Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca
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Frequently asked questions for applicants
This document relates to the following programs: Canada Graduate Scholarships – Doctoral (CGS D) program, NSERC Postgraduate Scholarships – Doctoral (PGS D) program and Postdoctoral Fellowships (PDF) program.
General questions
- How and when can I apply for a PGS D or a PDF?
- I am interested in applying for a CGS D, but this program is not available from the drop-down menu in form 201.
- I am applying for a PGS D but I am not sure whether it should be submitted through a Canadian institution or directly to NSERC.
- What is the institution deadline for a PGS D applicant submitting an application to a Canadian institution?
- I have missed the departmental and/or the institutional submission deadline at my Canadian institution. Can I apply directly to NSERC?
- I am applying directly to NSERC and may not be able to submit my application by the deadline of 8:00 p.m. (ET) on October 17. Is it possible to get an extension?
- Do I need to provide proof of citizenship when submitting my application?
- My application has been submitted to NSERC and needs to be updated. Can it be returned to me?
- How do I apply for additional funding targeting underrepresented groups?
Completing form 201
- Is there a page limit for the free-form attachments?
- What type of information should be included in the Outline of proposed research?
- Do I need to complete the Justification for eligibility of proposed research section?
- How do I list each entry and what format do I need to use for my Contributions to research and development?
- Can I submit the attachments separately from my application?
- Where can I find guidance regarding transcripts and how they are submitted?
- I am ready to submit my application but the Submit button is greyed out. How can I submit my application?
Reports on the applicant
- When do I need to contact my references in order for them to complete a report on the applicant?
- I am having problems contacting my reference and the deadline is fast approaching. Can I get an extension to the deadline date?
- My reference is confirming that the report on the applicant has been completed; however, the status of the report in my application is showing Document created. How can I confirm that it has been attached to my application?
- I have unlocked a report on the applicant and now it shows that it was not submitted. What do I do?
General questions
1. How and when can I apply for a PGS D or a PDF?
You must complete form 201 using the online system. Read the Instructions for completing an application – form 201 carefully to ensure that the form is completed properly and that the required free-form attachments are provided. The online system is available for applications in late July.
2. I am interested in applying for a CGS D, but this program is not available from the drop-down menu in form 201.
If you are interested in applying for a CGS D, you must apply for a PGS D. There is no separate application form (or process) for the CGS D program. The highest scored PGS D applications will automatically be considered by NSERC for a CGS D.
3. I am applying for a PGS D but I am not sure whether it should be submitted through a Canadian institution or directly to NSERC.
The correct channel for submission depends on your registration status as of the application deadline date and/or in the calendar year of application. Refer to the Application procedures section of the CGS D program web page for further information.
If you have questions or concerns regarding the channels for submission, email schol@nserc-crsng.gc.ca.
4. What is the institution deadline for a PGS D applicant submitting an application to a Canadian institution?
Most Canadian institutions have two types of deadlines: a departmental deadline and an institutional deadline. These deadlines differ between institutions. Contact your faculty of graduate studies (or its equivalent) to confirm the deadline date for the submission of your application. Institutional deadlines are different from the NSERC deadline, as institutions conduct an internal selection process before they submit their quota of applications to NSERC.
5. I have missed the departmental and/or the institutional submission deadline at my Canadian institution. Can I apply directly to NSERC?
No. Applications sent directly to NSERC that should have been submitted through a Canadian institution will be rejected. There are no exceptions.
6. I am applying directly to NSERC and may not be able to submit my application by the deadline of 8:00 p.m. (ET) on October 17. Is it possible to get an extension?
No. NSERC will not approve an extension to the deadline date or time.
7. Do I need to provide proof of citizenship when submitting my application?
No. NSERC will ask award recipients for proof of citizenship or residency status upon acceptance of an award. However, you must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada or a protected person under subsection 95(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada), as of the application deadline.
8. My application has been submitted to NSERC and needs to be updated. Can it be returned to me?
No. However, personal contact information may be updated by sending an email to schol@nserc-crsng.gc.ca.
9. How do I apply for additional funding targeting underrepresented groups?
A subset of NSERC initiatives and supplement award programs target members of underrepresented groups. To be considered for targeted funding opportunities, ensure that you provide self-identification information in the online system and secondary consent within the form 201 application prior to submitting your application.
Completing form 201
10. Is there a page limit for the free-form attachments?
Yes. For the Outline of proposed research section, you are limited to two pages for PGS/CGS D and two pages including citations for PDF. For the Bibliography (PGS/CGS D only) section, you are limited to five pages. The Contributions and statements section of your application is limited to two pages for PGS/CGS D and four pages for PDF. For the optional Justification for eligibility of proposed research section, you are limited to one page. Note that the online system does not allow you to attach additional pages.
11. What type of information should be included in the Outline of proposed research?
You must provide a detailed description of your proposed research project for the period during which you intend to hold the award. Refer to the Instructions for completing an application – form 201 web page for details on the Outline of proposed research section.
12. Do I need to complete the Justification for eligibility of proposed research?
This attachment is optional. You should complete this section if your research has any link with, overlap or relevance to health or social sciences and humanities. If there is even the slightest perceived overlap, you should complete and upload a justification to your application prior to its submission. Refer to the Instructions for completing an application – form 201 web page for details on the Justification for eligibility of proposed research section.
13. How do I list each entry and what format do I need to use for my Contributions to research and development?
Refer to the Contributions and statements section of the Instructions for completing an application – form 201 web page for details on contributions to research and development.
14. Can I submit the attachments separately from my application?
No. All attachments must be completed and uploaded to your application prior to its submission.
15. Where can I find guidance regarding transcripts and how they are submitted?
Refer to the Transcripts and proof of registration section of the Instructions for completing an application – form 201 web page. Applications that do not meet the requirements may be rejected.
16. I am ready to submit my application but the Submit button is greyed out. How can I submit my application?
The Submit button will not appear until you select Verify on your Portfolio page. Once your application is completed (in other words, all modules filled out and attachments uploaded) and verified successfully, the Submit button will appear and you will be able to submit your application.
Reports on the applicant
17. When do I need to contact my references in order for them to complete a report on the applicant?
You should contact your proposed references as early as possible to give them sufficient time to complete a report on your behalf; if they are unable to evaluate you as an applicant, you must find another reference. Ask them to complete and submit the report well in advance of the institution or NSERC deadline, in case of delays.
18. I am having problems contacting my reference and the deadline is fast approaching. Can I get an extension to the deadline date?
No. NSERC will not approve an extension to the deadline date or time. It is your responsibility to ensure your completed application is submitted on time.
19. My reference is confirming that the report on the applicant has been completed; however, the status of the report in my application is showing Document created. How can I confirm that it has been attached to my application?
If your reference has completed the report and the status on your Portfolio is not showing Document Completed, it means that your reference has not verified completeness by selecting Verify in their portfolio. You must contact the reference and ask that the report be verified in order for it to be attached to your application. Once the reference has verified the report successfully, accepted the terms and conditions and clicked the Submit button, the status of the report on your Portfolio will change to Document Completed.
20. I have unlocked a report on the applicant and now it shows that it was not submitted. What do I do?
When you unlock a report, it allows the reference to make changes. You must select the Resend function to resubmit the invitation to the reference. Ask your reference to make the required modifications and then verify and resubmit the report. The report’s status will change to Document Completed once it is resubmitted. Note that unlocking the report does not allow you to view the report. Don’t forget to Verify completeness in order for the Submit button to appear.