Funding Opportunities
Canada Graduate Scholarships—Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements
A Tri-Agency (SSHRC, NSERC and CIHR) Program
Important information regarding eligibility of subject matter
Due to recent changes in eligibility of subject matter, applicants are advised to review the guidelines to ensure that they are applying to the appropriate agency. |
| Next application deadline |
Value |
Duration |
Results announced |
Apply |
| University deadline: set by university |
Up to $6,000 |
3 to 6 months |
August and December |
Web application and instructions
|
| SSHRC deadlines: June 10 and October 10 each year |
Context
Objectives
Value and Duration
Eligibility
Application Process
Evaluation and Adjudication
Administrative Regulations
More Information
This foreign study supplements program is available to Canadian citizens or permanent residents who hold a Joseph-Armand Bombardier, Alexander Graham Bell or Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarship (CGS) at the master’s or doctoral level, or a Vanier CGS at the doctoral level.
The Canada Graduate Scholarships—Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements (CGS-MSFSS) program supports high-calibre Canadian graduate students in building global linkages and international networks through the pursuit of exceptional research experiences abroad. By accessing international scientific research and training, CGS-MSFSS recipients will contribute to strengthening the potential for collaboration between Canadian universities and affiliated research institutions and universities, or other research institutions outside of Canada.
Supplements of up to $6,000 are available to active CGS Master’s, CGS Doctoral or eligible Vanier CGS holders to help offset the costs of undertaking research studies outside Canada for a defined period. A total of 250 awards are available each year, and are divided as follows among the three granting agencies to reflect the distribution of CGS awards across the social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and engineering, and health-related disciplines: 125 for SSHRC, 80 for NSERC, and 45 for CIHR.
Each university is allocated a pre-determined number of supplements by each granting agency, as appropriate. The faculty (school) of graduate studies is informed of the number of supplements available to them in each of the three areas of research disciplines. The faculty (school) of graduate studies is required to set up an internal selection process to select which applications requesting CGS-MSFSS funds are to be forwarded to the respective granting agencies.
The value of the CGS-MSFSS is up to $6,000, based on the information and budget justification provided in the application. Supplements are non-renewable. A defined research study period abroad is for a minimum of three months, to a maximum of six months.
Supplements will be paid separately from the CGS or Vanier CGS awards.
When can you travel with your CGS-MSFSS?
The start of your research study period abroad must be after the competition deadline date but within one year of receiving the notice of the award. If you do decide to leave before the results from the competition are announced, the agencies would not be liable for any costs incurred if the application were deemed ineligible.
What kind of expenses does the CGS-MSFSS cover?
The supplement will cover costs associated with travel, living and other expenses (such as accommodation, meals, tuition, insurance and other necessary, non-research-related costs) during the research study period abroad.
To be eligible to apply for this program, you must:
- be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada;
- be registered at an eligible Canadian institution;
- for SSHRC applicants: have accepted or hold a Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS (master’s or doctoral level) or a Vanier CGS (if eligible) administered by SSHRC;
- for NSERC applicants: have accepted or hold an Alexander Graham Bell CGS (master’s or doctoral level) or a Vanier CGS (if eligible) administered by NSERC;
- for CIHR applicants: have accepted or hold a Frederick Banting and Charles Best CGS (master’s or doctoral level) and/or a Vanier CGS (if eligible) administered by CIHR;
- undertake your proposed trip abroad no earlier than the competition deadline date; and
- not hold or have held any other CGS-MSFSS during the course of your graduate studies.
To remain eligible during the research study period abroad, you must:
- hold an active CGS at the time your study period abroad starts;
- be registered full time in a graduate research studies program at a Canadian institution for the duration of the time abroad;
- take up the award within one year of receiving the notice of award for the CGS-MSFSS; and
- return to complete your degree in Canada.
Where can you travel with your CGS-MSFSS?
You may use your CGS-MSFSS for travel to any eligible foreign university or research institution (see below for specific requirements by granting agency). The choice of location for your research studies and how the study period abroad will further your research goals must be justified in your application.
Eligible host institutions and host supervisors
SSHRC:
Host supervisors must be affiliated and employed full time at a foreign university, international or national research institute, or other institution that actively carries out research. Research assistants are not eligible as host supervisors.
NSERC:
Host supervisors must be employed full time at a foreign university, inter-university research institute, national laboratory or other institution that actively carries out research. Research assistants are not eligible as host supervisors. If the host supervisor’s primary place of employment is outside academia, he or she must demonstrate an academic affiliation (e.g., adjunct appointment, etc.).
CIHR:
Host supervisors must hold a full-time independent research appointment at the host university or research institute and have sufficient research funding to support the proposed project. Research assistants are not eligible as host supervisors.
Note: If you are unsure about the eligibility of a particular host supervisor or host institution, you should contact the respective granting agency prior to submitting your application.
If you are a qualified applicant, you must complete the necessary documentation and submit it to your faculty (school) of graduate studies for consideration.
The common tri-agency application form is available on the respective websites of the three granting agencies. Only this form can be used to apply for the CGS-MSFSS.
You will be required to provide:
- the name and contact information of the host supervisor, and name and location of the foreign institution where you intend on pursuing your research/study activities;
- a maximum two-page description of your intended research activities during your research study period abroad (including objectives, methodology, timelines and expected outcomes) and an indication of how this relates to your main graduate research topic, as well as a description of the potential benefits that you will derive from working at, or attending, the host institution in relation to your current research objectives; and
- a budget that provides estimates for costs of travel, living and other expenses during your research study period (to a maximum of $6,000).
In addition, both your current research supervisor and the potential host supervisor must submit letters detailing their support of your research study period abroad. Host supervisors must also indicate that they have the resources available (e.g., financial, if any; supervision time; equipment; library access; etc.) to support your planned research activities.
Granting agency deadlines
There are two deadlines for the CGS-MSFSS program: June 10 and October 10. Late or incomplete applications will be rejected.
Note: If a university's allocation for CGS-MSFSSs has been reached by the June 10 deadline, there may not be an opportunity for further applications to be accepted for the October 10 deadline from that university.
University deadline
Your university’s faculty (school) of graduate studies has an internal deadline for your application and selects which applications to submit to the granting agencies.
Evaluation and Adjudication
University review
The faculty (school) of graduate studies at each Canadian university is responsible for co-ordinating the university review of CGS-MSFSS applications. Based on the allocation received, the university will submit a select number of eligible applications to the appropriate granting agency.
The selection process and review procedures adopted by the university must maintain a focus on excellence. Applications must be evaluated using the following selection criteria:
- Linkage between the current program of research goals, the proposed research/study activities at the host institution and the candidate’s future research/career goals, including consideration of:
- significance, feasibility and merit of proposed research study activities at the foreign institution;
- justification for the choice of host institution and/or host supervisor; and
- relevance and anticipated benefits of the proposed research/study activities abroad to the candidate’s current graduate-degree training.
Granting agency review
The granting agencies will review the applications received from universities for eligibility and completeness, and CGS-MSFSSs will be awarded to the eligible applicants through the universities.
Notification of decision
The granting agencies will notify students of the results of their supplement application.
The CGS-MSFSS is paid directly to the institutions that administer the supplements for the students on behalf of the granting agencies.
The granting agencies will publish the names (and other basic award information) of supplement recipients on their respective websites. For more information, please refer to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act.
Post-award
You must receive approval from the respective granting agency before making any changes pertaining to the dates of your research study period abroad, your choice of host supervisor, your choice of host institution or your proposed activities. Please see the Award Holders Guide for more information
Post-activity deliverables
Within two months of completing your research study period abroad, you must submit, to the respective granting agency, the following documents:
Activity report:
A report on your experience (maximum 2 pages) that describes:
- the activities that were carried out and results achieved;
- the ongoing activities resulting from the research study period abroad, such as joint publications, the development of new techniques, etc.;
- any unanticipated benefits derived from working at, or attending, the host institution in relation to your current research objectives at your Canadian institution;
- problems encountered; and
- advice on how the CGS-MSFSSs program could be improved.
The report could be used for publication and should be written in language that is accessible for the general public.
Letter from host supervisor:
A letter from the host supervisor evaluating your performance and summarizing the positive and negative aspects, if any, of the study period from his/her perspective.
All nominees and scholarship holders must comply with the
Regulations Governing Fellowship and Scholarship Applications
and with the regulations set out in the appropriate
award holder's guide.
SSHRC, NSERC and CIHR reserve the right to determine the eligibility of applications based on the information provided in those applications. The tri-agency also reserves the right to interpret the program regulations set out in its published materials.
Please address questions about this program to:
SSHRC
CGS-MSFSS
Fellowships and Institutional Grants Division
SSHRC
350 Albert Street
P.O. Box 1610
Ottawa, ON K1P 6G4
Tel.: 613-943-7777
Email:
fellowships@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca
NSERC
CGS-MSFSS
Scholarships and Fellowships Division
NSERC
350 Albert Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 1H5
Tel.: 613-995-5521
Email: schol@nserc-crsng.gc.ca
CIHR
CGS-MSFSS
Research Capacity Development
CIHR
160 Elgin Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0W9
Tel.: 613-954-1968
Email: CGSMSFSS@cihr-irsc.gc.ca