CPRA — Canada Postdoctoral Research Award (NSERC / CIHR / SSHRC)

What you will need

• ✓ Departmental nomination via host Canadian institution
• ✓ Research proposal (typically 4-5 pages, with detailed methodology + significance + timeline + integration with host environment)
• ✓ PhD transcripts and proof of degree completion (or anticipated completion before award start)
• ✓ Letter of support from proposed Canadian supervisor
• ✓ Letters from doctoral supervisor + 2 academic references
• ✓ Comprehensive CV with publications, conference presentations, prior funding, and significant academic activities

About this award

The Canada Postdoctoral Research Award (CPRA) is the federal Tri-Agency's flagship postdoctoral fellowship — the Budget 2024 successor to the discontinued Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships. The award provides $70,000 per year for 2 years, totalling $140,000, and is held at a Canadian university or research institution. Administration is split across the three federal granting councils, with the recipient applying to the council aligned with their research area: CIHR for health, NSERC for natural sciences and engineering, SSHRC for humanities and social sciences. Open to recent doctoral graduates regardless of citizenship — Canadian citizens, permanent residents, AND foreign nationals may all apply, distinguishing CPRA from the doctoral-level CGRS-D (which is restricted to citizens and PRs). Quebec-domiciled postdocs are fully eligible alongside the rest of Canada — research awards are excluded from the Quebec opt-out of federal student financial assistance. The CPRA is highly competitive and is typically positioned as a stepping-stone to a tenure-track research career; selection emphasises the quality of the research project, the strength of the proposed supervisor and host institution, and the candidate's research trajectory.

Who qualifies

You qualify for CPRA if you (1) have completed a doctoral degree (PhD or equivalent) within the eligibility window — typically within 3 to 5 years of your defended PhD, with parental-leave / clinical-residency exemptions; (2) have secured a proposed supervisor and host Canadian institution willing to host your research; (3) propose a research project that fits the mandate of CIHR, NSERC, or SSHRC. Open to all citizenships — Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and foreign nationals. Some sectoral restrictions apply (e.g., engineering postdocs in NSERC's mandate must propose research recognised as natural sciences / engineering, not pure social science). The award is held at the Canadian institution; a CPRA holder cannot simultaneously hold most other Tri-Agency or major federal postdoctoral awards.

This is what the award's own page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm with the provider before you apply.

• ✓ Canadian citizen, permanent resident or international student
• ✓ Open to graduate students

How to apply

1. 1

   Read the award's own page

   Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.

2. 2

   Order your transcript1–2 weeks

   Your school's registrar can take a week or two.

3. 3

   Ask for reference letters2 weeks

   Give your referees at least two weeks' notice, and send them your résumé.

4. 4

   Check this year's deadline

   We don't have a confirmed date for this round. The award's own page will have it.

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