The Canadian Government generously funds the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships. The fellowship is open to Canadian citizens and foreign citizens, including researchers from India. To be eligible, you must have completed a PhD or an equivalent degree to pursue research opportunities in Canada. The amount of this financial aid for international students in Canada is up to CAD 70,000 for 2 years which is taxable. To know more about eligibility criteria, application requirements and exciting opportunities, keep reading further.
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Overview of Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships
The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships are administered by the Government of Canada, specifically through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).
It is designed to attract and retain postdoctoral talent, both nationally and internationally, and to develop their leadership potential. The fellowship aims to position postdoctoral researchers as research leaders, contributing to Canada’s social, economic and research-based growth.
It is a non-renewable fellowship for 2 years which lets you conduct research in health, natural sciences and engineering, or social sciences and humanities. The amount value of the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship is CAD 70,000 per year for 2 years, which is taxable as per the tax for international students in Canada.
Both Canadian citizens and international researchers who have completed a PhD or equivalent degree can apply. Applications are evaluated based on the applicant’s merit, potential for a successful research career, and alignment with the host institution’s strategic priorities.
| Major Highlights of Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships | |
| Amount | CAD 70,000 per year for 2 years |
| Eligibility | Must have completed a PhD, PhD-equivalent, or health professional degree |
| Deadline | September 17, 2024, 20:00 EDT |
| Success Rate | Around 10% as only 70 fellowships are awarded annually. |
| Eligible Host Institutions | Recognised Canadian Universities, Affiliated Research Hospitals, and Not-for-Profit Organisations |
Also Read: If you want to know more about Australian Scholarships for Indian students, check out our blog to learn about the popular scholarships and their eligibility criteria
Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship Eligibility Criteria
Both, the applicant and the host institution must fulfil the eligibility criteria for the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship. The applicants must have completed a PhD, PhD-equivalent, or health professional degree. Besides, fulfilling eligibility relating to citizenship, previous funding, and host institution is important.
- You must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada or a citizen of any international country, including India.
- The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships can only be held once in a lifetime. You are ineligible if you have held a Banting Fellowship previously.
- The degree must be obtained within a specified eligibility window between September 15, 2021, and September 30, 2025.
- Canadian governments (federal, provincial, municipal) and all for-profit organizations are not eligible to participate as host institutions.
- The fellowship must be held at an eligible Canadian institution, for example at The University of British Columbia, the University of Toronto, the University of Alberta, McGill University, etc.
Application Process of Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship
To apply for the Banting Postdoctoral fellowship, the applicant must be nominated by their faculty to receive endorsement from their institution. The application deadline for the academic year 2024-2025 is September 17, 2024, at 20:00 EDT. Let’s find out more about the application and selection process for the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship for international students-
- The first step is to confirm your eligibility criteria and then proceed with the application.
- The second step is to identify and contact the Canadian institution where you want to hold the fellowship and get an endorsement from them to apply.
- Next, you have to register for a Canadian Common CV account and a ResearchNet account. Complete the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Self-Identification Questionnaire.
- Prepare for application once you are done with creating an account.
- Create your Canadian Common CV using the Vanier-Banting academic template and link it to your ResearchNet application.
- Start a ResearchNet application and complete all required sections like identifying your area of research, participants, referees, degree information, and proposal details.
- Attach all supporting documents as a single PDF file.
- Submit your completed application in ResearchNet by the deadline of September 17, 2024, at 20:00 EDT.
Also Read: Know all the details of Indian Govt Scholarships to Study Abroad.
Selection Process
All eligible applications are evaluated by a selection committee based on three equally weighted criteria. These are the research excellence and leadership in the research domain, the quality of the applicant’s research proposal, and the institutional commitment and demonstrated synergy between the applicant and institutional strategic priorities.
- Firstly, the applications are sorted and sent to the relevant federal granting agency (CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC) based on the area of research.
- Then, the results are notified. In mid-February 2025, applicants will be notified by email when the results are available on their ResearchNet account.
- Successful applicants will have their payments begin between April to October 2025.
This was all about the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships. Make sure to prepare your application properly and follow the important steps to get study abroad scholarships effectively by incorporating all necessary documentation. The success rate is only 10% and 70 awards are granted annually. Thus, you must demonstrate exceptional research excellence and leadership potential.
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FAQs
Approximately 70 fellowships are awarded annually out of many applications, making the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship a highly competitive program.
The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program provides funding to attract and retain top postdoctoral talent in Canada.
Postdoctoral fellowship salaries vary by country and institution but typically range from USD 40,000 to USD 60,000 per year.
The Ramanujan Fellowship, awarded by the Science and Engineering Research Board, is one of the most prestigious postdoctoral fellowships in India.
Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship are open to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and international postdoctoral researchers who have completed a PhD within the last 2-3 years.
The fellowship provides CAD 70,000 per year for 2 years (non-renewable) to successful applicants. However, the amount is taxable.
Yes, Indian citizens are eligible to apply for the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship to conduct research in Canada.
