Canada Research Chairs

The Canada Research Chairs Program (CRCP) enables Canadian universities to achieve the highest levels of research excellence and become world-class research centres.

Chairholders improve our depth of knowledge and quality of life, strengthen Canada's international competitiveness, and help train the next generation of highly skilled people through student supervision, teaching and the coordination of other researchers' work. Established by the Government of Canada in 2000, the CRCP is committed to excellence in research and research training, and to ensuring equal access to opportunities for all qualified candidates.

UBC has a current allocation of 192 chairs; 86 Tier 1 chairs and 106 Tier 2 chairs. UBC’s current utilization is 199 chairs; 79 Tier 1 chairs and 120 Tier 2 chairs. Tier I Chairs are seven-year positions, renewable once, targeted at experienced researchers who are world leaders in their fields. Tier II Chairs are five-year appointments, renewable once. They are targeted at exceptional emerging scholars who have the potential to lead in their fields.

UBC has 20 flexible allocations. This allows the university to change the tier or funding agency of a limited number of chair allocations. Thirteen moves are currently in use with another seven earmarked for future use in upcoming CRC round.

Chairholders must be employed full-time at the host institution to be eligible. Visit the Canada Research Chairs site for more information. 

CRC applicants can reference the Summary of Research Excellence Strategies document which has information on the impact of the University's research on local, national and global communities.

See the Canada Research Chair program statistics information.

Explore current UBC CRCs on the crc website

Deadlines for submissions

The Canada Research Program (CRCP) holds two in-take cycles each year (April and October). The program also accepts off-cycle nominations for foreign nominees that help the institution reach their EDI targets. Foreign researchers must be employed outside of Canada at the time of the submission of the nomination and are not limited to the set nomination deadlines.

Nominations may be submitted at the recommendation of the Dean. See the schedule below for upcoming deadlines, decisions and announcements.

 

Internal Review deadline Application completion deadline CRC submission deadline Anticipated decision date Earliest start date Anticipated public announcement
February 9, 2024 April 5, 2024 April 16, 2024 Oct-24 October 1, 2024 Spring 2025
August 16, 2024 October 11, 2024 October 22, 2024 Apr-25 April 1, 2025 Fall 2025
February 14, 2025 April 11, 2025 April 22, 2025 Oct-25 October 1, 2025 Spring 2026
August 15, 2025 October 10, 2025 October 21, 2025 Apr-26 April 1, 2026 Fall 2026
February 13, 2026 April 10, 2026 April 21, 2026 Oct-26 October 1, 2026 Spring 2027
August 21, 2026 October 9, 2026 October 20, 2026 Apr-27 April 1, 2027 Fall 2027
February 12, 2027 April 9, 2027 April 20, 2027 Oct-27 October 1, 2027 Spring 2028
August 20, 2027 October 8, 2027 October 19, 2027 Apr-28 April 1, 2028 Fall 2028
February 11, 2028 April 7, 2028 April 18, 2028 Oct-28 October 1, 2028 Spring 2029
August 18, 2028 October 6, 2028 October 17, 2028 Apr-29 April 1, 2029 Fall 2029
February 9, 2029 April 6, 2029 April 17, 2029 Oct-29 October 1, 2029 Spring 2030
UBC's commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion within the CRCP

UBC has a robust strategy for raising awareness of our commitment to and the benefits of equity, diversity and inclusion within the Canada Research Chair Program (CRCP) and our broader research enterprise. These strategies aim to increase transparency within the program which also requires firm targets to increase nationally the number of chair holders from the federally designated groups (FDG) – women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities and visible minorities/members that are racially categorized.

Learn More

Contact

For further information, instructions for nominated Tier I and II Chairs and renewal processes, contact Jay Shankar, Manager, Institutional Programs at:
Tel:604-827-5107 
Email ubc.crc@ubc.ca

Canada Excellence Research Chairs: 2022 Competition

More information can be found on our CERC webpage.