Government of Canada (CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC)
Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS-D, replaces Vanier)
Canada's harmonised federal doctoral scholarship, run jointly by the three research councils. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships no longer take applications; up to 15% of CGRS-D awards now go to international students, who must be registered in a doctoral programme at an eligible Canadian university by the deadline.
Application round
For the fall 2026 competition the direct-to-agency deadline is 17 October 2026 at 20:00 Eastern time (07:00 on 18 October in Thailand). Universities set their own deadlines several weeks earlier: UBC, for example, closed at noon Vancouver time on 15 September 2026. Results by 30 April 2027.
Next round
The competition runs every autumn with the agency deadline on 17 October (or the next business day). Expect university internal deadlines from September 2027 for the next round.
The IELTS requirement
CGRS-D has no language test of its own: applications are written in English or French. For a Thai student the IELTS that matters is the one your Canadian university asked for when you were admitted to the PhD, typically 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each skill. Get that admission first; the scholarship comes in your first or second year.
Where is your IELTS score now?
Your university sets the IELTS score for this scholarship. Take the free level test to get an estimated band for each skill before you apply.
What it covers
- C$40,000 a year
- For 36 months
- Tuition and travel are not included: check your university’s own funding package
Who can apply
- International applicants: registered in a doctoral programme at an eligible Canadian institution by the application deadline (you cannot use it to start a PhD from Thailand)
- No more than 36 months of full-time doctoral study completed by 31 December of the application year
- Research in health, natural sciences and engineering, or social sciences and humanities; you apply to the matching agency
- Not a previous holder of a CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC doctoral award, including Vanier
- Most applicants apply through their university, which has its own earlier internal deadline
Key facts
- Provider
- Government of Canada (CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC)
- Where you study
- Canada
- Study level
- PhD
- Funding
- Partly funded
- Application round
- Closes October 17, 2026
Already know your score?
Build an IELTS plan for this scholarship
We've preselected 6.5, a typical requirement for this scholarship's courses. Check your own course and press Next to keep it, or choose a different score.
Step 1 of 6
What band do you need?
Your overall IELTS target.
We checked these details against the provider's official page on November 1, 2026. Rules and dates change every round, so confirm them there before you apply.
Official pageOther scholarships
All scholarships →- Closing soonPartly funded
New Zealand · Master's
University of Auckland International Student Excellence Scholarship
25% off one year of tuition for new international master's students at the University of Auckland. Semester One 2027 offer holders are invited; forms due 4 November 2026.
- IELTS needed
- –
- Set by your university
- Applications
- Closes Nov 4, 2026
- Accepting applications
- Closing soonPartly funded
Canada · Bachelor's
Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship (University of Toronto)
Four years of tuition, books, fees and residence for about 37 international undergraduates at the University of Toronto. Your school nominates you; admission needs IELTS 6.5.
- IELTS needed
- –
- Set by your university
- Applications
- Closes Nov 6, 2026
- Accepting applications
- Closing soonPartly funded
Canada · Bachelor's
UBC International Scholars Program (University of British Columbia)
Need-based awards for international school leavers starting a first degree at UBC, including the Karen McKellin and Wehrung awards. Apply by 15 November; IELTS 6.5 by 31 January.
- IELTS needed
- –
- Set by your university
- Applications
- Closes Nov 15, 2026
- Accepting applications