CRTAS abstract background

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.


4. Deadlines and Internal Review Process

AgencyUCalgary Detailed ReviewSponsor/Reference DeadlineUCalgary Institutional ApprovalsAgency 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. 

Email to Book a Session

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.

Featured events


For any questions, contact: fellowships@ucalgary.ca