CIHR Health Research Training Award Programs

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) strives to ensure a strong foundation of future health research leaders, and is committed to offering programs that increase the supply of highly-qualified research personnel.

CIHR funds trainees at all levels – Master's, Doctoral, and Postdoctoral – in all health disciplines, including health professionals (clinicians, dentists, nurses, physiotherapists, and other health professionals) who are interested in pursuing health research. This funding support is provided in two ways:

Please review the links below to learn more about CIHR's award and initiatives. These opportunities can also be viewed through CIHR's grants and awards database or through individual CIHR Institute webpages.

Undergraduate students

All undergraduate training awards offered by CIHR (including through CIHR Institutes) can be accessed through CIHR's grants and awards database.

Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA)

The USRA program aims to nurture undergraduate students' interest in health research and develop their potential for a research career in health-related fields. These awards also encourage students to undertake graduate studies by providing research work experience.

Note: Presently, CIHR USRAs are exclusively for Black student researchers.

Useful links:

Master's students

All graduate training awards at master's level that are offered by CIHR (including through CIHR Institutes) can be accessed through CIHR's grants and awards database.

Canada Graduate Scholarships - Master's Awards (CGS-M)

These awards provide special recognition and financial support to students who are pursuing a Master's degree in a health-related field in Canada. Candidates are expected to have an exceptionally high potential for future research achievement and productivity.

Useful links:

Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement (MSFSS)

These awards support high-calibre Canadian graduate students in building global linkages and international networks through the pursuit of exceptional research experiences abroad. The supplements are provided to help offset the costs of undertaking research studies outside Canada for a defined period (up to 6 months).

Note: Only those who currently hold a Canada Graduate Scholarships - Master's Awards (CGS-M), a Canada Graduate Scholarships – Doctoral Award (CGS-D) FAQ, or a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS) are eligible to apply for this supplement.

CIHR Strategic Master's Award (SMA)

These awards provide financial support to students who are enrolled in or have applied to an eligible master's program in Canada that is relevant to a specific CIHR priority research area identified in the funding opportunity. Candidates are expected to demonstrate high potential in undergraduate and early graduate studies.

Useful links:

Doctoral students

All graduate training awards at the doctoral level that are offered by CIHR (including through CIHR Institutes) can be accessed through CIHR's grants and awards database.

Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS D)

The Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS D) provides support for a high-quality research training experience to awardees who are pursuing a doctoral degree in a health-related field in Canada or abroad.

Useful links:

Canada Graduate Scholarships – Doctoral program (Discontinued)

The Canada Graduate Scholarships – Doctoral program (CGS-D) provides special recognition and support to students who are pursuing a doctoral degree in a health-related field in Canada.

Doctoral Foreign Study Award (Discontinued)

The Doctoral Foreign Study Award (DFSA) provides special recognition and support to students who are pursuing a doctoral degree in a health-related field abroad.

Useful links:

Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS) (Discontinued)

These awards recruit top-tier doctoral students, both nationally and internationally, who will positively contribute to the Canadian economic, social and research-based growth for a prosperous future.

Note: If you already hold a Canada Graduate Scholarship – Doctoral Award, you are not eligible to be nominated for a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship.

Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement (MSFSS)

These awards support high-calibre Canadian graduate students in building global linkages and international networks through the pursuit of exceptional research experiences abroad. The supplements are provided to help offset the costs of undertaking research studies outside Canada for a defined period (up to 6 months).

Note: Only those who currently hold a Canada Graduate Scholarships - Master's Awards (CGS-M), a Canada Graduate Scholarship – Doctoral Award (CGS-D), or a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS) are eligible to apply for this supplement.

Post-doctoral/-degree researchers

All Postdoctoral training awards offered by CIHR (including through CIHR Institutes) can be accessed through CIHR's grants and awards database.

Canada Postdoctoral Research Award (CPRA) program

The Canada Postdoctoral Research Award (CPRA) program recognizes and supports the next generation of outstanding innovators, knowledge workers, creative thinkers and researchers at a pivotal time in their careers. The program provides funding and flexibility, empowering Canadian and international leaders in innovation and scholarship of tomorrow to develop the skills to build world-class research and drive Canadian prosperity and competitiveness.

Useful links:

Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships (Discontinued)

These awards aim to attract and retain top-tier talent, both nationally and internationally, to develop their leadership potential and to position them for success as research leaders of tomorrow, positively contributing to Canada's economic, social, and research-based growth through a research-intensive career.

CIHR Fellowship Program (Discontinued)

These awards provide support for highly-qualified candidates at the postdoctoral (post-PhD) or post-health professional degree stages to add to their experience by engaging in health research either in Canada or abroad.

Useful links:

Multi-stage and transition awards

In addition to stage-specific awards, CIHR runs several programs aimed towards cross-stage training and transition to independent researcher careers.

Health System Impact (HSI) Program

Annually since 2017, the HSI program has been providing PhD trainees and postdoctoral scholars in health services and policy research/related fields with the opportunity to develop embedded research projects/programs that address the most pressing problems faced by health system organizations and to support evidence-informed decision-making. In 2023, a new stream was launched specifically for Early Career Researchers (ECRs). This program is led by the Institute of Health Services and Policy Research with participation of other CIHR Institutes and Initiatives.

Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research – Transition to Leadership (SPOR T2L) Stream

These two-phased awards support the trainee transition into an independent researcher. Phase 1 of the award provides a stipend and an allowance for professional development and research. Phase 2 of the award provides recipients of Phase 1 with salary support and a research allowance to launch their patient-oriented research career.

Research Excellence, Diversity, and Independence (REDI) Early Career Transition Award

The REDI award program aims to help post-doctoral researchers, clinicians, and research associates from specific underrepresented groups launch their research faculty careers in Canada. Phase 1 of this transition award supports mentored career development of the awardees, while Phase 2 is intended to establish their independent research program in academia.

CIHR Institute initiatives

In addition to CIHR led training programs, several targeted CIHR institute awards and initiatives are frequently initiated for trainees who are conducting research in specific high-priority topics.

Health research students and trainees can view all available opportunities through the CIHR Funding Opportunities Database or through individual CIHR institute pages below:

Types of funding: Prizes, Workshops, Poster Competitions, Travel Awards, Summer Research Awards, Funding Opportunities, and more
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