1. 17/09/2018

2. NSERC provides funding for:
undergraduate students
USRA and I-USRA programs
graduate students
PGS / CGS awards
Vanier CGS awards
Industrial postgraduate scholarships (IPS)
postdoctoral
NSERC PDFs and Banting PDFs
Industrial R&D Fellowships, Visiting Fellowships (government labs)
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School of Graduate Studies

3. NSERC PGS/CGS awards
advancing knowledge in the natural sciences and engineering
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School of Graduate Studies

4. Citizenship requirements
To apply for a CGS or PGS award you must be
a Canadian citizen or
a permanent resident of Canada
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School of Graduate Studies

5. Eligibility of Proposed Research
The research challenge must lie within the NSE
NSERC does not support clinically-oriented research
For further details, consult NSERC’s Eligibility Criteria for Students and Fellows:
NSERC makes the final decision
May only apply to one agency per academic year
Justification for the eligibility of the proposed research (part of online application)
The proposed research must clearly be intended to advance knowledge in the natural sciences or in engineering (NSE). Proposals that include the use of methodologies, tools, techniques and knowledge from the NSE are not automatically considered eligible by NSERC. In cases where the proposed research is deemed to fall within the mandate of either CIHR or SSHRC, NSERC will not accept the application.
Having received previous funding from NSERC does not imply that one is automatically deemed eligible for continued NSERC funding. As students advance in their studies, if the focus of the research changes from fundamental research to more applied research in the health or social sciences and humanities areas, it may no longer be eligible for NSERC support.
Try to remind students applying through your university that they may only apply to one agency per academic year (September to August). If they are rejected under NSERC’s competition for submitting more than one application, this means you will lose a quota and you will not able to submit a new application in its place
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School of Graduate Studies

6. Eligibility of Program of Study
Applicants who are proposing a clinically -oriented program of study (e.g., clinical psychology) will be eligible if:
they propose a research project deemed eligible to be funded by NSERC; and
their supervisor is a researcher holding an active NSERC Discovery Grant
Joint graduate programs which include a professional degree (e.g., MD/PhD) are ineligible
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School of Graduate Studies

7. NSERC CGS/PGS M and D CGS M CGS D PGS D Value $17,500 $35,000 $21,000
Duration
1 year
2 or 3 years
Tenure
MUST be held at the University which offers the award!
Canadian universities
ONLY
Canadian or foreign universities*
* Must have obtained at least one Canadian degree in NSE
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School of Graduate Studies

8. Bachelors → Doctorate NO registration in Master's
NSERC CGS/PGS M and D
CGS M
CGS/PGS D
Bachelors → Master's or
Master’s
→ Doctorate
Bachelors → Doctorate NO registration in Master's
Master's → Doctorate
Eligibility*
0-12 months in Master's
0-12 months in Doctorate
0-24 months in Doctorate
4-36 months in Doctorate
1st class average
Required in each of the last two years of full-time study (or equivalent) – Exceptions to be justified by university.
Eligible for PGS M if the student never took up previous award at M level (PGS A, PGS/CGS M, IPS 1, CGS - SSHRC/CIHR) for the same program of study.
Eligible for PGS D if the student never took up previous award at D level (PGS B, PGS/CGS D, IPS 2, CGS – SSHRC/CIHR) for same program of study.
If a student is entering a doctoral program directly from a bachelor’s degree, the student is responsible for choosing the type of award they wish to hold (especially in cases where the student is eligible for both the PGS M or PGS D). Student must choose wisely!
Any student within 0-12 months of a master’s as of December 31st of the year of application and intending to pursue a doctoral program in the following year may apply for a PGSM in an attempt to maximize the number of years of funding.
If a student received credit towards admission to his/her current program from previous studies (foreign or previous program not completed), these will count towards the number of months of study completed in the program for which funding is requested. The university may be asked to confirm the exact time period.
Those going directly from a bachelor’s to a doctoral program are applicants who have never been registered in a master’s program.
If a student was registered in a master’s degree and subsequently transferred to a doctoral degree, the months in the doctoral degree will be calculated starting from the actual date on which the student was officially registered in the PhD program.
*As of 31 December of the year of application in program for which support is requested
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School of Graduate Studies

9. Selection criteria & weightings
CGS M
CGS/PGS D
Academic excellence
50 %
30 %
Research ability or potential
Communication, interpersonal and leadership abilities
20 %
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School of Graduate Studies

10. NSERC selection criteria
Academic excellence
Academic record
Scholarships and awards held
Duration of previous studies
Research ability or potential
Quality of contributions to research and development
Relevance of work experience and academic training to field of proposed research
Significance, feasibility, and merit of proposed research, and justification for location of tenure
Ability to think critically
Ability to apply skills and knowledge
Judgment
Originality
Initiative and autonomy
Enthusiasm for research
Determination and ability to complete projects within an appropriate period of time
Communication, interpersonal and leadership abilities
The ability or potential to communicate scientific concepts clearly and logically in written and oral formats. For example, this could include:
quality of the application's presentation;
participation in preparing publications; and
awards for oral presentations or papers.
Professional and relevant extracurricular interactions and collaborations. For example, this could include:
mentoring;
teaching;
supervisory experience;
project management;
chairing committees;
organizing conferences and meetings; and
elected positions held.
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School of Graduate Studies

11. CGS/PGS Doctoral – How to Apply
Submit electronically to SGS via NSERC website
SGS gives read access of the applications to departments / internal selection committees for their recommendations
University committees select applicants to fill NSERC quota – this year, 12 Doctoral
Quota of applications sent electronically to NSERC
SGS informs you of application decision
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School of Graduate Studies

12. Application process for Doctoral Applicants:
Prepare: review the information on the NSERC website,
Read the Program Guide / program description
Watch online videos: summary, tips on applying, review process
Read the Instructions! (form 201)
Complete the application online
Arrange for two references – completed online!
Arrange for official transcripts
Submit online by October 09, 2017!
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School of Graduate Studies

13. CGS/PGS D: Transcripts
Required for all university study
Applicant will arrange for official transcripts and submit to or in person at the Grad School
Applicant will submit transcript request within the application portal to
*NOTE: ALL TRANSCRIPTS MUST BE OFFICIAL and THE MOST CURRENT
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School of Graduate Studies

14. School of Graduate Studies
More information…
NSERC site
Program questions:
School of Graduate Studies
Kyle Hampsey, Student Services Officer
Dr. John Kershaw, Associate Dean
Tricouncil Application Guide
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School of Graduate Studies

15. School of Graduate Studies
17/09/2018
School of Graduate Studies