CANSSI-CRM PhD Recruitment Scholarship
The CANSSI-CRM PhD Recruitment Scholarship (PRS) is a competitive program that aims to attract promising individuals to doctoral studies in statistical sciences at a CANSSI member university in Quebec.
Overview
The PRS scholarship provides funding to supplement the standard funding resources provided by a recipient’s supervisor and home university. It is designed to act as an incentive to bring promising PhD students to universities in Quebec.
Generally, the scholarship provides $7,000 per year for the first two years of a doctoral program in statistical sciences.
To receive the PRS scholarship, recipients must ensure that they meet the admission requirements of the Quebec university at which they plan to begin their doctoral studies.
Supervisor List for 2026-2027
As part of the application process for the PRS program, students are asked to choose one to three potential supervisors from the list below.
Faculty members can add their names to the 2026/2027 list by filling out the PRS Faculty Registration Form. (Faculty members who registered last year need to fill out the form again if they wish to be included on this year’s list.)
Students interested in working with a faculty member whose name does not appear on the list may invite them to fill out the PRS Faculty Registration Form and then include this name on their student application form as a potential supervisor.
See the list of potential supervisors for 2026-2027 (Opening soon)
Eligibility and Requirements
Students receiving PRS scholarships and their supervisors must fulfill all CANSSI requirements and expectations during the period in which the scholarship is given.
Requirements for Recipients
- To receive funding, a scholarship recipient must maintain enrollment as a full-time student in a doctoral program at a university in the province of Quebec under the supervision of a faculty member registered with the PRS program. Retention of the scholarship after proposed changes to the supervisor, program, and/or institution requires prior approval of CANSSI-Québec.
- Receiving the second year of scholarship support requires confirmation that a scholarship recipient has maintained satisfactory academic standing, has abided by the rules and regulations of the doctoral program in which they are enrolled, and has made reasonable progress towards completing their program of study during their first year.
- A scholarship recipient must take part in CANSSI EDI, including participation in at least one CANSSI EDI event or education course per year that the scholarship is received.
- PRS Scholarship funding must normally be completed by the end of the second year in the PhD program. Scholarship funding including all deferments must be completed by the end of the fourth year in the PhD program. Unused amounts revert to CANSSI.
- The support of the sponsors CANSSI-Québec, CANSSI and CRM (Quantact and StatLab) must be acknowledged in all posters, presentations and publicity material related to activity supported by the scholarship.
Requirements for Supervisors
- The supervisor of a PRS scholarship recipient must hold an appointment with eligibility to supervise PhD students in a university in the province of Quebec during the period of the scholarship and must register with the PRS program prior to the award of a scholarship to a student advisee.
- A supervisor of a PRS recipient must participate in at least one CANSSI EDI event or course during the period in which the PRS scholarship is received.
- Receiving the second year of scholarship support requires confirmation that a scholarship recipient has maintained satisfactory academic standing during their first year.
- Within one month after the final semester of the PRS scholarship, the supervisor will send a final report to CANSSI-Québec, a short narrative explaining how the scholarship contributed to the research program of the supervisor (100-200 words).
- The support of CANSSI-Québec, CANSSI, CRM (Quantact and StatLab) and NSERC must be acknowledged in all posters, presentations and publicity material related to activity supported by the scholarship.
Application Process
The PRS application process involves actions by both potential supervisors and student applicants, as outlined below.
Registration of Potential Supervisors for PRS Recipients
Potential supervisors at CANSSI member universities in Quebec must complete the PRS Faculty Registration Form by the stated deadline to be eligible to supervise a PRS recipient.
Submission of Applications by Student Applicants
Candidates for PRS scholarships must complete the application form (see the link below) by the stated deadline to be eligible for an award.
Post-award Requirements
- PRS scholarship recipients must be admitted as full-time students in a doctoral program in statistical sciences at a CANSSI member university in the province of Quebec under the supervision of a faculty member registered with the PRS program at the time of the award and must accept admission to the indicated program.
- The supervisor of a PRS scholarship recipient must confirm the student’s eligibility to receive the scholarship after the student has accepted admission and again when the recipient has enrolled in the program.
Application Ingredients
Before completing the registration form for potential supervisors (faculty members) or the scholarship application form (students), please read through the relevant list of application ingredients below to ensure that you have the necessary information.
Required Ingredients for Potential Supervisors
- Contact information, including name, email address, academic position, and names of department and institution
- Short description of research interests and potential projects
- Statement outlining standard support amounts and support plan for PhD students
- Statement confirming agreement to fulfill all CANSSI EDI requirements and responsibilities.
Required Ingredients for Student Applicants
- Your contact information and current academic status
- Planned starting term for your PhD studies
- Curriculum vitae
- List of 1–3 potential supervisors from the registered list of PRS supervisors
- Statement of interest for each selected supervisor
- Statement of your research, industry, and independent study experience
- Statement of your research interests
- Statement agreeing to fulfill all CANSSI EDI requirements
- Unofficial transcripts
- Names and contact details of two references who will submit letters of reference on your behalf
Student Application Form
For full information about how to apply for a PRS scholarship, see the Supporting Documents.
Then use the button below to go to the online student application form.
Timeline
Financial Operation
CANSSI handles the financial operation of the PRSprogram.
- The CQRS scholarship is considered to be a scholarship provided to support the recipient in their PhD studies.
- A scholarship disbursement schedule submitted by the supervisor of a PRS recipient must be approved by CANSSI prior to the start of the scholarship. Proposed alterations to an approved scholarship disbursement schedule must receive the prior approval of CANSSI.
- The PRS scholarship must be a supplemental amount on top of the standard support indicated by the supervisor and home department on the PRS Faculty Registration Form at the time of the award of the scholarship.
- Upon receipt of verification of eligibility, scholarships are disbursed by direct payment from CANSSI to the home department of the recipient for disbursement to the student. All disbursements must adhere to NSERC requirements.
- CANSSI support is contingent on Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) funding.
Deferment in Cases of Multiple Scholarships
If a PRS scholarship recipient receives cumulative scholarship support from all sources exceeding the standard support level specified by the supervisor by more than $10,000 per year, a portion of the PRS scholarship equal to the excess above $10,000, up to the maximum of $7,000, will be deferred to subsequent years.
Supporting Documents
List of Potential Supervisors for 2026 (Available soon)
Questions? Contact Us
General Inquiries
Questions about CANSSI requirements and requests for assistance and changes should be directed to CANSSI Scientific Program Coordinator Louisa Benhamida (louisa_benhamida@sfu.ca). Questions about financial matters should be directed to Financial Officer Lori Kroeker (canssi_finance@sfu.ca).