NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarship - Doctoral (CGS-D)/Postgraduate Scholarship - Doctoral (PGS-D) Competition

*Applications are no longer accepted for the NSERC CGS-D/PGS-D program. Please refer to the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral program web page and the GPS webpage for information regarding the new harmonized program.

*Applications are no longer accepted for the NSERC CGS-D/PGS-D program. Please refer to the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral program web page and the GPS webpage for information regarding the new harmonized program.

*Applications are no longer accepted for the NSERC CGS-D/PGS-D program. Please refer to the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral program web page and the GPS webpage for information regarding the new harmonized program.

• Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement: Active CGS-D holders who wish to undertake research outside of Canada for a defined period of time may consider applying for this supplement.

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada Aquatic Science Supplements and the Supplement for Research in Field Impact Assessment:
  • Active NSERC PGS-D and CGS-D awards holders with research in the areas of ocean science and impact assessment are eligible for the supplements. NSERC will identify applications from amongst active award holders; no further application is required for these supplements.
  • Offers will be made to award holders from NSERC. Payments will be made in the same manner as the award: via GPS.

• Information of additional supplements are available on NSERC’s website.

The Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) is the primary contact and administrator for the NSERC Doctoral award and its regulations for the term the student holds the award. 2025/26 recipients planning to accept the award at the U of A (activate Payment of Award: Awards paid by Canadian institutions) are to proceed with the following steps:

1) Advise NSERC if the award will be accepted (for May 1, Sept 1, or Jan 1).

2) Submit the following two documents to grad.awards@ualberta.ca:

• Copy of the offer letter “Notification of Results” from NSERC’s secure site
• Tri-Agency's Request for First Installment or Reinstatement of Award Paid by Canadian Institution form.
  • This form is required to pay the award at the university. Students are to ensure to complete the appropriate form “Paid by Canadian Institution”, not “Award Paid Directly to Award Holder”.
  • Complete Parts 1, 2, and 3; leave Part 4 blank. GPS will sign and complete this section as the university official, and will return to the agency on students’ behalf.  
  • Note that the start date may be changed from the "Proposed Start Date" as initially indicated on the application.
  • When selecting the start date, consider other sources of funding (if applicable) that will be held or currently hold (ex. other awards, department funding) to ensure there are no conflicts with overlap. 

Students’ renewable award (2025/26 recipients and prior) will be viewable in the GSMS Awards Portal under “My Awards” with the status of "Awaiting Renewal". GPS will notify students approximately 2 months prior to the renewal start date when it will be viewable in GSMS.

It is the student’s responsibility to send the renewal request to GPS via GSMS approximately 4 weeks before the start of the renewal year. Requests for renewals are subject to review by GPSS Awards Staff. Note that the value and specifics of the award may be adjusted. Renewal request requirements:

1) Student supervisor's authorization via GSMS 

To request the supervisor's authorization and to renew the award, follow the complete GSMS Awards: Renew My Award instructions (also available on GPS’s website under Awards and Funding/Award Resources/Student Resources/Renew my Award). 

 Enter a due-date for the supervisor sign-off that is as late as possible before the renewal deadline. Ensure the request is properly submitted; incomplete submission requests may result in delayed payments. 

2) Required form for all Tri-Council (CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC) Doctoral award holders: the completed Tri-Agency Doctoral Awards Progress Report (also available in the Forms Cabinet (under Awards\Awards Management)):

• the Progress Report must be signed by the Department's Graduate Coordinator/Chair (not the student’s program supervisor); students are responsible for securing the appropriate signature from their Department.
• the Progress Report is required to initiate payments; it is students’ responsibility to ensure that the Progress Report is complete in every respect, once uploaded. If incomplete, including missing signature(s) and/or unmarked checkbox (Student Progress), delays in processing will occur and may result in delayed payments

3) Award requirements: students must meet the eligibility requirements of their award set out within the Graduate Scholarship Committee Scholarships and Awards Manual (SAM). 

• the SAM is located in GPS's Forms Cabinet.
• the award is also subject to the regulations outlined in the Tri-Agency Research Training Award Holder’s Guide.

4) Full-time registration: students are to ensure they are full-time registered in their program during the tenure of the award. Students are to contact their home department if assistance with registration is required.