Industrial Undergraduate Student Research Awards

Who should read this section?

Although this section is intended for potential applicants, it also provides important information for potential host organizations that want to nominate undergraduate students for Industrial Undergraduate Student Research Awards (IUSRAs).

What are these awards for?

Industrial Undergraduate Student Research Awards (IUSRAs) are meant to stimulate your interest in research in the natural sciences and engineering. They are also meant to encourage you to undertake graduate studies and to pursue a research career in these fields. If you would like to gain research work experience in an industrial setting that complements your studies, these awards can provide you with financial support through your host organization. NSERC encourages qualified Aboriginal students to apply for an IUSRA.

Are you eligible for an award?

To be eligible to apply for an award, you must:

• be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada;
• be registered, at the time you apply, in a bachelor's degree program at an eligible university; and
• have obtained, over the previous years of study, a cumulative average of at least second class (a grade of "B" or "B-," if applicable) as defined by your university. This will be demonstrated by including an official transcript with your application. Unofficial transcripts or transcripts that have been downloaded from your university’s Web site are not sufficient to demonstrate that you meet the academic standards of the award.

IUSRAs may be held during co-op placements.

In addition...

• If you already hold a bachelor's degree and are studying toward a second bachelor's degree, you may still apply for an IUSRA. A transcript of your grades for your previous degree will be required.
• You may hold only one IUSRA per fiscal year (April 1 to March 31).
• You may hold a maximum of three IUSRAs throughout your university career.

To hold an award, you must:

• have completed all the course requirements of at least the first year of university study (or two academic terms) of your bachelor's degree;
• have been registered in the term immediately before holding the award in a bachelor’s program at an eligible university;
• not have started a program of graduate studies in the natural sciences or engineering; and
• be employed full time in research and development activities in the natural sciences or engineering during tenure of the award.

Who is not eligible?

You are not considered eligible for an IUSRA if:

• you are currently enrolled in an undergraduate professional degree program in the health sciences (e.g., MD, DDS, BScN); or
• you hold higher degrees in the natural sciences or engineering.

Value of awards

• These awards have a maximum value of $4,500 for a full 16-week period.
• Organizations are required to supplement the award by at least 25 percent of its value. The organization will be responsible for supplements to the weekly value and fringe benefits (if applicable).
• NSERC's contribution is paid directly to the host organization and is included in the salary you receive.
• A travel allowance may also be granted (see Travel allowances for more information).

NSERC will not reimburse the organization for any period during which you worked part time. No payment will be approved for any holidays you take during tenure of the award.

Your status at your host organization

For the duration of the award, you will be an employee of the host organization. Your activities will be governed by the terms and conditions of employment of regular employees engaged in similar work.

Supervision of the student at the organization

Students must be supervised by full-time employees of the organization. Whenever possible, supervision should be done by research staff.

Duration of awards

• The normal duration of the award is 16 consecutive weeks.
• NSERC will not grant an award for periods of less than 12 consecutive weeks.
• You can hold an award at any time during the year as permitted by your academic program.
• Tenure may start on a date acceptable to both you and your host organization.

Where can you hold your award?

IUSRAs can be held within the Canadian-based research facilities of any Canadian private-sector organization deemed suitable to host an IUSRA. These awards may not be held outside Canada.

Host organizations must have completed an Application (new or renewal) for Eligibility of Organizations to Participate in NSERC's IRDF Program, IPS Program and Industrial USRA Program (Form 183B) within the past three years. A separate Form 183B must be completed for each individual subsidiary, branch, division or location of the organization wanting to host a student or fellow. For further information, see the Guidelines for Organizations Participating in NSERC Industrial Training Programs.

How do you apply?

You may apply for these awards at one or more organizations. Contact organizations at which you might like to work. If they are interested, you must complete and submit your application using NSERC’s On-line System. Refer to the instructions for completing Form 202.

How are students selected for awards?

Organizations will select their candidates on the basis of information that may be available from interviews and other sources. A limited number of awards are available. NSERC will support up to 15 students per eligible organization, per fiscal year (April 1 to March 31). Awards will be given on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to fulfillment of the eligibility conditions and subject to availability. Organizations will inform applicants whose applications they did not forward to NSERC.

Application deadlines

IUSRA applications may be submitted at any time. For administrative purposes, NSERC should receive applications from the organization at least four weeks before the scheduled start date of the work term. Applications received after the end date of the work term will not be approved.

If you have already started your work term with an organization before NSERC has notified you of the decision, there is no guarantee that your application will be successful. NSERC may still reject your application based on eligibility criteria or availability of awards.

Award decisions

NSERC will inform students and organizations of its decision generally within one month of the day it receives the application.

Confidentiality

NSERC is committed to maintaining the strict confidentiality of information submitted in the application form and of organization information, especially as it relates to proprietary information.

However, the student's name, the name of the organization, and the general field of research are considered public information and may be released by NSERC.

Title to research results

The host organization will retain all titles and rights to the results of your work. The organization's patent policies will apply to any patentable inventions and developments resulting from your work.

Intellectual Property Policy

NSERC’s Intellectual Property Policy does not apply to IUSRAs.

Payments to students

As a student, you will receive your award payments directly from your host organization. Organizations will issue payments to you for the total value of the award in accordance with their pay procedures. They will also issue a T4 or T4A slip (Statement of Income) to you at the end of the calendar year.

Student final report

At the end of tenure of the award, you will be contacted by NSERC to comment on your experience. A message with instructions for completing the report will be sent to the e-mail address indicated in your application. Notify industrial.awards@nserc-crsng.gc.ca if your contact information changes.

Payments to organizations

In order to be reimbursed by NSERC, organizations will be contacted by NSERC to confirm the payments made to the student and to obtain comments on the company’s experience. At the end of the tenure of the award, a message with instructions for completing the report and requesting reimbursement will be sent to the e-mail address of the company representative indicated in the application. Notify industrial.awards@nserc-crsng.gc.ca if this contact information changes.

Organizations will not be reimbursed if the response described above is received more than two months after the end of the IUSRA.

Travel allowances

NSERC may approve a travel allowance for the actual costs you incur to get to your host organization’s work location and back. The allowance is based on the economy air fare between the university at which you are registered and the organization. Note that travel allowances are taxable.

To apply for a travel allowance, contact industrial.awards@nserc-crsng.gc.ca to obtain the Travel Claim Form. The completed form must be sent, along with your original receipts, to the Finance Division at NSERC.

In addition...

• NSERC will pay your return travel costs only if the actual period of tenure is 12 weeks or more.
• NSERC will not provide a travel allowance for your spouse or children.
• This allowance is not intended to offset your daily commuting costs to and from the organization.
• NSERC will provide an allowance (as deemed reasonable by NSERC’s Finance Division) for ground transportation costs to and from your residence and your point of departure (e.g., airport, train station, bus station).
• NSERC will not provide an allowance for the cost of transporting excess baggage or removing household effects.
• Travel claims must be submitted no more than one month after the completion of the IUSRA work term.

Note: Frequent flyer points will not be reimbursed.