Closed
Source verified July 23, 2026
CIHR Strategic Master’s Awards (SMA)
Support for CIHR priority master’s research
Receipt of requests is now closed
Get notified about updates to this grant.
Latest source updateLast Update: August 14, 2026Latest change: CIHR updated its training award concurrency rule to prohibit holding another federal training award or receiving remuneration through a federally funded research training support program, while allowing non-federal concurrent support.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: August 14, 2026
Latest change: CIHR updated its training award concurrency rule to prohibit holding another federal training award or receiving remuneration through a federally funded research training support program, while allowing non-federal concurrent support.
CIHR training award concurrency rule updated
The CIHR Application Administration Guide now says a CIHR training award holder is prohibited from concurrently holding another federal training award or receiving remuneration through a federally funded research training support program. The guide also clarifies that concurrent non-federal training awards and non-federal research training support programs are allowed.
Funding available
$ 27,000
Deadline
Closed
Location
Canada
Who can apply
Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada, or Protected Persons under subsection 95(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada)
See full eligibility
Overview
This program provides up to $27,000 for one year. It supports master’s students in Canada working in CIHR priority research areas, including bioinformatics, sex and gender in health research, and First Nations, Inuit and Métis health.
Receipt of requests is now closed
Get notified about updates to this grant.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Conduct research and development activities
- Conduct research or evaluation activities
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 27,000 $
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Public or Parapublic institution
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- 2SLGBTQI+
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Master’s research in bioinformatics, computational biology, or health data sciences in genetics and genomics
- Master’s research in sex and gender in health research
- Master’s research in First Nations, Inuit, or Métis health
Documents Needed
- Official transcripts for all post-secondary studies
- Two letters of support using the CIHR template
- Program of Study Information form signed by the Scholarship Liaison Officer
- Research Training Environment Support letter from the primary supervisor
- SGBA+ training certificate
- Proof of Canadian citizenship, permanent residence, or protected person status
Official resources
Program guide
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada, or Protected Persons under subsection 95(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada)
- Students enrolled in or who have applied for full-time admission (or full-time equivalent) to an eligible master’s program at a Canadian institution
Who is not eligible
- Applicants holding or on leave from an independent research position
- Applicants already holding another direct federal training award
- Master’s programs based only on coursework
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada
- CIHR-eligible Canadian institutions
Selection criteria
- Academic achievement (25%)
- Research ability or potential (25%)
- Experiences and achievements within and beyond academia (25%)
- Research training environment (25%)
How to apply
- Download the PDF file to your computer and do not open it in your web browser.
- Open the file using Adobe Acrobat Reader 10 or higher or Kofax on a computer, not a mobile device or tablet.
- Complete the required fields, including the signature fields.
- If needed, clear your browser cache before downloading the file again to make sure you are using the most recent version of the form.
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are first checked for relevance to the selected CIHR funding pool.
- Eligible applications are reviewed by a CIHR peer review committee.
- Ranking lists are created separately for each funding pool.
- Funding is awarded from the top of each ranking list until the budget is exhausted.
- Applicants receive a decision notice, and funded names are published on the CIHR website.
Additional information
- The application requires two letters of support using the CIHR template.
- The applicant must complete the SGBA+ training certificate.
- The applicant must also complete the CIHR self-identification questionnaire.
- All required materials must be uploaded in ResearchNet before submission.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the CIHR Strategic Master’s Awards (SMA) Program
What is the CIHR Strategic Master’s Awards (SMA)?
This program provides up to $27,000 for one year. It supports master’s students in Canada working in CIHR priority research areas, including bioinformatics, sex and gender in health research, and First Nations, Inuit and Métis health.
How much funding can be received?
CIHR Strategic Master’s Awards (SMA) Funds up to $27,000 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the CIHR Strategic Master’s Awards (SMA) program?
To be eligible for the CIHR Strategic Master’s Awards (SMA) program, you must:
Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person
Eligible full-time master’s program in Canada
Significant research component required
What expenses are eligible under CIHR Strategic Master’s Awards (SMA)?
Master’s research in bioinformatics, computational biology, or health data sciences in genetics and genomics
Master’s research in sex and gender in health research
Master’s research in First Nations, Inuit, or Métis health
Who can I contact for more information about the CIHR Strategic Master’s Awards (SMA)?
You can contact Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) by email at support-soutien@cihr-irsc.gc.ca or by phone at 613-954-1968.
Where is the CIHR Strategic Master’s Awards (SMA) available?
The CIHR Strategic Master’s Awards (SMA) program is available across Canada.
Is the CIHR Strategic Master’s Awards (SMA) a grant, loan, or tax credit?
CIHR Strategic Master’s Awards (SMA) is a Grant and Funding