UBC 2022 Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS) program is designed to attract and retain world-class doctoral students by supporting students who demonstrate both leadership skills and a high standard of scholarly achievement in graduate studies in the social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and engineering, and health-related fields. 

• Table of Content
• About University Of British Columbia
• Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
• Aim and Benefits of Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
• Requirements for Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About University Of British Columbia

The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a global centre for teaching, learning and research, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world and recently recognized as North America’s most international university. Since 1915, our motto, Tuum Est (It is Yours), has been a declaration of our commitment to attracting and supporting those who have the drive to shape a better world. As a result, UBC students, faculty and staff continue to embrace innovation and challenge the status quo, placing us at the forefront of discovery, learning and engagement. UBC encourages... continue reading

Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

Aim and Benefits of Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

The Vanier CGS is valued at $50,000 per year for up to three years.

Requirements for Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships Qualification

To be considered for a Vanier CGS, you must:

• be nominated by only one Canadian institution, which must have received a Vanier CGS quotaFootnote1;
• be pursuing your first doctoral degree (including joint program such as MD/PhD, DVM/PhD, or JD/PhD - if it has a demonstrated and significant research component);
• intend to pursue, in the summer semester or the academic year following the announcement of results, full-time doctoral (or a joint graduate research program such as MD/PhD, DVM/PhD, JD/PhD) studies and research at the nominating institution;
• have completed no more than 20 months of full-time study in your doctoral program as of May 1, 2023;
  • The doctoral program would begin after the completion of a Master's degree. The months of study completed are calculated from the doctoral enrolment date.
• have completed no more than 32 months of full-time study in your doctoral program (i.e., joint graduate research program, accelerated, previously enrolled without obtaining Master's degree), by May 1, 2023 if:
  • enrolled in a joint graduate research program, e.g., MD/PhD, MA/PhD, DVM/PhD. Applicants in this category have access to the 32-month window whether or not they were previously enrolled in a Master's program:
    • The months of study are calculated starting from the date on which an applicant is officially registered in the joint program (including the Master's portion of the program).
  • enrolled directly from a Bachelor's to a PhD (not previously enrolled in a Master's program);
    • The months of study completed are calculated from the doctoral enrolment date.
  • Previously enrolled in a Master's program without obtaining the degree.
    • The months of study completed are calculated from the original Master's enrolment date.
• have achieved a first-class average, as determined by your institution, in each of the last two years of full-time study or equivalent. Candidates are encouraged to contact the institution for its definition of a first-class average; and
• must not hold, or have held, a doctoral-level scholarship or fellowship from CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC to undertake or complete a doctoral program.

Please note that only the PhD portion of a joint program is eligible for funding.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

UBC Vanier applicants will complete their Vanier application using ResearchNet, an online application system. Applicants to UBC must submit their complete Vanier application package via ResearchNet by 12 noon PT on Thursday, 1 September 2022.  Late applications will not be accepted.

Applicants should refer to the Vanier CGS website for step-by-step application instructions.

To apply, applicants must do the following by the deadline noted above:

1. Notify their chosen UBC graduate program that they intend to apply for the Vanier CGS.  
   • This is an important step as your UBC graduate program should be aware of your intention to apply for the Vanier as they must support (nominate) your application in order for it to reach the university-wide stage of the award competition.
2. Provide official, up to date transcripts to their UBC graduate program for all post-secondary studies (including studies that did not lead to a degree, e.g., exchange / transfer course grades) up to 31 August 2022.
   • UBC transcripts:
     • The "Academic History" document (provided by graduate program – not available on SSC) is acceptable.  Official UBC transcript is also acceptable.
     • For applicants registered at UBC in the 2022W1 (Fall 2022) term, the UBC transcript (or SISC Academic History) must list the student’s 2022W1 (Fall 2022) registration.
     • Must include UBC transcript key. The current version is available here.
   • Other transcripts:
     • Only official transcripts will be accepted by Vanier.
     • Acceptable:
       • Official transcripts from UBC admission application (evision system): Scanned copies of official transcripts, accessed by the UBC graduate program from evision, that were validated and uploaded by G+PS (i.e., transcripts listed as “Transcripts & Diplomas – Official” under ‘Document Type’ in evision)
       • "Certified true" copies of official transcripts from the UBC graduate program’s own files.
       • Official transcripts sent directly from the issuing institution to the UBC graduate program.
     • Not acceptable:
       • Unofficial transcripts (no water mark or registrar’s signature or registrar's stamp and/or may note ”unofficial” on each page and/or copied from institution student account)
       • Transcripts uploaded by the applicant for UBC admission (ie. transcripts in evision system that are not verified by G+PS)
       • Applicant’s personal copies of official transcripts
     • Official transcripts: Typically include a watermark from the institution and/or a registrar’s signature and/or stamp.
     • Up to date transcripts: Dated or issued in the summer session (summer 2022) (if currently registered) or after the last term completed (if not currently registered).
     • International transcripts: For students including foreign transcripts, if the transcripts are not presented in one of Canada’s two official languages (English or French), a certified translation must be provided, in addition to the official transcripts in its original language.
     • Include one copy of marking key / legend (usually on back of transcript) for each institution.
   • The graduate program may have some of the applicant's transcripts on file already; if so, well in advance of the application deadline, the applicant must confirm with the graduate program which transcripts the program has on file and will provide to support the Vanier CGS application, and which transcripts the applicant must still provide to the graduate program.
   • If the applicant needs to provide any transcripts in support of their Vanier CGS application, the graduate program must receive the original, official transcripts from the issuing institution.
   • Note: “transcripts for post-secondary studies” includes transcripts from transfer credit courses and exchange or study abroad terms.
     • Example: UBC transcript lists study abroad terms at “Sciences Po” institute in Paris. The courses are listed as transfer credit on the UBC transcript, but the grades are not listed. The official Sciences Po transcript must be provided.
   • Questions about transcript requirements should be directed to the graduate program; the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies does not provide transcripts for Vanier applications
   • It is the applicant's responsibility to confirm that their graduate program has all of their required transcripts for their Vanier application
   • Transcripts are not attached to the Vanier application by the application deadline.  The nominating institution will attach the official transcripts later, should the application be nominated to the Vanier CGS national competition.
3. Request letters of support from four referees:
   • two letters from referees assessing the applicant's academic excellence, research potential and demonstrated and potential leadership ability are submitted electronically through ResearchNet by the referee
   • two leadership reference letters; two PDFs are provided to the applicant, who uploads the letters to his or her electronic application file
   • Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI): Referees are encouraged to review Vanier’s EDI resources to incorporate EDI considerations in their reference letters.
   • See further information regarding referee assessments.
4. Create a “Vanier-Banting Academic” CV
5. Prepare the other required documents (Research Contributions, Personal Leadership Statement, Special Circumstances [if applicable], Research Proposal, Project References, and Voluntary Self-Identification Form for Indigenous Applicants [optional]).  The presentation standards and page limits set by Vanier must be followed.
6. Submit a completed Vanier CGS application via ResearchNet

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI): Applicants are encouraged to review Vanier’s EDI resources to incorporate EDI considerations in their application package.

Please see the Vanier CGS website for detailed application/nomination instructions.

For more details, visit UBC wesbite.