Q. How do I know if I am eligible to apply for the CGRS D?
A. For full details about eligibility, refer to the
Eligibility Criteria on the CGRS D program webpage.
Q. How do I calculate time in program?
A. Months in program are calculated from the beginning of the entering term: January, May, July or September.
When calculating total number of months in graduate studies, include all time registered in graduate studies, even if you didn't receive any credentials. All prior doctoral-level studies, started in Canada or abroad, are considered in the evaluation of eligibility. Refer to the CGRS D website for full
Eligibility Criteria.
Q. My research is interdisciplinary. How do I determine which agency I should apply to?
Q. I am Indigenous. Is there anything specific I need to be aware of when applying?
A. The Tri-Agencies have implemented measures to support Indigenous research and First Nations, Inuit and Métis graduate students.
Canadian Indigenous doctoral applicants are encouraged to self-identify and provide consent within the application form to share this information with their institutions and the Tri-Agencies, as universities are permitted to recommend an unlimited number of self-identified Indigenous applicants above their application quota to the national competition. Self-identification data are not seen or used by Tri-Agency selection committee members.
Please note that USask has its own
membership policy, independent of the Tri-Agencies.
Q. Now that the eligibility window has increased to up to 36 months in program, how are reviewers going to handle the difference between a 3rd year and 1st doctoral student applying to the CGRS D program? Will equal consideration be given to applicants at 36 months compared to applicants at 0 months?
A. There are no processes to explicitly force a distribution of the awards equally across various career stages, but this naturally happens through the peer review process. Reviewers are instructed to assess productivity and progress broadly by taking into consideration, among other things, the context of the applicant and their career stage.
Q. International applicants must be affiliated with a Canadian institution to apply. Do I have to be admitted or enrolled?
A. If you are not a Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada or protected person under subsection 95(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada), you must be enrolled in your doctoral program of study at an eligible Canadian institution by the application deadline.
Q. How will the percentage cap of awards to international students be applied? Is it equal across all three agencies? How will the agencies determine the number of awards for international applicants?
A. Upon completion of the peer review competition process, the selection committees at the national level for each agency will generate ranking lists for each committee. These lists will be used for funding decision-making purposes. Each agency will apply a cap of up to 15% international applicants.
Q. What is the application deadline?
A. Applicants who are eligible to apply through USask must apply by the internal deadline, September 29, 2025.
Applicants who apply directly to the Tri-Agencies while enrolled at USask will not be considered.
Q. I missed the application deadline—would it be possible to get an extension? What happens if my referee submitted their reference late or if my transcripts didn’t arrive on time?
A. No, extensions are not permitted. The Tri-Agency awards are highly competitive, and applicants are expected to manage their time well to ensure that all materials, including references and transcripts, are submitted on time.
Q. Do I need to include official transcripts? What transcripts do I need to include?
A. You will need to include official transcripts and transcript keys for your complete academic history. This includes any transfer credits, and your up-to-date USask transcripts. Your USask transcripts must show your current term registration, even if you do not have any graded courses yet.
Q. Can you order my University of Saskatchewan transcripts for me?
Q. I have already provided my transcripts to the USask when I applied to my program. Can you get them for me to use in my application?
Q. My transcripts from a previous institution aren't in English, is that okay?
A. If you have transcripts written in a language other than English or French, you must provide a certified English or French translation.
Q. What are the most common application mistakes?
A. Applications are most commonly ineligible due to missing, outdated or unofficial transcripts or incomplete application materials.
Common mistakes that weaken an application include not following presentation and attachment standards (font size, margins, etc.), submitting poorly written or underdeveloped research proposals and weak references.
Q. Will I receive feedback on my application?
A. CGPS will review applications once submitted in the online portal, after internal deadline, for compliance-related matters. This includes ensuring the application meets the agency guidelines (ex. formatting requirements), and that all required transcripts are included. If time permits, CGPS will return the application to the student if changes are required. Students are then expected to make the changes and return the revised application, which then goes on to the internal adjudicators.
Q. My reference isn't able to log in using the link they were provided. What do I do?
A. Go into your application, delete the reference's information, then re-enter it. This will trigger a new email to your reference, which should allow them to access the reference section.
Q. When will I know if my application was selected to move on to the national competition?
A. Applicants will be notified at the beginning of November. If your application is selected , you will be given the opportunity to make minor revisions to your application before it is forwarded on to the agency by the November 17th deadline.
Q. If my application was forwarded to the national competition, when will I be notified of the final results?
A. Decisions are announced in the spring of each year. Applicants will be notified to check the online portal when decisions have been posted.