Canada Postdoctoral Research Award (CPRA)
Program Overview
The CPRA program is a federal research talent investment program in the Canada Research Training Awards Suite (CRTAS) administered by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).
The Canada Postdoctoral Research Award (CPRA) program recognizes and supports the next generation of outstanding innovators, knowledge workers, creative thinkers and researchers at a pivotal time in their careers. The program provides funding and flexibility, empowering Canadian and international leaders in innovation and scholarship of tomorrow to develop the skills to build world-class research and drive Canadian prosperity and competitiveness.
1. Check Your Eligibility
To be eligible, you must:
- Hold (or expect to hold) a doctorate or health professional degree before the award start date.
- Please note that as per CIHR applicant instructions, "Health Professionals only include medical doctors (MD), doctors of veterinary medicine (DVM) and doctors of dental science (DDS). Allied Health Professionals include all other CIHR-Eligible health professions" and a list of these professions is available on this CIHR webpage.
- Not hold or be on leave from a tenure-track or tenured faculty position.
- Have completed all degree requirements no more than three years before September 1, 2025.
- Extensions up to 36 additional months may be granted for career interruptions due to caregiving, illness, conflict, socioeconomic barriers, clinical training, or relevant non-academic work.).
- If you are an international applicant, you must either:
- Be enrolled in or have completed your doctoral/health professional degree at a Canadian institution, or
- Be currently conducting postdoctoral research at a Canadian institution. We anticipate that an active postdoc appointment at UCalgary by the agency application deadline date will satisfy this.
2. Select the Appropriate Agency
Select the agency whose research mandate most closely aligns to the research subject matter in your application to ensure it will be reviewed by experts in disciplines closest to your field(s) of study. Applications submitted to the incorrect agency may be removed from the competition. For more information, see Selecting the Appropriate Federal Granting Agency.
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR): Health sciences, including biomedical, clinical, health systems, and population health research. If you are applying to CIHR, consider the information on CIHR’s website.
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC): Natural sciences, engineering, computer science, mathematics, and related fields. If you are applying to NSERC, see the Addendum to the guidelines for the eligibility of applications related to health, which has additional information and specific examples relating to subject matter.
- Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC): Social sciences, humanities, arts, law, education, and related disciplines. If you are applying to SSHRC, see the information on SSHRC’s Subject Matter Eligibility webpage.
Still have questions? Contact us at fellowships@ucalgary.ca for guidance. Applicants are also welcome to reach out directly to the funding agency using the contact information provided on their website. However, we strongly recommend copying fellowships@ucalgary.ca on your message so we can provide additional support if needed.
3. Application Forms and Instructions
You must submit your application electronically through the relevant agency’s platform. All referees/references, institutional nominators, etc.,
must use the appropriate online application system to submit their supporting letters before the deadline.
| Key Information | CIHR | SSHRC | NSERC |
| Instructions | Applicant instructions | [1] Applicant instructions [2] Instructions for referees: Letter of Appraisal form [3] Proposed Supervisor instructions: Research Appraisal form [4] Department Head: Instructions for completing the Institutional Nomination and Commitment form | Applicant instructions |
| Evaluation Subcriteria | Selection Criteria | Merit Review Criteria and Scoring | Selection Criteria and Indicators |
| Application Portal URL | ResearchNet | Registration and Login | NSERC Online |
| Agency Email Contact (please copy fellowships@ucalgary.ca so we are aware of your question) | support-soutien@cihr-irsc.gc.ca | fellowships@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca (general help) webgrants@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca (technical help) | nsercscholarships-boursescrsng@nserc-crsng.gc.ca (general help) webapp@nserc-crsng.gc.ca (technical help) |
4. Deadlines and Internal Review Process
| Agency | UCalgary Detailed Review | Sponsor/Reference Deadline | UCalgary Institutional Approvals | Agency Submission |
| SSHRC | August 25, 2025 | Same as agency submission | September 5, 2025 | September 11, 2025 |
| CIHR | August 28, 2025 | September 9, 2025 | September 11, 2025 | September 17, 2025 |
| NSERC | September 29, 2025 | Same as agency submission | October 13, 2025 | October 17, 2025 |
Detailed Review
To participate in the UCalgary detailed review process, where you will receive in-depth feedback on all elements of the application, please submit a complete draft of your application including all modules except the referee letters, by the posted Detailed Review Deadline. Submit your draft to Postdoctoral Fellowships fellowships@ucalgary.ca by noon on the posted date.
Basic Review
To participate in the UCalgary basic/administrative review process ONLY, where we only review for eligibility and mandatory application requirements, please submit the following by the posted deadline for UCalgary Institutional Approvals to fellowships@ucalgary.ca:
- PDF preview of the complete application
- Completed RFAA Form, signed by:
- Applicant (Postdoc)
- Supervisor
- Department Head (if applicable)
- Dean/Associate Dean (Research)
*CSM applicants: Send the form to medgrant@ucalgary.ca for CSM ADR approval.
- For CIHR applicants: An institutional eApproval is required for submission in order to hold the award at UCalgary. Please ensure a PDF preview of the entire application and a signed RFAA are submitted for internal approvals at least three business days before the CIHR deadline.
- For SSHRC and NSERC applicants: Applications can be submitted directly to the funding agency through the appropriate online portal. However, it is strongly encouraged to send the application for internal review in advance to receive feedback and ensure compliance with agency guidelines.
How We Support Applicants
Proposal Review
Receive detailed feedback on your draft to strengthen clarity, structure, and alignment with selection criteria by submitting two weeks ahead of the external deadline.
Individual Consultations
Strengthen your application with a one-on-one consultation. Get personalized feedback, refine key sections, and address any questions before you submit.
Workshops & Information Sessions
Join our interactive workshops designed to break down the application process, highlight agency expectations, and offer tips for success. For details on upcoming sessions, please refer to the information below.
For any questions, contact: fellowships@ucalgary.ca