A postdoctoral fellowship in Canada offers fellows the opportunity to conduct independent research with supervision from faculty members. A postdoctoral fellow (PDF) pursues their research after completing their doctorate. Postdoctoral research is considered as a job in Canada.
There are two categories of postdoctoral research:
- Internal PDF: for internal postdoctoral fellowship, the fellow is considered an employee of the university. As such, the internal postdoctoral fellow is funded or paid by the university or from a faculty member’s research budget.
- An Award Recipient PDF: For an external postdoctoral fellowship, the student is not considered an employee of the university. As such, they are funded by external agencies. These fellows are also supervised by faculty members.
Persons interested in Postdoctoral fellowship in Canada or anywhere in the world must have completed their PhD not more than five years before their appointment.
Find hoe you can become an IMF youth fellow here
Postdoctoral Fellowship in Canada for International Students.
There are various funding sources available for international students to pursue postdoctoral fellowship in Canada.
This funding may cover living expenses and other costs associated with postdoctoral research in Canada. On average, postdoctoral fellows in Canada earn a salary of $50,000 per year.
Postdoctoral research helps fellows hone their professional and research skills under the supervision of experienced mentors.
The following are some major fellowships for which international students may be eligible.
| Name of fellowship | Field of research | Benefits. |
| University of Toronto Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program 2025-2026
|
All fields | $80,000 per year for up to two years. This is to support the faculty for postdoctoral fellowship salary and employer costs.
|
| Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship
|
All fields
|
$70,000 yearly (taxable) |
| KILLAM Postdoctoral Research Fellowship | All fields at the University of British Columbia. | $50,000 stipends for a maximum of two years
$4,000 travel research allowances. |
| Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarship | Humanities and Social Sciences | $60,000 per fellow (including an annual travel allowance of $20,000) for up to 3 years |
| Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada | Natural Sciences and Engineering | $45,000 per year for 24 months. |
| University – Specific fellowship | All fields | Some universities offer funding to fellows.
Research your specific university for postdoctoral funding opportunities. |
How to Apply for Postdoctoral Fellowship in Canada.
- Research the eligibility criteria for a postdoctoral position: Research available postdoc positions at your chosen university and find out if you meet the eligibility criteria.
- Research funding opportunities.
- Apply for funding.
- Review immigration information: international candidates need a work permit, specifically an LMIA-exempt work permit for postdoctoral research in Canada. It is, therefore, essential to review the necessary immigration requirements.
- Once you have confirmed your eligibility to be a postdoctoral fellow and have applied for funding, you can reach out to prospective supervisors.
- You can seek a supervisor with funding and send them a professional message.
- Also, find out the research interests of individual supervisors and reach out to those whose research interests align with yours.
- Once you receive an offer, apply for a temporary work permit from your nearest Canadian Immigration Office (listed here by country: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/contact-irccircc/offices/international-visa-offices.html).
Also find postdoctoral fellowship positions in Switzerland here