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*Applications are no longer accepted for the Vanier CGS program. Please refer to the  web page and the GPS webpage for information regarding the new harmonized program.

Awarded at $50,000 a year for three years, the Vanier is one of Canada's most prestigious graduate awards.

*Applications are no longer accepted for the Vanier CGS program. Please refer to the  web page and the GPS webpage for information regarding the new harmonized program.

*Applications are no longer accepted for the Vanier CGS program. Please refer to the  web page and the GPS webpage for information regarding the new harmonized program.

Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement: Active Vanier holders (if eligible) who wish to undertake research outside of Canada for a defined period of time may consider applying for this supplement.

The Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) is the primary contact and administrator for the Vanier 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 ) are to proceed with the following steps:

1. Respond to the award offer

1. To accept the offer, students are to login to  and respond to the offer no later than the date specified in the Vanier Offer letter.
   When choosing a start date, if applicable, students are to consider other sources of funding that they hold or will currently hold (ex. other awards, department funding) to ensure these awards don't conflict with the Vanier.
2. Students must complete the Confirmation of Commencement (CFC) form from  and submit a signed copy directly to vanier@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.

The CFC form is usually generated two months prior to the start of the award. However, awards beginning in May will be validated immediately and awardees will therefore soon receive their CFC. If the award starts in September, CFC will be available sometime in July.

2. Submit Required Documents to GPS

1. Vanier Offer Letter and the Offer of an Award document
2. Response to an Offer of Award
3. Confirmation of Commencement (CFC) Form
4. Authorization of Funding (AFF) - Vanier staff will generate the AFF and will be sent to recipients. Expect a 4 to 6 weeks turnaround time for the process to be completed by them. Once available, students are to send GPS a copy of the AFF at a later date.

3. Award Payments

Award payments will be processed according to the start date and the university's payroll schedule.

It is the students’ responsibility to read the Tri-Agency’s  and the GPS Scholarships and Awards Manual for all regulations and requirements relating to the award(s), including information on payment schedules, direct deposit, and renewal years (if applicable).

Students’ renewable award (2025/26 recipients and prior) will be viewable in the  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 GPS 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, Vanier) 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 .

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.