Canada Research Training Awards Suite – Research Travel Supplements

Deadline: 10-Jun-2026

The Canada Research Training Awards Suite – Research Travel Supplements (CRTAS-RTS) is a federal funding initiative designed to support graduate-level research mobility. It enables master’s and doctoral students to undertake research travel that enhances training, international collaboration, and research capacity development.

The program is jointly administered by:

• Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
• Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
• Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)

Programme Objectives

The CRTAS-RTS aims to:

• Strengthen research training and skills development
• Support international and domestic research mobility
• Promote innovation and academic excellence
• Enhance collaboration between Canadian and global institutions
• Contribute to Canada’s research ecosystem and knowledge economy
• Support next-generation researchers and innovators

Funding Details

• Funding amount: CAD 9,000
• Duration: 2 to 6 months
• Type: Non-renewable supplement
• Annual availability: Up to 250 awards (subject to funding)
• Funding use: Travel-related research mobility support

Eligible Expenses

The supplement can cover:

• Travel costs (domestic or international)
• Accommodation expenses
• Meals and subsistence
• Tuition fees at host institution
• Travel or study visa costs
• Insurance expenses
• Disability accommodation costs related to travel

Important restriction:

• Direct research execution costs must be funded separately

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• Be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or Protected Persons under IRPA
• Hold or have accepted one of the following awards:
  • CIHR Doctoral Foreign Study Award
  • NSERC Postgraduate Scholarships – Doctoral
  • SSHRC Doctoral Fellowships
  • Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
  • Canada Graduate Research Scholarship (Master’s or Doctoral)
  • Other eligible federal graduate research awards
• Be within an active master’s or doctoral award period
• Begin travel on or after the application deadline
• Not have previously received a CRTAS-RTS or Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement

Research Travel Requirements

The research travel must:

• Last between 2 and 6 months
• Begin during an active graduate award period
• Start within one year of receiving the award notice
• Align with academic and research training goals

Geographic Rules

Travel rules depend on award location:

• If award is held in Canada → research must be conducted outside Canada
• If award is held outside Canada → research must be conducted in Canada

Eligible Host Institutions

Research must take place at approved institutions such as:

• Universities
• Research institutes
• Interuniversity research centres
• Laboratories
• Institutions with formal research mandates

Host requirements:

• Must have a full-time affiliated research supervisor
• Supervisor must actively support the applicant’s research

Programme Priorities

The CRTAS-RTS supports:

• High-quality research training
• International academic collaboration
• Development of research competencies
• Exposure to global research environments
• Strengthening Canada’s research capacity

Evaluation Criteria

Applications are assessed based on:

• Quality of research training plan
• Academic merit and research relevance
• Strength of host institution and supervisor
• Contribution to skill development
• Expected impact on research career progression
• Feasibility of travel and research objectives

Ineligible Conditions

Applicants cannot:

• Hold more than one CRTAS-RTS in their lifetime
• Apply without an eligible graduate award
• Receive funding for research execution costs
• Use funds outside approved travel-related expenses
• Apply after completing award period requirements

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

• Confusing travel support with full research funding
• Missing eligibility linkage to federal graduate awards
• Incorrect travel timing outside award period
• Incomplete host institution arrangements
• Including non-eligible research expenses
• Applying after previous supplement receipt

Tips for a Strong Application

To improve success chances:

• Clearly justify research travel purpose
• Align travel with career development goals
• Select a strong host institution and supervisor
• Demonstrate clear training and skill gains
• Provide a realistic 2–6 month research plan
• Emphasize international collaboration benefits
• Ensure compliance with eligibility timing rules

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is CRTAS-RTS?
  • It is a travel supplement for Canadian graduate students
  • It supports research mobility and training
  • It is funded by federal research councils
• How much funding is available?
  • CAD 9,000 per award
  • Non-renewable one-time supplement
  • Up to 250 awards per year
• Who can apply?
  • Master’s and doctoral students with eligible federal awards
  • Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or Protected Persons
• What does the funding cover?
  • Travel, accommodation, meals, tuition, visas, insurance
  • Disability-related travel accommodations
• What is the duration of travel?
  • Between 2 and 6 months
  • Must align with active award period
• Can research costs be included?
  • No
  • Only travel-related costs are covered

Conclusion

The CRTAS-RTS program strengthens Canada’s research ecosystem by enabling graduate students to pursue high-quality research training through domestic and international mobility. By supporting short-term research travel, it enhances skills development, global collaboration, and academic excellence among emerging researchers.

For more information, visit Government of Canada.