Changes in fellowship funding for postdoctoral scholars announced in recent federal budget

The recent federal budget announcement brings promising news for current and prospective postdoctoral scholars at Canadian universities. As part of a comprehensive package to address the cost-of-living challenges and enhance Canada’s research capabilities, significant increases have been made to fund master's and doctoral student scholarships and postdoctoral fellowships. 

Increased tri-agency postdoctoral fellowship amounts 

• increase in the annual value of postdoctoral fellowships to $70,000 annually

Impact on tri-agency postdoctoral competitions 

With the introduction of increased funding, upcoming postdoctoral competitions may see adjustments in terms of eligibility, and the number of fellowships awarded. Specific details are still pending as the three federal granting agencies—NSERC, SSHRC, and CIHR—await further directives from the government. We encourage scholars to stay tuned for upcoming announcements clarifying the application and selection processes under the new budget provisions. 

Existing fellowship recipients 

For scholars currently holding fellowships, it has not yet been confirmed whether the increases will be applied retroactively or only affect new awardees from the 2024-25 academic year onwards. The agencies have indicated that more information will be provided as it becomes available. Scholars currently receiving fellowships will receive communications on how these changes might impact their funding when information becomes available.