Canada Impact+ Research Training Awards (CIRTA)

Jump to: Information and processes for prospective PhD students | Information and processes for faculty members

Eligibility

Potential recipients must meet the following eligibility criteria: 

• Currently outside of Canada and not affiliated with a Canadian institution
• Meet date requirements: For PhD students, the last intake is winter 2027
• Proposed research conducted at Waterloo must align with one of the following priority research areas:
  • Advanced digital technologies (AI, quantum, cybersecurity)
  • Health, including biotechnology 
  • Clean technology and resource value chains 
  • Environment, climate resilience, and the Arctic 
  • Food and water security 
  • Democratic and community resilience 
  • Manufacturing and advanced materials 
  • Defence and dual-use technologies 

1. A faculty member supervisor (nominator) will identify the eligible prospective PhD student (nominee) based on previous interactions, engagements, and/or recruitment efforts.
   • Discover research opportunities at Waterloo.
2. The faculty member will direct you to apply for program admission for fall 2026 or winter 2027 intake, noting the application deadlines (typically end of January/early February 2026 for fall admission). If a faculty member identifies you for nomination, and you have already applied, they will follow up with more details.
3. Once you have applied, the faculty member will submit a nomination form by February 17, 2026. 
4. The institutional selection committee will review application packages by March 4, 2026. 
5. Tri-agency will confirm eligibility and make final decisions by April 1, 2026. 
6. Tri-agency will share results with Waterloo; results will be communicated to successful students and supervisors. 

Eligibility for faculty member supervisors

• Must be the primary grant holder (PI) on an active tri-agency grant (April 2025 — March 2027), as listed on the CIRTA Q&A page.
• Must be eligible to supervise a doctoral student and/or postdoctoral scholar as per University of Waterloo regulations.
• Must commit to providing support for PhD student for full duration of their PhD degree program (beyond the 3 years CIRTA funding) as per our institutional minimum funding level.

Process for nominating a prospective PhD student

1. Faculty member supervisor (nominator) identifies eligible prospective PhD student (nominee) based on previous interactions, engagements, and/or recruitment efforts. 
   • Faculty members who do not have a prospective PhD student nominee are encouraged to submit a graduate student research opportunities listing to support a broad marketing/recruitment effort through the new research opportunity listing form for faculty (login required).  
2. Faculty member directs prospective PhD student to apply for program admission (via graduate application process) – for fall 2026 or winter 2027 admission intake, noting the application deadlines (typically end of January/early February 2026 for fall admission).   
   • If the identified student has already applied for admission (for spring 2026 or fall 2026, faculty members can contact Julie MacMillan, associate director, graduate admissions, GSPA for direction on process and support).  
3. Supervisor must identify alignment with priority research areas for review by institutional committee and submit nomination form – deadline: February 17, 2026, 9:00 am, EST.  

4. Institutional selection committee (chaired by GSPA) will review application packages and forward to agency based on quotas – deadline: March 4, 2026.

5. Tri-agency confirms eligibility and makes final decisions – April 1, 2026.

6. Tri-agency shares results with institution; GSPA communicates results to successful students and supervisors.