IDRC Doctoral Research Awards

Mar 19, 2014 | International Development Research Centre

Since 1982, IDRC has helped graduate students undertake thesis research in the field of international development. IDRC Doctoral Research Awards are intended to promote the growth of Canadian and developing-country capacity in research on sustainable and equitable development from an international perspective. 

In principle, IDRC supports research in all developing countries. At this time, however, we do notoffer awards for research that involves Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of), Somalia, Eastern Europe, or Central Asia. 

Before issuing the award and contract (for selected candidates), field research proposed in the following countries or territories must be approved by IDRC:

Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo Brazzaville, Congo (Democratic Republic of), Eritrea, Gabon, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Niger, Papua New Guinea, Small Island States [including Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, Mauritius, São Tomé and Principe, Seychelles, Timor-Leste and Oceania (Cook Islands, Fiji, Nauru, Kiribati, Palau, Marshall Islands, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tuvalu, Tonga, Vanuatu, Wallis & Futuna)], South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, West Bank and Gaza, Yemen. 

Who can apply 

To be eligible, you must meet the following requirements:  

• be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada, or a citizen of a developing country
• be enrolled at a Canadian university at the doctoral level (when you submit your application, you must have completed several courses of the doctoral program but not necessarily all the courses)
• your research proposal must be approved by your thesis supervisor
• your proposed field research must take place in one or more developing countries and be conducted for a doctoral dissertation
• you must provide evidence of affiliation with an institution or organization in the developing region(s) in which the research will take place
• you must have completed coursework and passed comprehensive exams before taking upthe award.

If you are selected for an award, you have up to 12 months to start your field research from the date of the final selection. 

Duration 

Award tenure corresponds to the period of field research. In general, it will be no less than 3 consecutive months in each developing country researched and no more than 12 months. IDRC is responsible for field research expenses occurring only after the announcement of the results and from the date indicated in the official notification to successful candidates. The award is not retroactive: field research expenses that took place before the results announcement will not be covered.