The Canada Graduate Scholarships - Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements (CGS-MSFSS) program supports high calibre Canadian graduate students in building global linkages and international networks through the pursuit of exceptional research experiences at research institutions abroad, and they are available to Canadian citizens or permanent residents who are active Tri-Agency CGS holders (Masters, PhD, or Vanier).

Award Value

Up to $6,000 for 2 - 6 months.

This supplement will cover cost associated with travel, living, and other expenses (such as accommodation, meals, tuition, travel or study visas, insurance, and other necessary costs) unrelated to research during the research study period. Costs directly related to the research must be covered by other sources of funding.

To be eligible to apply for this funding opportunity, you must:

• Have accepted or currently hold a CGS (Masters or Doctoral) or Vanier.
• Undertake your proposed trip abroad no earlier than the competition deadline date
• Not hold or have held any other CGS-MSFSS during the course of your graduate studies

To remain eligible during the research study period abroad, you must:

• Hold an active CGS award at the time your research study period abroad starts
• Be registered full time in a graduate research studies program at a Canadian institution for the duration of your research study period abroad
• Take up the award within one year of receiving the notice of award for the CGS-MSFSS
• Return to complete your degree in Canada.

Eligible host institutions include foreign universities, inter-university research centres, international or national research institutes or labratory, or other institutions with a research mandate.

A host supervisor must be a reacher affiliated with and employed full-time at an eligible host institution. Research assistants and postdoctoral fellows are not eligible. If the host supervisors primary place of employment is outside academia, they must demonstrate that they have supervised graduate student researchers.

The choice of institution and host supervisor must be justified in your application and explain how the research study period abroad wil further your research goals.

The application process for the CGS-MSFSS awards is slightly different for each funding agency. Complete the appropriate application form and submit to sgsaward@unb.ca.

• NSERC Application | Instructions
• SSHRC Application | Instructions
• CIHR Application | Instructions

A completed application will include:

• Name and contact information of your CGS or Vanier research supervisor and proposed host supervisor
• Name and location of host institution
• Description of intended research activites, and how they relate to you main graduate research topic, and a description of the potential benefits you will derive from the host institution (2 pages).
• A budget that provides an estimate of costs of travel, living, and other expenses during your study period.
• A letter of support from CGS or Vanier supervisor.
• A letter of support from your host supervisor.
• (CIHR only) Applicant consent form and Consent to disclose personal information form
• (NSERC only) Terms and conditions of applying form
• (SSHRC only) Consent to disclose personal information form.

Internal deadlines | June 1 - spring competition | Oct. 1 - fall competition

Results are sent by the funding agencies directly to the students within two months following receipt of applications.