Launch of Canada Research Training Awards Suite—Research Travel Supplements
Date published: April 14, 2026
Canada’s three federal research funding agencies are pleased to introduce the Canada Research Training Awards Suite—Research Travel Supplements (CRTAS-RTS). This program replaces the previous Canada Graduate Scholarships—Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements and is designed to support exceptional graduate students and researchers as they expand the global reach and impact of their work.
The new RTS will be administered by the three federal research funding agencies: the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). The funding opportunity aims to strengthen international collaboration, enrich research training, and enhance Canada’s global research presence.
Quick facts
- The CRTAS-RTS is open to Canada Graduate Research Scholarship—Master’s and Canada Graduate Research Scholarship—Doctoral award holders conducting a research trip abroad, and to Canadian students at the doctoral level who are studying abroad and will be returning to Canada to conduct research at an eligible Canadian institution.
- The CRTAS-RTS is also open to active Canada Graduate Scholarship—Master’s, Canada Graduate Scholarship—Doctoral, Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, and agency-specific doctoral scholarship (i.e., CIHR Doctoral Foreign Study Award, NSERC Postgraduate Scholarship-Doctoral and SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship) holders.
- The supplement is valued at $9,000 and helps cover costs associated with conducting research abroad or within Canada, depending on the recipient’s location of tenure.
- Funding offered through the CRTAS-RTS supports research travel periods between two and six months.
- Eligible award holders can apply by June 10, 2026, by following the instructions on the funding opportunity web page.
Contact
CIHR
CRTASRTS-BFRCSSR@cihr-irsc.gc.ca