Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements
Award Overview
- Award Category: Doctoral Awards, In-Course Awards, Master's Awards, Travel & Conference Awards
- Student Deadline : May 20, 2025, 4:30 p.m.
- Application Dates : Spring 2025
- Value & Duration : Up to $6,000 to fund 2 to 6 months of travel
- Level of Study : Doctoral, Master’s
- Required Legal Status : Domestic
- Results : SGS will notify all applicants of the results of the University competition prior to the Tri-Agency application deadline. Decisions regarding the national competition are usually released two months after the competition deadline directly to students by the granting agency.
Purpose
The Canada Graduate Scholarships – Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements (CGS-MSFSS) Program supports high-calibre Canadian graduate students in building global linkages and international networks through the pursuit of exceptional research experiences at research institutions abroad. By accessing international scientific research and training, CGS-MSFSS recipients will contribute to strengthening the potential for collaboration between Canadian universities and affiliated research institutions and universities, or other research institutions outside of Canada. A total of 250 awards are available Canada-wide each year. The current distribution of supplements among the three agencies is: 125 for SSHRC, 80 for NSERC, and 45 for CIHR.
Eligibility
In order to be eligible, you must:
- have accepted or hold one of the following awards:
- Canada Graduate Scholarship-Master’s (CGS M);
- Canada Graduate Scholarships – Doctoral (CGS D); or
- a Vanier CGS
- depart for your proposed trip abroad:
- after the federal competition close date (June 10 for spring competition and October 10 for fall competition of each year; and
- within one year of receiving the notice of award for the CGS-MSFSS; but
- no later than the last day of your CGS award tenure.
- be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada by the application deadline;
- propose a research period of a minimum of two months to a maximum of six months; and
- not hold or have held another CGS-MSFSS.
To remain eligible for this award, you must:
- hold an active CGS award at the time the research study period abroad starts;
- be registered full-time in a graduate research studies program at a Canadian institution for the duration of your research study period abroad; and
- return to complete your degree in Canada.
See complete program details on the single harmonized program description hosted on NSERC’s website.
Application Process
Applicants must complete an online SGS MSFSS Cover Page by Tuesday, May 20, 2025, 4:30 p.m. Applications that are incomplete, ineligible or are submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
Note:
- A PDF copy of the applicant’s MSFSS Application Form, Intended Research Plan, and agency Consent Form(s) are to be uploaded to the online SGS MSFSS Cover Page.
- Each agency has its own application form and instructions, available on the MSFSS website, and care should be taken to ensure that the appropriate form is used.
- Letters of support from your UofT supervisor and host supervisor must be emailed by each as a PDF attachment directly to debbie.chau@utoronto.ca by the application deadline.
- Students holding their CGS D award at an affiliated hospital must apply through the affiliated hospital, and must adhere to the hospital’s research institute’s deadline.
Additional Notes:
- Application Forms
The MSFSS application for all three agencies should be obtained from the single harmonized program description hosted on NSERC’s website.
For NSERC and SSHRC: Applicants must complete the individual agency’s web-based application form, which will generate an application number and PDF file.
For CIHR: Applicants must complete the fillable PDF application form.
Budget Proposal: The supplement covers costs associated with travel (such as accommodation, meals, tuition, insurance and other necessary, non-research-related costs) during the research study period abroad. Costs directly related to the research must be covered by other funding sources.
Note: Students are to include only eligible expenses in the “Proposed Expenditures” section of the MSFSS Application form (as above). If there is a need to identify other ineligible expenses in your application, (e.g., visa fees, participant fees, and local transportation expenses), you may list these under the “Other Travel Related Expenses” section. However, they will be excluded when determining your grant value. Note the Tri-Agency normally caps the grant amount at the student’s estimated budget amount or $6000, whichever is lower. Therefore, it is recommended to be realistic and not underestimate the amount that is needed.
The Org. Code for institutions may be left blank on the application form.
- Intended Research Plan
The Research Plan should be a maximum two-page description (this includes all references and citations) of:
- the intended research activities during the research study period abroad (including objectives, methodology, timelines and expected outcomes);
- an indication of how this relates to the applicant’s CGS research topic; and
- a description of the potential benefits to be derived from working at, or attending, the host institution in relation to current research objectives
Applicants are encouraged to review the selection criteria on the granting agency websites before preparing a research plan.
- Two Signed Letters of Support
Letters must be emailed directly from the Supervisor as a PDF attachment to the SGS Graduate Awards Officer with “MSFSS Letter of Support” in the subject line. Letters may only be a maximum of one page in length, submitted on official letter head and signed. Any translations must be performed by a certified translator.
a) The letter from the current U of T Supervisor must include a justification or explanation as to why this research travel is required to complete the applicant’s thesis or dissertation. The letter must also confirm the applicant’s research is related to their CGS research topic.
b) The letter from the host Supervisor must come directly from the host Supervisor. A letter of admissions as a visiting scholar is not sufficient. Additionally, this letter must detail any resources they will be able to provide – e.g., supervising time, equipment, access to labs, libraries, etc., and any additional financial support. Non-academic host supervisors must demonstrate that they have experience supervising graduate student research.
- Consent Form
All applicants are required to submit a signed copy of the Consent to Disclose Personal Information form(s). Please find the document at the following sites:
NSERC: Terms and conditions of applying form (PDF) (fillable)
CIHR: 1) Applicant consent form and 2) Consent to disclosure of personal information form;
SSHRC: Consent to disclosure of personal information form
Results
SGS will notify all applicants of the results of the University competition prior to the Tri-Agency application deadline. Decisions regarding the national competition are usually released two months after the competition deadline directly to students by the granting agency.
Additional Info
Safety Abroad
Please also be aware that restrictions around travel may change without any notice. As such, please stay up to date with all communication on the U of T Learning & Safety Abroad Student’s page.
Safety Abroad procedures are mandatory for all U of T students travelling internationally, including to the U.S.A., and must be completed before the travel occurs (regardless of receiving funding). Students residing in the same location as their research activity, are not exempt from Safety Abroad requirements. Research travel that is conducted without prior completion of all Safety Abroad requirements may render students ineligible to receive their funding.
Before travelling on university activity abroad, there are certain steps that you must complete:
- Contact the Safety Abroad Office directly by emailing abroad@utoronto.ca to discuss your planned travel and be added to the Safety Abroad Registry;
- Complete the online Safety Abroad pre-departure workshop (valid for 1.5 years); and
- Obtain supplementary health insurance (if not already covered).
Note: For students who are interested in engaging in research collaborations with third parties, please have an eligible faculty member submit a request through the My Research Non-Funded or My Research Application portal to initiate the process.
Award Holder Information
Acceptance/Refusal
Successful applicants must notify the granting agency of their acceptance or refusal of the offer via email (as well as cc’ing debbie.chau@utoronto.ca) with “CGS-MSFSS” in the subject line.
For more information, awardees should consult the Tri-agency MSFSS Award Holder’s Guide.
Travel Plan Changes
To propose changes to travel plans, an email must be submitted directly to your granting agency cc’ing debbie.chau@utoronto.ca for approval at least four weeks prior to the date of departure. Be sure to provide a brief rationale for the proposed changes, as well as a letter or email from your current and host supervisors showing support for the change. For more information, awardees should consult the Tri-agency MSFSS Award Holder’s Guide.
Payment Activation
Upon confirmation of acceptance, the transfer of funds from the associated agency to the University, and completion of U of T’s safety abroad procedures and completion of the MSFSS Payment Activation Form (PAF):
- CGS-MSFSS payments will be set up on ACORN and typically issued one month prior to the date of the award holder’s departure.
- The full value of the travel supplement will be distributed in a single payment and refunded to the award holder.