Overview
External funding opportunities for graduate students in a research program (2025)
An introduction to external funding programs available to Concordia graduate students in research-based programs.
Preparing a funding application
Canadian and provincial government granting agencies, along with private foundations, offer funding for your thesis-based master's and PhD program. The Graduate Awards Office offers workshops, resources and individual consultations to help you identify funding opportunities for your graduate research and prepare strong scholarship applications.
How to use this library
Get oriented
Watch the overview videos to understand Canadian and Quebec funding agencies and which programs match your field and level of study.
Build your application
Follow the "Developing a competitive scholarship application" series to plan your timeline, structure your proposal, and write strong applicant statements.
Apply to your agency
Finish with the step-by-step guide for the specific agency you're applying to — FRQ, SSHRC, NSERC, or CIHR.
Step 1 · Get oriented
Overview of Canadian and Quebec graduate research funding
Our advising team explains the available funding programs, the application processes and some helpful application tips.
Overview · International
External funding opportunities for international graduate students in a research-based program (2025)
An introduction to the Canadian funding landscape for international students in research-based graduate programs.
Step 2 · Build your application
Developing a competitive application
A workshop series on planning your timeline, developing strong proposals, and writing the applicant statements that are part of most scholarship applications.
Planning
Developing a competitive scholarship application: Timeline
Planning the timeline for a competitive scholarship application.
Strategy · Part 1
Developing a competitive scholarship application — Part 1
General strategies and tips for writing a scholarship application (all disciplines).
Strategy · Part 2
Developing a competitive scholarship application — Part 2
Continuation of the general strategies and tips series.
Applicant statements
Writing applicant statements for external funding opportunities in a research-based program
Guidance on writing the applicant statements included in external scholarship applications.
Step 3 · Apply to your agency
Agency-specific application guides
Walkthroughs for completing the Fall 2025 applications on each agency's portal. Choose the one that matches your target program.
FRQ · Provincial
Creating an FRQ application — Fall 2025
Guidance on preparing your Fonds de recherche du Québec scholarship application for the Fall 2025 cycle.
SSHRC · Federal
Creating an SSHRC doctoral application — Fall 2025
Guidance on preparing the SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship application for social sciences and humanities candidates.
NSERC · Federal
Creating an NSERC doctoral application — Fall 2025
Guidance on preparing the NSERC doctoral application for natural sciences and engineering candidates.
CIHR · Federal
Creating a CIHR doctoral application — Fall 2025
Guidance on preparing the CIHR doctoral application for health sciences candidates.
Looking for earlier editions or additional guides?
Our full YouTube playlist includes 15 videos, including archived sessions from previous funding cycles.
Upcoming workshops
Explore our graduate funding application preparation workshops for current and prospective graduate students.
FAQ
There are two major agencies in Quebec that offer scholarships to support your research journey:
1. The Federal Tri-Agency organization, which is composed of:
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
- Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
2. The Provincial Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ) organization, which is composed of:
- Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies (FRQNT)
- Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture (FRQSC)
- Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQS)
Both agencies offer scholarships to master's or PhD students in research-based programs. Be sure to review their eligibility criteria and requirements.
You may also be interested in opportunities from other foundations such as the Mackenzie King Scholarship or Pierre Arbour Foundation.
Eligibility depends on factors such as your field of study, stage of your program, and the specific requirements of each funding program. Review the specific eligibility criteria for each award on our website or visit the respective agency's website. You can also contact our External Awards Advisor for more information.
Unfortunately, Tri-Agency and FRQ awards are solely for students in research- or thesis-based programs. If you are in a course-based program, you may be interested in other opportunities such as the Mackenzie King Scholarship or Pierre Arbour Foundation. You should also reach out to your program contact to learn about other opportunities.
Deadlines vary by award and agency, but they are usually in the fall (September to December). Consult the specific funding program's website for the most accurate and up-to-date information. Be sure to check if Concordia has a separate internal application deadline for any awards.
Yes, you can (and should) apply for multiple funding opportunities, as long as you're eligible. If you receive an award, you will need to adhere to each program's rules regarding concurrent funding to avoid any conflicts.
Since the application deadlines for funding are typically one year ahead of when awards are distributed for that cycle, you should still apply for funding even if you haven't submitted your admission application or received an admission letter.
Tri-Agency and FRQ applications are usually submitted online through the respective funding agency's portal or via their application system. Some other opportunities — such as the Merit Scholarship Program for Foreign Students (PBEEE), the Mackenzie King Scholarship, or the Pierre Arbour Foundation — require you to submit your application directly to a specific contact at Concordia, as detailed on each award's webpage. Be sure to consult Concordia's external funding page for detailed application instructions.
Choose referees who can speak to your academic and research strengths. Professors, research supervisors, or employers (for research-related work) are ideal.
Notification times vary by award and funding agency. Typically, it may take several months from the application deadline to hear back about a decision. Most agencies release their results by April of the year following the application deadline.
First, celebrate! You should then follow the instructions provided by the funding agency for accepting the award, which often includes signing a funding agreement and making sure that you meet any additional requirements. For more guidance, you can contact our External Awards Advisor.
If you are not awarded funding, review any feedback provided and consider reapplying in the future if you remain eligible. We are here to support you. Feel free to reach out to our Awards Advisor for guidance on strengthening your application for the next competition.
Contact our External Awards Advisor for questions about what options are available for you, your eligibility, and post-award administration for external graduate awards.
Contact our Fellowship Advisor if you need support in writing a successful funding application to showcase your strengths and improve your proposal.
Book a meeting with a Graduate External Fellowship Advisor
Katherine Belloso
Advisor, External Graduate Awards
Contact Katherine for questions about what options are available for you, your eligibility, and post-award administration for external graduate awards.
Cecilia Kramar
Advisor, Fellowship Application Development
Contact Cecilia if you need support in writing a successful funding application to showcase your strengths and improve your proposal.
