Doctoral Research Scholarships for People with a Professional Health Degree (Canada)

Deadline: 29-Sep-26

The Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ) Doctoral Research Scholarships for People with a Professional Health Degree (B2DP) support individuals with professional degrees in human health who are pursuing doctoral research training in the health sector. The scholarships are designed to encourage a new generation of health researchers by providing financial support to outstanding applicants beginning or continuing doctoral research programs in human health fields. The program includes both a regular component for doctoral students and a return-to-research component for individuals returning to academic research after a significant break.

About the FRQ Doctoral Research Scholarships

The Doctoral Research Scholarships for People with a Professional Health Degree are part of FRQ’s broader commitment to research excellence and the development of research training in Québec. The program recognizes the importance of supporting professionals who wish to combine their health-sector expertise with advanced research training.

The scholarships aim to:

- Encourage professional health degree holders to pursue research careers. - Support doctoral research training in human health. - Provide financial assistance to outstanding doctoral researchers. - Strengthen the next generation of researchers in the health sector. - Support individuals returning to research after a significant interruption. - Promote research excellence and diverse contributions to research and knowledge. How Much Funding Is Available? The scholarship provides between $25,024 and $39,323 per year, depending on the year in which the applicant obtained their professional degree. Funding can be provided for a maximum of 12 terms or payments. The total maximum value of the scholarship ranges from: - $100,096 at the lower funding level. - Up to $157,292 at the highest funding level. - Up to $1,500 per year in additional funding for eligible doctoral researchers undertaking training outside Québec. The outside-Québec supplement is awarded to the top 10 ranked applicants in each sector who meet the applicable residency and citizenship requirements. What Does the Scholarship Support? The scholarship supports doctoral research training in human health fields.

The program has two main components:

- Regular component: For applicants beginning or continuing doctoral research studies.

- Return to research component: For individuals who are re-entering academic research after a significant break.

The return-to-research component provides an opportunity for qualified professionals who have been away from graduate studies to resume research training. Who Can Apply? Applicants must hold a university professional degree in human health. When the scholarship takes effect and throughout the scholarship period, applicants must also meet the applicable professional membership requirements.

Eligible applicants must either:

- Be members of a Québec professional order, association, or federation related to human health. - Be resident physicians recognized by the Collège des médecins du Québec. Applicants who intend to undertake their doctoral training outside Québec must meet additional citizenship, residency, and health-insurance requirements.

Eligibility for Training Outside Québec

Applicants wishing to use the scholarship for doctoral training outside Québec must generally be: - Canadian citizens or permanent residents. - Holders of a valid Québec health insurance card (RAMQ). Applicants who do not meet these requirements must complete their doctoral training at a Québec university institution. Eligible applicants undertaking training outside Québec may also be considered for the additional supplement of up to $1,500 per year, subject to the program’s ranking and eligibility conditions. Doctoral Enrollment Requirements Applicants must meet specific limits concerning previous doctoral enrollment. Generally, applicants must have been enrolled in a doctoral program for no more than 14 full-time terms before May 1, 2027. For students admitted directly into a doctoral program or participating in a fast-track program, the maximum is 20 full-time terms before the applicable date. These limits are intended to ensure that the scholarship supports researchers who are still within the eligible stage of their doctoral research training. Return-to-Research Eligibility The program also accommodates professionals returning to academic research after a significant interruption. Applicants may qualify under the return-to-research component if they have spent at least five years without graduate enrollment or graduate credits. This pathway recognizes that professional, personal, or other circumstances can interrupt an individual’s research career and provides an opportunity to resume doctoral research training. Exceptions to the Enrollment Limits Additional exception measures may apply in certain circumstances. These include interruptions or delays related to: - Parental leave. - Health-related circumstances. - Disability. Applicants whose doctoral enrollment history has been affected by one of these circumstances may therefore benefit from applicable exception measures when determining eligibility. Professional Membership Requirements Professional status is an important part of the B2DP scholarship eligibility requirements. Applicants must hold a qualifying university professional degree in human health and maintain the required membership in a Québec professional order, association, or federation when the scholarship begins and throughout the scholarship period. Resident physicians may qualify through recognition by the Collège des médecins du Québec. Research Areas The scholarships are intended for doctoral research in human health fields. The program is particularly relevant to professional health degree holders who want to develop advanced research expertise while building on their professional training. The combination of professional health knowledge