2012 Vanier CGS Scholarship Competition at the University of Alberta, Canada

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[attach=1] The Vanier CGS program aims to  attract and retain world-class doctoral students by supporting students  who demonstrate both leadership skills and a high standard of scholarly  achievement in graduate studies.

About the Vanier Scholarships:
•   Valued at $  50,000 a year for three years, the Vanier is one of Canada’s most prestigious graduate awards.
•   The  Vanier Scholarships support doctoral studies in the social sciences and  humanities, natural sciences and engineering, and health-related  fields.
•   Both Canadian and international students are eligible to apply.

The Vaniers are administered by Canada’s three federal funding agencies:

• Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
• Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
• Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)

Eligibility:
Eligibility criteria are based on the 2011 Vanier CGS competition and will be updated once the details about the 2012 competition become available.

To be considered for a Vanier CGS at the University of Alberta, you must:

• intend  to pursue a doctoral degree (or combined MA/PhD or MD/PhD) full-time at  the University of Alberta in the May 2012 semester or the 2012/13  academic year.
• have  completed between zero and 20 months of doctoral studies as of May 1,  2012 (ie. may not have begun the doctoral program earlier than Sept 1,  2010).
• have  achieved a first-class average (equivalent to 3.5 or greater at the  University of Alberta) in each of the last two years of full-time study  or equivalent.
• be seeking financial support to pursue a first doctoral degree (or combined MA/PhD or MD/PhD).
• be  invited to apply by the University of Alberta; applicants may only be  nominated to the national competition by one Canadian university.
• not  have already received a doctoral-level scholarship or fellowship from  SSHRC, NSERC or CIHR to undertake or complete a doctoral degree.

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Important Dates (Tentative)

• August 10, 2011 (tentative)
  
  Deadline for departments to indicate support for eligible candidates whom they  wish to invite to complete the full online 2012 Vanier CGS application  form.
• September 9, 2011 (tentative)
  
  Deadline for online submission of applications via ResearchNet and for receipt  of official transcripts (including current U of A transcripts), and  other supporting documents in FGSR AND deadline for receipt of department draft institutional nomination letter via e-mail.
• September 12-29, 2011 (tentative)
  
  U  of A Vanier CGS committee reviews submitted applications and finalizes  list of applicants to be recommended to the national Vanier CGS  committee
• Late October 2011 (tentative)
  
  University deadline for submitting nominations to granting agencies
• April 2012
  
  Communication of results to applicants

See below for the detailed timeline.

*  All dates are tentative. When the Tri-Agency releases details about the 2012 Vanier CGS competition, an updated timeline will be posted.
How to Apply – For Students

• Students must contact the U of A department and express interest in the Vanier scholarship as soon as possible.
• The  department and the U of A Vanier CGS Committee will perform a  preliminary assessment of qualified applicants; based on these  preliminary assessments, eligible candidates will then be invited to  complete the tri-agency’s full online Vanier CGS application and submit  supporting documents. Only invited applicants are required to complete the online application.
• The U of A Vanier CGS Committee will adjudicate, select and forward  nominees to the national Vanier CGS competition by the national  deadline.
• Nominations will be considered at the national Vanier CGS adjudication with results  for the 2012 competition expected in April 2012.

Source: Vanier Scholarship - U of A information about the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship.