal with references. Beyond funding, scholars join a mentorship and public-engagement community that is a defining feature of the award.
How Can International Students Get Funding at Waterloo and Calgary?
At the University of Waterloo, eligible international doctoral students automatically receive the International Doctoral Student Award, worth about 5,140 dollars per term, alongside guaranteed minimum funding of 28,351 dollars per year. The University of Calgary offers competitive graduate awards and the tri-agency CGRS Doctoral, worth 40,000 dollars yearly, to international PhD candidates.
Waterloo's International Doctoral Student Award is applied automatically to eligible full-time international doctoral students and continues to the end of the third year, with a reduced structure in year four. At Calgary, the CGRS Doctoral has unrestricted citizenship criteria, though international applicants must already be enrolled in a doctoral program at an eligible Canadian institution. Note that Calgary's Distinguished Doctoral Recruitment Scholarship is restricted to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
Jobs in Canada for international studentsRead →Who Is Eligible for PhD Scholarships in Canada?
Eligibility varies by scholarship, but most Canadian PhD funding requires full time doctoral enrolment at an eligible Canadian institution and a strong academic record, often a first class or A average. International students qualify for the CGRS Doctoral, UMGF and Waterloo awards, while some university awards remain restricted to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
- Full-time enrolment in, or admission to, a doctoral program at an eligible Canadian institution
- A strong academic record, typically a first-class or A average in recent years of study
- Nomination by the university for most federal and foundation awards, rather than a direct application
- Meeting the university's own admission and English-language requirements before holding the award