The Canada Postdoctoral Research Award (CPRA) is one of Canada’s most prestigious postdoctoral funding programs, offering a competitive package and international flexibility to support the development of future research leaders. Open to both Canadian and international scholars, the CPRA is designed to recognize and empower top-tier talent in health, natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, and the humanities.
Overview
-
Value: $70,000 per year
-
Duration: 2 years (24 months)
-
Location: Canadian or eligible international institutions
-
Application Deadline:
-
SSHRC: September 11, 2025
-
CIHR: September 17, 2025
-
NSERC: October 17, 2025
-
-
Results Announcement: March 31, 2026
Objective
The CPRA aims to invest in the next generation of innovators and critical thinkers, equipping them with high-quality training to make impactful contributions to Canada’s research ecosystem and global knowledge economy. It fosters world-class research, supports postdoctoral transition, and encourages innovative thinking across disciplines.
What Does the CPRA Fund?
The CPRA is part of the Canada Research Training Awards Suite and is administered by CIHR, NSERC, and SSHRC. It provides financial support to conduct postdoctoral research in a wide range of fields, with encouragement for interdisciplinary, community-led, and globally relevant research.
Awardees can conduct their research in academic institutions, research hospitals, NGOs, Indigenous organizations, or any institution with a significant research mandate—whether in Canada or abroad.
Who Can Apply?
To be eligible:
-
You must hold or expect to hold a doctorate or health professional degree before the start of the award.
-
You must have completed your degree within the past 3 years (with some exceptions).
-
You cannot hold a tenure-track or tenured position.
-
You must not have already received a postdoctoral-level award from CIHR, NSERC, or SSHRC.
-
You can apply up to three times for the CPRA.
International applicants must have completed their doctorate in Canada or currently be doing postdoctoral research at a Canadian institution. Up to 20% of awards are reserved for international scholars, and 30% may be held abroad by Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
Research Focus & Ineligibility
The research must be:
-
Distinct from your doctoral thesis
-
Oriented toward new and significant contributions
-
Focused primarily on research rather than teaching or editing publications
Ineligible projects include those solely focused on editing a thesis or publishing a book, translation work, or language acquisition.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
The CPRA program emphasizes inclusion and equity:
-
Up to 6 additional awards are designated for Black postdoctoral researchers per agency.
-
Special considerations are in place to support Indigenous researchers and Indigenous-led research projects.
-
The program aligns with the Tri-Agency Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Action Plan.
Application Process
-
Choose the right funding agency based on your research topic:
-
SSHRC for humanities/social sciences
-
CIHR for health
-
NSERC for natural sciences/engineering
-
-
Apply through the appropriate online system:
-
CIHR: ResearchNET
-
NSERC: Online System
-
SSHRC: Portal
-
-
Submit by the deadline, including all supporting documents and references. Some institutions may have earlier internal deadlines.
-
Applicants are not permitted to submit more than one application per year across the three agencies.
Notification and Conditions
-
Final decisions are announced by March 31, 2026.
-
Awardees are expected to comply with the Tri-agency award holder’s guide.
-
Part-time options and accommodations for career interruptions are available.
-
Applications can be submitted in English or French.
Apply Now
Whether you are just finishing your PhD or looking to broaden your research globally, the CPRA provides a unique, fully funded opportunity to expand your skills, gain international experience, and contribute meaningfully to cutting-edge research.
Start preparing your application now!
For detailed information and to apply, visit this link.
For more opportunities, visit opportunitiesforyouth.org.
