The scholarship supports doctoral research in FRQNT-covered areas, especially natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering. The Global Scholarships page describes it as support for exceptional students pursuing doctoral studies in these fields in Quebec, so it is best suited for research-based Ph.D. applicants whose work clearly fits the FRQNT sector.

In most cases, you should already have a clear Quebec-based doctoral path. The Global Scholarships page lists proof of admission to an eligible Québec program or a supervisor’s acceptance form among the application requirements. That matches the experience shared by Yeganeh Habibi, who explained that, in her case at McGill University, the process involved “institutional nomination.”

Applicants should be ready to submit complete and up-to-date transcripts for all studies, a grading-system explanation for transcripts issued outside North America, a letter from the institution if no transcript exists, proof of admission to an eligible Québec doctoral program or a supervisor acceptance form, and proof of submission for papers already submitted. Since FRQ instructions can change by cycle, always match your file to the latest official competition rules.

A strong application goes beyond grades. Yeganeh Habibi said applying for Vanier and FRQNT required showing “leadership and community-building,” not just academic performance. In her story, she also points to impactful research, publications, leadership roles, and a personal narrative that connects your background to your research goals as factors that can help an application stand out.

They can in some FRQ pathways, but applicants should be careful not to assume that every FRQNT doctoral competition works the same way. The current official doctoral research scholarship rules include specific residency and Québec-study conditions, while Global Scholarships also features Yeganeh Habibi, an Iranian scholar who received FRQNT support for her Ph.D. at McGill. The safest approach is to verify the exact competition, eligibility stream, and study-location rules that apply to your year.