This new suite consolidates and streamlines funding opportunities for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers across disciplines. While full details will be released in the coming months, the agencies have now published the updated program descriptions for:

• (CGRS M)
• (CGRS D)
• (CPRA)

Ten programs will sunset, and funds will be reprofiled to CRTAS:

• Canada Graduate Scholarships – Master’s
• Canada Graduate Scholarships – Doctoral / CIHR Doctoral Foreign Study Award / NSERC Postgraduate Scholarships / SSHRC Doctoral Fellowships / Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
• CIHR Fellowship / NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowships / SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowships

The new harmonized programs within CRTAS are:

• Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master’s (CGRS M)
• Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS D)
• Canada Postdoctoral Research Award (CPRA)

For the upcoming 2025/2026 competition cycle:

• minimal changes to processes of past programs for seamless transition
• open for applications in summer 2025
• deadlines varying by agency and program
• applicants will continue using the funding agencies’ current online systems

Students and faculty are strongly encouraged to review the updated program descriptions now to begin preparing for the upcoming competitions. The Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) will share further updates on the official competition launches, institutional deadlines, and details about upcoming workshops and scholarship programming to support students applying to these awards later in Summer 2025.

New Award Programs at a Glance

Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master’s (CGRS M)

Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS D)

Canada Postdoctoral Research Award (CPRA)

Additional Key Points

• The Black Scholars initiative will be eligible under the new CGRS M, CGRS D, CPRA as well as continue for the USRA funding opportunity.
• The Canada Graduate Scholarships Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement (CGS MSFSS) will be launched one last time during the 2025-26 competition cycle. The program will be rebranded and redesigned as a supplement for the CRTAS.
• In anticipation of the launch of the Tri-agency grants management solution (TGMS), the application materials for the new CRTAS program may be adjusted, but the overall submission process and key deadlines for the 2025/2026 competition cycle will generally remain consistent with those of previous years.

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The institutional authority for postdoctoral fellowships is the Vice-Provost and Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS). If you intend to apply for a postdoctoral fellowship, or if you are a current postdoc at 91��ɫ looking to apply for grant funding, please reach out to the Postdoctoral Services & Professional Skills Coordinator in FGS as soon as possible to notify us of your plans and discuss specific requirements. This outreach will help you confirm which institutional approvals are required before you submit your application to the relevant funding agency. Depending on the funding opportunity, the following may be required:

• An institutional letter of support signed by the Vice-Provost and Dean of FGS – Must be requested at least 10 business days before the competition deadline
• An signed by the Vice-Provost and Dean of FGS – Must be requested at least 7 business days before the competition deadline in order to satisfy ORS deadline requirements

Institutional Letter of Support

Requirements vary based on the funding opportunity and are determined by external funder requirements and institutional policy. Many postdoctoral fellowship applications require an institutional letter of support that must be signed by the Vice-Provost and Dean of FGS. If your application requires an institutional letter, you will need to send a copy of the application to the Postdoctoral Services & Professional Skills Coordinator for review and must have confirmation of any commitments from 91��ɫ. Specific opportunities may involve additional requirements.

Additional Details on Applications Requiring ORS Approval

• An must be filled in and signed by the postdoctoral researcher on page 2 as the applicant. No department chair’s signature is required. The Postdoctoral Services & Professional Skills Coordinator will facilitate the Dean’s signature.
• Many funding applications from postdoctoral researchers do not include institutional commitments from 91��ɫ. If the application includes institutional commitments (cash or in-kind resources committed by a unit at 91��ɫ above and beyond the regular operating infrastructure available to you as a postdoc), the commitments must be confirmed in writing (on the ORS Checklist or by e-mail) by the source (i.e., the supervisor’s Dean’s Office, Research Centre or Institute Director). Questions about institutional commitments should be directed to the Postdoctoral Services & Professional Skills Coordinator.
• The proposed supervisor must provide an emailed confirmation to the Postdoctoral Services & Professional Skills Coordinator that they agree to hold the cost centre (the account at 91��ɫ with the funding) in their name should the application be successful.
  • The email confirmation should also include a statement that they support the application and will provide the applicant with the necessary supports to carry out the proposed research.
• A complete copy of the application, together with a completed and fully signed ORS Checklist, must be submitted to the ORS by e-mail to researchapps@yorku.ca for review and institutional approval by the deadline set by ORS (typically 48 hours before the competition deadline).

For competition-specific information on external fellowship opportunities, please visit the Guide for Supervisors Supporting Applications for Externally-funded Postdoctoral Fellowships.

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