Requests for renewals must be accompanied by a synopsis of work to date and a recent letter of recommendation from the applicant thesis supervisor. All applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents at the time of application and, as a minimum requirement, hold a Master s degree or its equivalent before taking up the award. Normally, a knowledge of both official languages is required. Where applicable, referees should comment on the candidate's ability to read, write and communicate orally in their second official language. Successful applicants may not hold more than one award from the federal government.
Scholarships are normally tenable only at Canadian institutions.
In some circumstances, permission may be granted to the recipient to undertake PhD studies abroad. Some British universities may require registration as an MPhil student in order to complete a qualifying year. If the university clearly states that this is a general policy, and that the time spent in the qualifying year may be transferred to the PhD program, consideration for the award of a PhD scholarship may be given to the applicant. An independent committee of experts convened by the AUCC will evaluate all applications on the basis of academic merit. Selection decisions are final and are not open to appeal.