Update: SSHRC Online System
We are pleased to announce the application system is now back online for all active funding opportunities except for the SSHRC Doctoral Awards. In accordance with the Service Standards for SSHRC Online Systems, the deadline for the Insight Grants competition has been extended to Wednesday, October 4, 2023, 8:00 p.m. (eastern).
The SSHRC Doctoral Awards competition portal continues to be offline until system updates can be made. We anticipate the Doctoral Awards competition portal will be live on October 5. We apologize for the inconvenience, and thank you for your patience.
[ Updated: 2023-09-28 ]
Details on transfer payment programs of $5 million or more
Name of transfer payment program | Canada First Research Excellence Fund (voted) |
---|---|
Start date | 2014 |
End date | Ongoing |
Type of transfer payment | Grant |
Type of appropriation | Appropriated annually through the Estimates |
Fiscal year for terms and conditions | 2014-15 |
Link to the department’s Program Inventory | Insight Research |
Description | The Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) supports Canada’s postsecondary institutions in their efforts to become global research leaders. CFREF helps institutions: (i) compete with the best in the world for talent, for partnership opportunities and to make breakthrough discoveries; (ii) seize emerging opportunities and strategically advance their greatest strengths on the global stage; and (iii) implement large-scale, transformational and forward-thinking institutional strategies. SSHRC administers this program on behalf of tri-agencies: the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and SSHRC. This transfer payment program does not have repayable contributions. |
Results achieved |
|
Findings of audits completed in 2019-20 | An audit is underway, with an expected completion of October 2020. |
Findings of evaluations completed in 2019-20 | Evaluation of Canada First Research Excellence Fund is planned to be completed in October 2020. Some delays have been incurred due to COVID-19. |
Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2019-20 | A variety of engagement initiatives (webinars, site visits, telephone, email, online forums) are used as part of the regular competition cycle in order to give applicants and recipients opportunities to seek and receive information and to provide feedback on service delivery. |
Type of transfer payment | 2017-18 Actual spending | 2018-19 Actual spending | 2019-20 Planned spending | 2019-20 Total authorities available for use | 2019-20 Actual spending (authorities used) | Variance (2019-20 actual minus 2019-20 planned) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total grants |
12,927,180 | 18,455,543 | 18,455,544 | 18,455,544 | 18,455,544 | 0 |
Total contributions |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total other types of transfer payments |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total program
| ||||||
Explanation of variances | N/A |
Note: These figures do not include operating expenses.
Name of transfer payment program | Canada Graduate Scholarships (voted) |
---|---|
Start date | 2003-04 |
End date | Ongoing |
Type of transfer payment | Grant |
Type of appropriation | Appropriated annually through the Estimates |
Fiscal year for terms and conditions | 2009-10 |
Link to the department’s Program Inventory | Research Training and Talent Development |
Description | SSHRC’s portion of the Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS) program provides financial support to high-calibre scholars who are engaged in master’s or doctoral programs in the social sciences and humanities. This is a tri-agency program and is administered by each respective agency (CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC). This transfer payment program does not have repayable contributions. |
Results achieved |
|
Findings of audits completed in 2019-20 | No audits are planned at this time. |
Findings of evaluations completed in 2019-20 | Planning for the evaluation of the CGS program was begun, but experienced delays due to COVID-19; the evaluation is planned to be completed by November 2021. |
Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2019-20 | Applicants and recipients are engaged through communication with academic institutions and tri-agency or agency-specific electronic communication. |
Type of transfer payment | 2017-18 Actual spending | 2018-19 Actual spending | 2019-20 Planned spending | 2019-20 Total authorities available for use | 2019-20 Actual spending (authorities used) | Variance (2019-20 actual minus 2019-20 planned) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total grants | 68,820,804 |
68,471,205 |
68,983,500 |
75,073,500 |
75,071,330 |
6,087,830 |
Total contributions | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Total other types of transfer payments | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Total program | 68,820,804 |
68,471,205 |
68,983,500 |
75,073,500 |
75,071,330 |
6,087,830 |
Explanation of variances | Additional funding received from Budget 2019. |
Note: These figures do not include operating expenses.
Name of transfer payment program | Grants and Scholarships (voted) |
---|---|
Start date | 1978 |
End date | Ongoing |
Type of transfer payment | Grant |
Type of appropriation | Appropriated annually through the Estimates |
Fiscal year for terms and conditions | 2011-12 |
Link to the department’s Program Inventory | Insight Research |
Description | This transfer payment program consists of grants and scholarships awarded for research, talent development and research dissemination activities in the social sciences and humanities. This transfer payment program does not have repayable contributions. |
Results achieved |
This transfer payment program contributes to three of SSHRC’s Departmental Results:
SSHRC’s Grants and Scholarships program supported over 26,000 students and researchers for a total investment of $495 million. An important goal of SSHRC’s Grants and Scholarships program is to support students and postdoctoral researchers (collectively referred to as “research trainees”) in order to develop society’s next generation of researchers and leaders, both within academia and across the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. In 2019-20, SSHRC supported 4,670 students and postdoctoral fellows through scholarships and fellowships, and, collectively, researchers that submitted an end of grant report in 2019-20 indicated that 9,778 research trainees had been supported through their grants. SSHRC funded over 5,200 new grants and awards through its Grants and Scholarships program in 2019-20. In 2019-20, the amount of funding leveraged from partners on SSHRC-funded research projects exceeded $41 million. |
Findings of audits completed in 2019-20 | N/A |
Findings of evaluations completed in 2019-20 |
Planning for the evaluation of the Canada Research Chairs was underway, but experienced delays due to COVID-19, which will have an impact on the planned completion date of July 2021. Planning for the evaluation of the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships was underway, but experienced delays due to COVID-19, which will have an impact on the planned completion date of October 2020. Planning for the evaluation of the Research Training and Talent Development program was underway, but experienced delays due to COVID-19, which will likely have an impact on the planned completion date of March 2022. The joint evaluation of the Aid to Scholarly Journals and Aid to Scholarly Publications programs is planned to be completed by October 2020. |
Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2019-20 | A variety of engagement initiatives (webinars, site visits, telephone, email, online forums) are used as part of the regular competition cycle in order to give applicants and recipients opportunities to seek and receive information and to provide feedback on service delivery. |
Type of transfer payment | 2017-18 Actual spending | 2018-19 Actual spending | 2019-20 Planned spending | 2019-20 Total authorities available for use | 2019-20 Actual spending (authorities used) | Variance (2019-20 actual minus 2019-20 planned) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total grants |
276,498,522 |
305,904,917 |
310,534,970 |
317,780,497 |
317,761,208 |
7,226,238 |
Total contributions |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Total other types of transfer payments |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Total program
276,498,522 305,904,917 310,534,970 317,780,497 317,761,208 7,226,238 | ||||||
Explanation of variances | Increase in funding for paid parental leave and interdepartmental transfers. |
Note: These figures do not include operating expenses.
Name of transfer payment program | Networks of Centres of Excellence (voted) |
---|---|
Start date | 1997 |
End date | 2023-24 |
Type of transfer payment | Grant |
Type of appropriation | Appropriated annually through the Estimates |
Fiscal year for terms and conditions | 2014-15 |
Link to the department’s Program Inventory | Research Partnerships |
Description | The program supports large-scale academically led research networks that harness the creativity and inventiveness of Canadian health, natural and social scientists, and engineers. Partners from industry, government and not-for-profit organizations contribute additional expertise and bring cash and in-kind support. This program is a tri-agency program administered by NSERC on behalf of CIHR, SSHRC and NSERC. This transfer payment program does not have repayable contributions. |
Results achieved | Strong linkages and partnerships between university, government and industry, and other users (non-governmental organizations) resulting in the exploitation of leading-edge research results with economical and/or societal benefits to Canada. |
Findings of audits completed in 2019-20 | No audits are underway or were completed in 2019-20. |
Findings of evaluations completed in 2019-20 | There are no plans to evaluate this program, as the Networks of Centres of Excellence program is no longer ongoing and its funds will be gradually transferred to the New Frontiers in Research Fund. This program has been evaluated regularly (i.e., every five years) since its inception in 1985. Given the solid evaluation history, there are few lessons to be learned from an evaluation at this time. |
Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2019-20 | No further competitions are planned under this program. Existing recipients are supported by direct contact and engagement through their assigned NCE staff liaison, who sits as an observer on the board of directors. |
Type of transfer payment | 2017-18 Actual spending | 2018-19 Actual spending | 2019-20 Planned spending | 2019-20 Total authorities available for use | 2019-20 Actual spending (authorities used) | Variance (2019-20 actual minus 2019-20 planned) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total grants |
8,770,000 |
9,753,000 |
8,770,000 |
8,770,000 |
8,770,000 |
0 |
Total contributions |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Total other types of transfer payments |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Total program |
8,770,000 |
9,753,000 |
8,770,000 |
8,770,000 |
8,770,000 |
0 |
Explanation of variances | N/A |
Note: These figures do not include operating expenses.
Name of transfer payment program | New Frontiers in Research Fund (voted) |
---|---|
Start date | 2018 |
End date | Ongoing |
Type of transfer payment | Grant |
Type of appropriation | Appropriated annually through the Estimates |
Fiscal year for terms and conditions | 2018-19 |
Link to department’s Program Inventory | New Frontiers in Research Fund |
Description | This transfer payment program for the New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) supports research that is international, interdisciplinary, fast-breaking and high-risk / high-reward. The NFRF supports projects not easily supported through existing tri-agency and agency-specific mechanisms, and it contributes to enhancing Canada’s competitiveness in the global, knowledge-based economy. This program is administered by SSHRC on behalf of CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC. This transfer payment program does not have repayable contributions. |
Results achieved |
|
Findings of audits completed in 2019-20 | N/A |
Findings of evaluations completed in 2019-20 | Evaluation of the New Frontiers in Research Fund is planned to be completed by March 2024. |
Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients in 2019-20 | A variety of engagement initiatives (webinars, site visits, telephone, email, online forums) are used as part of the regular competition cycle in order to give applicants and recipients opportunities to seek and receive information and to provide feedback on service delivery. |
Type of transfer payment | 2017-18 Actual spending | 2018-19 Actual spending | 2019-20 Planned spending | 2019-20 Total authorities available for use | 2019-20 Actual spending (authorities used) | Variance (2019-20 actual minus 2019-20 planned) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total grants |
– |
18,992,234 |
53,048,880 |
53,048,880 |
53,048,880 |
0 |
Total contributions |
– |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Total other types of transfer payments |
– |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Total program | – |
18,992,234 |
53,048,880 |
53,048,880 |
53,048,880 |
0 |
Explanation of variances | Funding received from Budget 2018 created this new tri-agency program. |
Note: These figures do not include operating expenses.
Name of transfer payment program | Research Support Fund (voted) |
---|---|
Start date | 2003 |
End date | Ongoing |
Type of transfer payment | Grant |
Type of appropriation | Appropriated annually through the Estimates |
Fiscal year for terms and conditions | 2018-19 |
Link to the department’s Program Inventory | Research Support Fund |
Description | This transfer payment program supports a portion of the indirect costs associated with the conduct of academic research in institutions that receive research grant funds from any of the three federal research granting agencies. Grants are awarded to eligible institutions using a progressive funding formula based on the average revenues from research grants received from CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC. This transfer payment program does not have repayable contributions. |
Results achieved |
|
Findings of audits completed in 2019-20 | N/A |
Findings of evaluations completed in 2019-20 | Evaluation of the Research Support Fund is planned to be completed by June 2020. |
Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2019-20 | A variety of engagement initiatives (webinars, site visits, telephone, email, online forums) are used as part of the regular competition cycle in order to give applicants and recipients opportunities to seek and receive information and to provide feedback on service delivery. |
Type of transfer payment | 2017-18 Actual spending | 2018-19 Actual spending | 2019-20 Planned spending | 2019-20 Total authorities available for use | 2019-20 Actual spending (authorities used) | Variance (2019-20 actual minus 2019-20 planned) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total grants |
368,456,473 |
397,336,479 |
407,514,840 |
406,767,519 |
406,767,519 |
-747,321 |
Total contributions |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Total other types of transfer payments |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Total program |
368,456,473 |
397,336,479 |
407,514,840 |
406,767,519 |
406,767,519 |
-747,321 |
Explanation of variances | Transfer to Department of National Defence to cover indirect costs at the Royal Military College. |
Note: These figures do not include operating expenses.
Name of transfer payment program | Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (voted) |
---|---|
Start date | 2008-09 |
End date | Ongoing |
Type of transfer payment | Grant |
Type of appropriation | Appropriated annually through the Estimates |
Fiscal year for terms and conditions | 2014-15 |
Link to the department’s Program Inventory | Research Training and Talent Development |
Description | The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships program is a tri-agency program designed to attract and retain world-class doctoral students by offering them a significant financial award. This financial award assists students during their studies at Canadian universities. Vanier scholars demonstrate leadership skills and a high standard of scholarly achievement in the social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and engineering, and health-related fields. This program is administered by CIHR on behalf of CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC. This transfer payment program does not have repayable contributions. |
Results achieved |
Through the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships Program, the Government of Canada invests up to $25 million annually, divided among the budgets of CIHR, NSERC, and SSHRC, to attract and retain world-class doctoral students and establish Canada as a global centre of excellence in research and higher learning. Up to 166 scholarships are awarded annually to Canadian and international doctoral students studying at Canadian universities who demonstrate leadership skills and a high standard of scholarly achievement in graduate studies in the social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and/or engineering, and health. In 2019-20, SSHRC invested $8 million to support research training in areas related to the social sciences and humanities. |
Findings of audits completed in 2019-20 | No audits are planned at this time. |
Findings of evaluations completed in 2019-20 | Evaluation of the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships program was underway and delays were incurred at the approval stage due to COVID-19. The evaluation is planned to be completed in the fall of 2020. |
Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2019-20 | Applicants and recipients are engaged through communication with academic institutions and directed tri-agency or agency-specific electronic communication, as well as through the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships website. |
Type of transfer payment | 2017-18 Actual spending | 2018-19 Actual spending | 2019-20 Planned spending | 2019-20 Total authorities available for use | 2019-20 Actual spending (authorities used) | Variance (2019-20 actual minus 2019-20 planned) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total grants |
8,234,722 |
8,291,668 |
8,300,000 |
8,300,000 |
8,247,223 |
- 52,777 |
Total contributions |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Total other types of transfer payments |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Total program
8,234,722 8,291,668 8,300,000 8,300,000 8,247,223 - 52,777 | ||||||
Explanation of variances | There were post adjustments following the implementation of the acceleration exercise. |
Note: These figures do not include operating expenses.
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