Tri-Council

Tri-Council Doctoral Scholarship Guide

Canada Graduate Research Scholarship

The Canada Graduate Research Scholarship — Doctoral (CGRS D) program recognizes and supports the next generation of outstanding innovators, knowledge workers, creative thinkers and researchers. By providing support for a high-quality research training experience to awardees, the program strives to foster impacts within and beyond the research environment.

Students looking to apply to the Tri-Council Doctoral scholarship programs, and who are or have been registered at UNB in the current application year, must apply through the UNB internal competition.

  • Create an application through the appropriate Agency
  • Complete your application. Application instructions are found when you begin your application.
  • Submit completed application form, along with all required attachments by the internal deadline.
  • Official copies of all Post-Secondary transcripts are required. 

Applications submitted will be forwarded to Departments will be reviewed and ranked.

Ranked and eligible applications will be collected and distributed to the University wide selection committee. This multidisciplinary committee will then complete the task of reviewing and ranking of all applications submitted to determine the applications to be forwarded to the National Competition as part of UNB's submission quota.

Applicants selected to be forwarded to the National Competition will be given time to make suggested revisions.


Canadian, permanent resident, protected persons, or International student enrolled in a doctoral program of study at an eligible Canadian institution at the time of application. 

To be eligible to apply students must have completed no more than 36 months of full-time equivalent study in the doctoral program for which you are requesting funding by December 31 of the calendar year of application if previously enrolled in a graduate program. 

If you are eligible to apply to the Canada Graduate Research Sholarship - Master's (CGRSM) program, you may be able to maximize funding your potential period of funding by applying to the CGRSM program for your first year of your doctoral funding instead of the CGSRD program. Applicants are responsible for choosing the award program to which you apply.

If you are not a Canadian Citizen, permanent resident of Canada, or protected person, you must be enrolled in your Doctoral program at the time of application.

Note:  Applicants may only apply to one council.


$40,000 per year for 3 years

CIHR offers addional Priority Announcements/Funding Pools as additional sources of funding for highly rated applicantions that are relevant to research proritiy areas or mandates.

These opportunities are listed with CIHR, applicants must verify the "How to Apply" section of each funding opportunity.


Award Supplements

  • Fisheries and Oceans Canada Aquatic Science supplement - $10,000
  • Supplement for Research in the Field of Impact Assessment - $10,000
  • Department of National Defense/NSERC Supplementa Funding award - $10,000
  • Canadian Forest Sector Workforce Diversity Supplement - $5,000

To apply for these inititatives please review the appropriate postgraduate supplement webpage for more information. 


Award Supplement

  • Alieen D. Ross Fellowship - $10,000
  • Queen's Fellowship - $10,000
  • Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)-SSHRC Housing Research Supplements - $10,000

To appy for these supplement a one-page justification for each supplement selected in the 'Application profile' section must be provided.

Joint Initiatives

  • Department of National Defense MINDS Scholarship - $35,000 per year
  • Initiative for Digital Citzen Research Supplement - $10,000
  • Sport Participation Research Initiative Supplement - $10,000
  • Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)-SSHRC Housing Research Scholarship Program - $40,000 per year
  • Mitacs Training - Training offered through Mitacs for SSHRC Doctoral Holders.

To appy for these inititaves a one-page justification for each initiative selected in the 'Application profile' section must be provided.


Before starting the application process, both student and supervisor should ensure they have the following:

Within ResearchNet, CIHR provides a detailed application guide and application instructions.

A completed application will include:

  1. A complete the Common CV
  2. A complete CIHR Doctoral application
  3. Official copies of all Post-Secondary transcripts

Applicants must review the terms listed and respond to the questions regarding consent in order to fully submit their application.

Email confirmation will be sent once you have submitted your application.

Note: UNB participates in the CIHR Electronic Signature Process. If your application is approved by UNB, you will receive an email notification.


Applications to the NSERC doctoral competitions are submitted through the NSERC online system.

A complete application will include:

Please refer to NSERC’s list for a completed application.


Students looking to apply to the SSHRC doctoral scholarship program, and who are or have been registered at UNB in the current application year, must apply through the UNB internal competition.

  1. Complete a Canadian Common CV
  2. Complete a SSHRC Doctoral application.

Evaluation of CGRSD application is based on the following criteria:

Selection Criteria Description Weight
Research Potential

Indicators of research potential:

  • Quality of research proposal:
    • Specific, focused, and feasible research question(s) and/or objective(s)
    • clear description and soundness of the proposed methodology
    • Significant and expected contributions to research
  • Demonstration of potential to carry out proposed research relative to the stage of study, lived experience, and knowledge systems 
  • Quality of contributions and extent to which they advance the field of research-contributions may inlcude publications, patents, reports, posters, abstracts, monographs, presentations, creative outposts, knowledge translation outputs, community products, ect.
  • Demonstration of sound judgement and ability to think critically
  • Demonstration of responsible and ethical research conduct, including honest and thoughtful inquiry, rigorous analysis, commitment to safety and dissemination of research results, and adherence to professional standards
  • Demonstration of originality, initiative, autonomy, relevant community involvement, and outreach
  • Ability to communicate theoretical, technical, and/or scientific concepts clearly and logically written and oral formats
 50%
Relevant Experience and Acheivements obtained within and beyond academia

Indicators of relevant experience and achievements obtained within and beyond academia:

  • Relevant training, such as academic training, lived experience, and traditional teachings
  • Scholarships, awards, and distinctions (amount, duration, and prestige)
  • Academic record:
    • Transcripts
    • Duration of previous studies
    • Program requirements and courses pursued
    • Course load
    • Relative standing in program (if available)
  • Professional, academic, and extracurricular activities, as well as collborations with supervisors, colleagues, peers, students, and members of the community such as:
    • Teaching, mentoring, supervising, and/or coaching
    • Managing projects
    • Participating in sciences and/or research promotion
    • Participating in community outreach, volunteer work, and/or civic engagement
    • Chairing committees and/or organizing conferences and meetings
    • Participating in department or institutional organizations, associations, societies, and/or clubs
 50%

UNB students applying should refer to the timeline of events.

Note: Results are typically sent directly to students by April 30. 


Additional resources for applicants: