Canada Postdoctoral Research Award (CPRA)
The Canada Postdoctoral Research Award (CPRA) is the successor to the discontinued Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship, providing CAD $70,000/year for 2 years to outstanding postdoctoral researchers. Administered jointly by CIHR, NSERC, and SSHRC, it supports researchers at Canadian and select international institutions. Up to 20% of awards are available to international applicants who are enrolled or conducting postdocs at Canadian institutions.
Popular Participating Universities
University of Toronto
McGill University
University of British Columbia
McMaster University
University of WaterlooQuick info
Application status
Open · agency deadline 17 Oct 2026Opens the provider's official website
Info sourced from official providers. Always verify deadlines, requirements, and eligibility directly before applying.
What you get
- CAD $70,000 per year (non-taxable)
- Duration: 24 months
- Can be held at academic research institutions, research hospitals, colleges, NGOs, or Indigenous organizations in Canada or abroad (conditions apply)
- Additional supplements may be available for priority areas, Black postdoctoral researchers, and Indigenous researchers
Requirements
Detailed requirements
- - Must hold or expect to hold a doctorate or health professional degree before award start date
- - Must NOT hold or be on leave from a tenure-track or tenured faculty position
- - PhD/degree completion no more than 3 years before September 1 of application year (extensions possible for parental leave, illness, military service, etc.)
- - International applicants: must be currently enrolled in or have completed doctorate at a Canadian institution, OR conducting postdoc at a Canadian institution — as of application deadline
- - Up to 20% of awards available to international applicants
- - Can be held at Canadian institutions OR abroad (up to 30% available internationally — Canadian citizens/PRs only for international tenure)
- - Cannot have previously received a postdoctoral award from CIHR, NSERC, or SSHRC (including old Banting)
- - Maximum 3 applications allowed
- - Research program must be predominantly research-oriented and significantly different from doctoral thesis
Who can apply
Outstanding early-career researchers (within 3 years of PhD) from Canada and internationally who are pursuing postdoctoral research at Canadian institutions, across health, natural sciences, engineering, and social sciences.
Fields of study
Application window
Agency deadline: October 17 annually
Results announced: April 30
International students must apply through their Canadian institution. Institution deadlines are typically earlier than October 17.
Dates are based on data sourced from official providers (2025–2026 cycle). Deadlines may shift between intake years. Always verify on the official website before applying.
Important dates
How to apply
- 1Select the funding agency matching your research field: CIHR (health), NSERC (natural sciences/engineering), SSHRC (social sciences/humanities)
- 2Check institutional deadlines — your host institution may have an internal nomination deadline well before the agency deadline
- 3Apply via the relevant agency online platform: CIHR (ResearchNET), NSERC (online system), SSHRC (Registration and login)
- 4International applicants must apply through a Canadian institution — direct applications not accepted
- 5Submission must be complete and on time — late applications are not accepted
- 6Results announced: March 31
- 7Contacts: CIHR: support-soutien@cihr-irsc.gc.ca | NSERC: nsercscholarships-boursescrsng@nserc-crsng.gc.ca | SSHRC: fellowships@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca
Provider
Government of Canada / CIHR / NSERC / SSHRC
Canada
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