SSHRC Funding
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada grants, scholarships, and fellowships for research in social sciences, humanities, and related interdisciplinary fields.
Overview
The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) is Canada's federal funding agency for social sciences and humanities research. SSHRC funds graduate training, individual researcher grants, and large-scale partnership programs. Key programs include Canada Graduate Scholarships-Master's (CGS-M) at $17,500, the Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarships-Doctoral (SSHRC stream) at $35,000/year, the Insight Grant (up to $500,000 for individual research projects), Partnership Grants for multi-partner collaborative research, and Postdoctoral Fellowships. SSHRC supports social sciences, humanities, business, education, and related interdisciplinary fields.
What You Can Find Here
- CGS-M (SSHRC stream): $17,500 per year for master's study in social sciences and humanities
- Doctoral Canada Graduate Scholarships (SSHRC stream): $35,000/year for up to 4 years
- SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowship: $45,000/year for 2 years
- SSHRC Insight Grants: up to $500,000 over 5 years for individual researcher projects
- SSHRC Partnership Grants: multi-year funding for collaborative research involving multiple partners
- SSHRC Partnership Development Grants: up to $200,000 for building research partnerships
- Vanier CGS (SSHRC stream) for elite doctoral scholars: $50,000/year for 3 years
Who Should Use This
- Canadian citizens and permanent residents in master's or doctoral programs in social sciences, humanities, or education
- Canadian academic researchers seeking project funding for social science or humanities research
- Research teams or partnerships seeking large-scale collaborative funding through SSHRC Partnership Grants
- Postdoctoral researchers in social sciences or humanities seeking fellowship support
How to Get Started
- Step 1: Visit sshrc.gc.ca to explore all available funding opportunities by program type
- Step 2: For student scholarships: apply through your university via ResearchNet by the fall deadline
- Step 3: For Insight Grants: apply directly through ResearchNet - no institutional mediation required
- Step 4: For Partnership Grants: build your consortium and contact a SSHRC program officer before applying
- Step 5: Contact the SSHRC contact centre for pre-application questions about any program
Things to Check Before Applying
- SSHRC scholarships require Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status
- SSHRC distinguishes between social sciences/humanities (its mandate) and natural sciences/engineering (NSERC) or health (CIHR)
- Insight Grants are for researchers at Canadian universities - independent researchers are not eligible
- SSHRC Partnership programs require two or more organizations co-leading the research project
Frequently Asked Questions
What disciplines does SSHRC fund?
SSHRC funds the full range of social sciences (economics, political science, sociology, psychology, geography, law) and humanities (literature, history, philosophy, linguistics, religious studies), plus education, business, communication, and interdisciplinary fields.
Can international students in Canada apply for SSHRC?
Generally no. SSHRC student scholarships require Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status.
What is the SSHRC Insight Grant?
Insight Grants fund university-based research projects in social sciences and humanities for up to 5 years. Amounts range from $7,000 to $500,000 and support projects requiring significant sustained funding.
How is SSHRC different from NSERC and CIHR?
SSHRC covers social sciences and humanities. NSERC covers natural sciences and engineering. CIHR covers health research. Together they form Canada's tri-council funding system for university research.
Can non-Canadians be part of SSHRC Partnership Grants?
Yes. SSHRC Partnership Grants can include international partners, though the lead applicant must be at a Canadian university.
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