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.
- 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.
| Agency | Research Focus |
| Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) | Social sciences, humanities, arts, law, education, and related disciplines |
| Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) | Health sciences, including biomedical, clinical, health systems, and population health research |
| Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) | Natural sciences, engineering, computer science, mathematics, and related fields |
If you are applying to CIHR, consider the information on CIHR’s website.
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.
If you are applying to SSHRC, see the information on SSHRC’s Subject Matter Eligibility webpage.
Still unsure? Contact fellowships@ucalgary.ca for guidance.
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.
CIHR
To complete the application process, see the appropriate agency’s website and instructions:
SSHRC
To complete the application process, see the appropriate agency’s website and instructions:
NSERC
To complete the application process, see the appropriate agency’s website and instructions:
3. Know Your Deadlines & Internal Review Process
| Agency | Internal Detailed Review | Internal Approvals Deadline | Agency Deadline | Online Portal |
| SSHRC | August 25, 2025 | September 5, 2025 | September 11, 2025 | Registration and Login |
| CIHR | August 28, 2025 | September 11, 2025 | September 17, 2025 | ResearchNet |
| NSERC | September 29, 2025 | October 13, 2025 | October 17, 2025 | Online system |
To participate in the internal review process, please submit the following by the internal deadline 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.
| CIHR applicants: | An institutional eApproval is required. 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. |
| 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.
Featured events
For any questions, contact: fellowships@ucalgary.ca