Indigenous Scholars Awards and Supplements Pilot Initiative
2026-27 competitions
| Overview | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Funding streams | CGRS M | CGRS D | CPRA |
| Indigenous Scholars Supplements | $5,000 |
$5,000 |
$10,000 |
| Indigenous Scholars Awards | $27,000 |
$40,000 |
$70,000 |
| Duration | 12 months |
36 months |
24 months |
| Application deadline | Refer to the relevant funding opportunity’s application deadline |
||
| Apply | Via the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Master’s Program |
Via the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral Program |
|
| Results announced | Spring |
Spring |
Winter |
|
The agencies recognize the diversity of Indigenous Peoples, including global Indigenous Peoples. The fact that an Indigenous person does not fall within the scope of this funding opportunity does not mean they are not Indigenous, nor does it prevent them from self-identifying as Indigenous according to their respective Indigenous traditions, cultures and protocols. For the purposes of this funding opportunity, however, “Indigenous people”, “Indigenous persons”, “Indigenous scholars” or “Indigenous applicants”, refers to First Nations, Inuit or Métis people whose nations or communities are located in Canada. |
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On this page
- Description
- Value and duration
- Eligibility
- Application process
- Merit review
- Regulations, policies and related information
- Contact information
Description
The Indigenous Scholars Awards and Supplements (ISAS) Pilot Initiative will provide financial support to meritorious Indigenous graduate students and postdoctoral researchers at the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) who have applied to the CGRS M, CGRS D or CPRA programs.
The Tri-Agency Policy on Indigenous Citizenship and Membership Affirmation and the associated directive apply to these awards and supplements; successful applicants at SSHRC and NSERC must provide documentation as outlined in the policy and directive.
The Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) will also provide designated funding for Indigenous students and researchers applying to these programs via an agency-specific funding mechanism. See the relevant funding opportunity pages for more information.
Value and duration
Subject to the availability of funds:
- Supplements may be offered to Indigenous applicants who receive awards through the CGRS M, CGRS D or CPRA competitions.
- The Indigenous Scholars Supplement (Master’s and Doctoral) is valued at $5,000 over 12 months.
- The Indigenous Scholars Supplement (Postdoctoral) is valued at $10,000 over 12 months.
- Additional awards and supplements may be offered to eligible applicants with meritorious, but not funded, applications.
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply, applicants must:
- self-identify at the time of application as Indigenous for the purposes of this initiative using the self-identification questionnaire;
- adhere to the Tri-Agency Policy on Indigenous Citizenship and Membership Affirmation and the associated directive if selected for an award;
- be eligible to apply to the applicable CGRS M, CGRS D or CPRA competitions; and
- be ranked as meritorious based on the selection criteria of the applicable competition (see Merit Review for more information).
Application process
Applicants will be asked at the time of application to self-identify as Indigenous using the self-identification questionnaire. Applicants will also be asked to consent to the agencies using this information as part of their application to the Indigenous Scholars Awards and Supplements Pilot Initiative. The agencies will not share self-identification information with institutional selection committees or review committees (as applicable).
Master’s awards and supplements: CGRS M
Applicants who meet the eligibility requirements for this funding stream must apply to their respective agency through the CGRS M program.
Applicants must select the “Indigenous Scholars Awards and Supplements Pilot Initiative” option from the drop-down menu in the “Supplements/Joint Initiatives” section of the application form.
Doctoral and Postdoctoral awards and supplements: CGRS D and CPRA
Applicants who meet the eligibility requirements for this funding stream must apply through the CGRS D program or CPRA program, as applicable.
SSHRC: Applicants must indicate that they wish to be considered for the Indigenous Scholars Award and Supplements by checking the box and agreeing with the consent statement in the application profile section.
NSERC: Applicants must indicate their agreement with the self-identification and consent statement by selecting the appropriate checkbox in the person profile application form.
Merit review
Master’s awards and supplements: CGRS M
The CGRS M selection process is used to determine potential recipients. Applicants who receive a decision of Offered or Alternate in the research portal may be considered for awards and/or supplements.
Should there be more eligible applications than funds available, the agencies may each form a committee, as appropriate, to determine which applications will receive the award and supplement. The agencies reserve the right to select the most appropriate review process.
Doctoral and Postdoctoral awards and supplements: CGRS D and CPRA
Merit review committees at each agency will review applications for the CGRS D and CPRA programs.
- Eligible applicants who receive an offer of award through the CGRS D or CPRA funding opportunity may be considered for an Indigenous Scholars Supplement to the limit of available funding.
- Eligible applicants who do not receive an offer of award through the CGRS D or CPRA funding opportunity, but whose application has been deemed meritorious as per the results of the relevant review process, may be considered for an award and/or Indigenous Scholars Supplement to the limit of available funding.
Regulations, policies and related information
Award holders must comply with the policies and guidelines set out in the Tri-agency research training award holder’s guide and in any other documents related to applications and awards including the Tri-Agency Policy on Indigenous Citizenship and Membership Affirmation and the associated directive.
The agencies reserve the right to interpret and enforce the policies and guidelines for their funding opportunities set out in their published materials.
Award holders may be eligible to hold their awards part time. See the Tri-agency research training award holder’s guide for further information.
Location of tenure
CGRS M awards for Indigenous scholars must be held at the institution where the offer of award originates. Master’s awards and supplements are not intended to be portable; however, exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis at the agencies’ approval.
CGRS D and CPRA awards and supplements for Indigenous scholars are portable as per regulations set out in the Tri-agency research training award holder’s guide.
Contact information
For more information, contact the appropriate agency:
NSERC
nsercscholarships-boursescrsng@nserc-crsng.gc.ca
SSHRC
fellowships@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca
Toll-free: 1-855-275-2861