Canada Opens $27,000 Graduate Research Scholarships 2027 at McGill University
Students planning to pursue a research-based master’s degree in Canada now have one of the country’s most competitive funding opportunities on their radar. The Canada Graduate Research Scholarships – Master’s (CGRS M) program has opened applications, offering CAD $27,000 in funding for one year to outstanding graduate researchers across health sciences, engineering, natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities.
Unlike university-specific scholarships, the CGRS Master’s program operates through Canada’s three federal research agencies—NSERC, SSHRC, and CIHR—allowing eligible applicants to submit a single online application that can be considered by up to three Canadian universities. For students seeking research funding at institutions such as McGill University and other participating Canadian universities, this program remains one of the fastest routes to secure government-backed graduate funding.
Scholarship at a Glance
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Host Country | Canada |
| Scholarship Name | Canada Graduate Research Scholarships – Master’s (CGRS M) |
| Funding Agencies | NSERC, SSHRC & CIHR |
| Scholarship Value | CAD $27,000 |
| Duration | One year (non-renewable) |
| Study Level | Research Master’s and eligible Doctoral pathways |
| Application Mode | Online through the Research Portal |
What Makes This Scholarship Different?
The CGRS Master’s program is designed to identify students with strong academic records and research potential before they establish long research careers.
Instead of applying separately to multiple federal agencies, applicants submit one centralized application through Canada’s Research Portal. During the application, students simply identify whether their proposed research belongs to:
- Health sciences (CIHR)
- Natural sciences and engineering (NSERC)
- Social sciences and humanities (SSHRC)
Applicants can also select up to three eligible Canadian universities where they wish to hold the scholarship, making the process considerably more flexible than many traditional graduate funding competitions.
Financial Benefits
Successful applicants of Graduate Research Scholarships 2027 at McGill University will receive:
- CAD $27,000 scholarship
- One year of graduate research funding
- Government-supported research award
- Recognition from Canada’s federal granting agencies
- Opportunity to undertake research at eligible Canadian universities
Who Can Apply?
Applicants of CGRS Scholarship must satisfy all major eligibility requirements, including:
- Canadian citizens
- Canadian permanent residents
- Protected Persons under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
- Students enrolled in, admitted to, or planning to apply for full-time admission to an eligible graduate program at a Canadian university holding a CGRS Master’s allocation
- Applicants with a first-class academic average during the last two completed years of study
- Students who have not previously received a CGRS Master’s award
- Candidates meeting the program’s graduate study limits, including those entering eligible master’s or qualifying doctoral pathways
Applicants may submit only one CGRS Master’s application per competition year.
Eligible Research Fields
Funding for Graduate Research Scholarships 2027 at McGill University is available for research projects across numerous disciplines, including:
- Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering
- Health Sciences
- Medicine
- Natural Sciences
- Computer Science
- Environmental Sciences
- Social Sciences
- Humanities
- Interdisciplinary Research
Students proposing interdisciplinary projects are encouraged to carefully select the appropriate federal granting agency before submitting their application.
Indigenous Scholars Awards and Supplements
The Canadian government also provides additional funding opportunities for eligible Indigenous applicants through the Indigenous Scholars Awards and Supplements Initiative.
Eligible applicants whose applications receive an “Offered” or “Alternate” status may receive:
| Award | Value |
| Indigenous Scholars Award | CAD $27,000 |
| Indigenous Scholars Supplement | CAD $5,000 |
Funding depends on available program allocations.
Additional Funding for Black Student Researchers
The Government of Canada has also reserved additional scholarship funding for Black student researchers.
Applicants who voluntarily self-identify as Black within the application and provide consent may become eligible for additional CGRS Master’s awards if their application achieves Alternate status during the competition.
Application Deadline
The last date to submit an application for the Canada Graduate Research Scholarships – Master’s (CGRS M) is December 1, 2026, at 8:00 p.m.
Interested in mastera in science .paediatrics and child health
Interested in applying for a master’s degree scholarship program. I am 30 years old, from Papua New Guinea, and currently working as a Project Officer. I have a degree in Agriculture and would like to pursue a master’s degree. How do I apply for the program mentioned in the article?
Hi Joyce Anne Zamunu—thanks for sharing your background. From the article, this is the Canada Graduate Research Scholarships (CGRS–Master’s), which targets applicants who are enrolled in, admitted to, or planning full-time admission to an eligible Canadian graduate program, and it uses a single online application via Canada’s federal research agencies (NSERC/SSHRC/CIHR). Since your degree is in Agriculture, your best fit will depend on whether your intended master’s is in one of the covered fields and matches an eligible Canadian program/university allocation. Please confirm your target discipline and whether you’re applying for a research-based master’s in Canada, then apply through the CGRS–Master’s portal when the application opens.