Applying to CIHR in French: What Project Grant applicants and reviewers should know
CIHR encourages researchers to submit Project Grant applications in the official language of their choice. All application instructions, materials, webinars and services from our Contact Centre staff will always be made available in both English and French. And when it comes to peer review, you can be confident that your application will be peer reviewed by those with an ability to review in whichever language, English or French, the application was submitted.
Because French text generally requires more space than equivalent English text, French-language applications are allotted 20% more space than applications written in English (e.g. the research proposal can have 12 pages in French, but 10 pages in English).
Learn more about applying to CIHR in either official language.
How CIHR reviews French-language applications
CIHR assigns applications to reviewers based on both their scientific expertise and their ability to review in the application's language. Francophone or bilingual reviewers assess applications submitted in French. When sufficient expertise is not available in Canada, CIHR may recruit qualified international reviewers to review French-language applications.
French-language applications account for 1–2% of submissions in a typical Project Grant competition. Approximately 26% of members of CIHR's College of Reviewers have an ability to review in French; as such, we have a strong and well-established pool of reviewers qualified to assess these applications. All reviewers must meet the same expectations for expertise and review quality, regardless of the application's language.
CIHR also takes steps to support informed committee discussions:
- CIHR translates one-page summaries of French-language applications into English before committee meetings.
- Committee members can use real-time machine translation through MS Teams during discussions held in French.
- Reviewers who cannot fully follow a discussion—for linguistic, technical or other reasons—may abstain from scoring the application.
- CIHR translates English-language reviewer notes and Scientific Officer notes into French for applicants who submitted in French. Applicants receive both the translations and the original materials in English.
Learn more about official languages in CIHR peer review.
Supporting equitable funding outcomes
CIHR's Project Grant equalization process helps address barriers experienced by groups that have historically been underrepresented in the funding system. CIHR ensures that the proportion of grants funded is at least equal to the proportion of applications submitted by researchers who submit applications in French, as well for early career researchers, female nominated principal applicants, nominated principal applicants who self-identify as racialized, and nominated principal applicants who self-identify as a person with a disability.
Recent results show that French-language applications have achieved success rates comparable to—or slightly higher than—the overall competition rate:
- Fall 2025: CIHR received 56 applications in French, representing 1.8% of all applications. Eight were funded, for a success rate of 14.3%, compared with 13.6% overall.
- Spring 2026: CIHR received 66 applications in French, representing 2% of all applications. Nine were funded, for a success rate of 13.6%, compared with 13.1% overall.
How applicants and mentors can help
Applicants submitting in French can help CIHR identify appropriate expertise by suggesting at least five potential reviewers in Task 7: Complete Peer Review Administration Information. Suggested reviewers may be based in Canada or abroad but must not have a conflict of interest.
Researchers working in francophone minority communities outside Quebec can also access personalized guidance and strategic application review through Acfas's French-Language Research Support Service—Service d'aide à la recherche en français.
Senior researchers and mentors also play an important role. They can encourage early career researchers to apply in the language that best presents their science, explain CIHR's bilingual peer review process and reinforce that qualified French-speaking reviewers are available.
Allowable costs
Applicants are reminded as well that costs related to the translation of knowledge mobilization products and information and material intended for public consumption (e.g., Web content, videos, social media content, pamphlets, guidelines, promotional content) are an eligible use of Tri-agency funds.
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