Canada Scholarships for International Students changed significantly in the last two years — including the end of one of its most famous awards. This hub covers what’s actually current: the program that replaced Vanier, how Canada’s tri-agency system works, university-specific funding, and the immigration and work-permit rules that now directly affect which programs are worth pursuing.
The Biggest Change: Vanier Is Gone
If you’ve read anywhere that the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship is open for applications, that information is outdated. The Fall 2024 competition, with results released in April 2025, was the final one. Vanier has been permanently discontinued and merged into a new, harmonized program.
Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS-D)
CGRS-D replaces Vanier CGS, the old CGS-Doctoral program, and agency-specific doctoral awards, combining all three into a single competition run jointly by Canada’s three federal granting agencies: CIHR, NSERC, and SSHRC.
- Value: $40,000/year for 3 years (non-renewable) — down from Vanier’s $50,000/year, but now genuinely accessible to more applicants
- International Students: Explicitly eligible for the first time — this wasn’t guaranteed under every proposed successor design, so it’s a real, meaningful expansion of access
- Selection Criteria: Academic excellence, research potential, and leadership — the same three pillars Vanier used
- Documents Required: A research proposal, personal statement, CV in the Canadian Common CV (CCV) format, transcripts, and two referee assessments
- Deadline: Agency-level deadline of October 17 annually, though your specific institution may set an earlier internal nomination deadline — contact your graduate school directly rather than assuming last cycle’s dates carry over
- Restrictions: Covers thesis-based PhD programs only — not diploma programs, vocational courses, or professional flight training
- How to Apply: If you’re already enrolled at a Canadian institution, this is institution-mediated — there’s no direct-to-agency path. If you’re applying to a Canadian doctoral program from abroad, you may apply directly to the relevant agency instead.
Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master’s (CGRS-M)
The companion Master’s-level program, paying $27,000 for 12 months, with a December 1 deadline.
University-Specific Canada Scholarships for International Students
Beyond the federal tri-agency system, most Canadian universities run their own scholarship programs for international students. We cover several individually:
- University of Toronto Scholarships
- McGill University Scholarships
- University of Alberta Scholarships
- University of Manitoba Work-Study Program
- University Canada West Scholarships
- Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship (University of Toronto)
- University of Waterloo Sscholarships
Before You Choose a Program: Check the Work-Permit Rules
Since November 2024, a Canadian diploma or certificate — as opposed to a degree — only leads to a Post-Graduation Work Permit if your specific program falls under an approved Field of Study list. This is one of the most consequential recent changes for anyone considering Canada, and it applies regardless of which scholarship or funding route you take: Canada Diploma Scholarships
The Bigger Picture: Canada Is Accepting Fewer International Students Right Now
Canada’s 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan cut international student permits nearly in half compared to 2025, alongside broader reductions to temporary resident intake. This doesn’t mean opportunities have disappeared, but it does mean more competition for fewer spots than in previous years — worth knowing before you build your plans around older, more optimistic guides: Canada Immigration Levels Plan
Corporate and Internship Pathways in Canada
Beyond degree-funding scholarships, several corporate programs offer paid internships and career pathways for international students and graduates in Canada:
- KPMG Canada Internship: KPMG Canada Internship
- Deloitte Scholarships for One Young World (Canada): Deloitte One Young World Canada
What’s the general minimum IELTS requirement for Canadian universities?
Commonly 6.0 overall with no band below 5.5 for undergraduate/diploma programs, and 6.5–7.0 overall for postgraduate programs, though specific programs can require higher. check details
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship still available? No. The Fall 2024 competition was the final one. It has been replaced by the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS-D), a harmonized program now open to international students.
How much does CGRS-D pay? $40,000 per year for three years, non-renewable.
Can international students apply for CGRS-D? Yes, this is a genuine change from prior programs — international students are now explicitly eligible.
Does a Canadian scholarship guarantee a work permit after graduation? No, and this depends entirely on your program type, not your funding source. Since November 2024, diploma and certificate programs need to be on an approved Field of Study list to lead to a Post-Graduation Work Permit; degree programs are exempt from this specific rule.
Is it harder to get into a Canadian program now than a few years ago? Broadly, yes, in terms of overall competition for available spots — Canada’s international student permit cap was cut by roughly half for 2026 compared to 2025, meaning more applicants are competing for a smaller number of spots nationally.
Are there scholarships specifically for Master’s students in Canada? Yes. The Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master’s (CGRS-M) pays $27,000 for 12 months, alongside numerous university-specific Master’s scholarships.
Explore More
This guide is part of our regional scholarship hub series. Back to Fully Funded Scholarships for International Students
Official Resources
- Tri-agency CGRS-D program information: cihr-irsc.gc.ca, nserc-crsng.gc.ca, sshrc-crsh.gc.ca
- IRCC (Post-Graduation Work Permit and immigration levels): canada.ca
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