Industrial Undergraduate Student Research Awards Program

What are these awards for?

Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) 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 a non-university setting that complements your studies, these awards can provide you with financial support through your host organization. NSERC encourages qualified Aboriginal students to apply to this program.

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.

USRAs 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 to this program.
• You may hold only one USRA per fiscal year (April 1 to March 31).
• You may hold a maximum of three USRAs 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 a USRA 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 it offers you.
• 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?

Industrial USRAs are tenable only in the R&D facilities of eligible organizations in Canada. To find out if an organization is eligible, consult NSERC's list of eligible organizations.

Please note, however, that this list of organizations is not exhaustive and other organizations may be eligible. If the proposed collaborating organization is not on the list of eligible organizations, you should consult with NSERC before proceeding with the application.

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, send your application (Form 202, Part I) and all necessary transcripts to them.

The organization must submit the applications of the students it has chosen to host to NSERC, including all the following:

Provided by the student:

• The duly completed Form 202, Part I, Application for an Undergraduate Student Research Award (original).
• Up-to-date original official academic transcripts with the grade point average (GPA) indicated.

Provided by organizations that are currently eligible to participate in NSERC’s industrial programs:

• The duly completed Form 202, Part II (original).

Organizations that are not currently eligible to participate in NSERC’s industrial programs may submit applications. Refer to the application process for organization eligibility. All interested organizations are encouraged to apply this way.

NSERC will not consider incomplete applications or those that are missing transcripts.

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

Applications to this program 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. Please note that 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 (IP) Policy

Please note that NSERC’s Intellectual Property Policy does not apply to this program.

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 must submit a one-page final report directly to NSERC. It must include the following:

• your name, application number and the organization name;
• a summary of the progress and results achieved;
• comments on any problems encountered;
• a comparison of your results with the objectives outlined in your application; and
• comments on your experience with the organization.

Do not submit a technical report.

Payments to organizations

In order to be reimbursed by NSERC, organizations must submit the following two documents immediately after completion of the USRA work term:

• The completed Confirmation of Payments form showing the name and title as well as the signature of the authorized organization official. This form is included with the award notification letter.
• A satisfactory final report for each student. Each report will:
  • be a minimum of half a page and a maximum of one page on organization letterhead;
  • be completed by the student’s supervisor or other organization official;
  • include the typed name and title of the author and his/her signature;
  • include a summary of the progress and results achieved;
  • comment on any problems encountered;
  • compare the results to the objectives outlined in the application; and
  • evaluate the organization’s experience with the USRA program.

Organizations will not be reimbursed if these documents are received more than two months after the end of the USRA.

Travel allowances

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

To apply for a travel allowance, complete the Travel Claim Form provided with your award letter. Send it 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 USRA work term.

Note: Frequent flyer points will not be reimbursed.