Read the program description in the program guide for students and fellows before you complete the application.
Refer to the Frequently asked questions for applicants and proposed research supervisors for more information.
Form 202 consists of Parts I and II. Part I must be completed by the applicant and Part II must be completed by the proposed research supervisor.
Important: Form 202 must be submitted electronically.
In each page of the online application, you will find instructions and tips on how to complete your application.
The collection, use and disclosure of personal information provided to NSERC is outlined in the following policy statements:
The information you provide in your application is collected under the authority of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Act. NSERC is subject to the
Access to Information Act
and the
Privacy Act. The information you provide is stored in a series of NSERC data banks described in
Information about programs and information holdings.
If you have previously applied for a USRA, you cannot create a new Form 202. Instead, you must update Part I of the application previously submitted to your institution and upload new transcripts. Inform your LO of any changes you make to Part I.
Complete the required fields.
Personal Identification Number
All NSERC applicants have received, or will receive, an NSERC Personal Identification Number (PIN). Refer to your PIN each time you apply for an award and in future correspondence with NSERC. If you have not previously applied to NSERC, leave the field blank and a PIN will automatically be assigned by the Online System. If you have previously applied to NSERC and do not remember your PIN, contact the Online Services Helpdesk. Return to the eConsole page, select Maintain User Profile and enter your PIN. It will then appear on the Personal Profile page of the application.
Collection of self-identification data
Equity, diversity and inclusivity (EDI) strengthen research communities and the quality, social relevance and impact of research. Self-identification data provide information on the diversity of the population applying for and receiving agency funds. These data are important for monitoring the fairness of our programs and informing future measures to increase equity, diversity and inclusion among all those involved in the research enterprise.
Institutions are permitted to recommend an unlimited number of self-identified Indigenous applicants to the USRA program above their application quota. In order to be considered for this, Indigenous applicants must provide consent within the application form to share this information with their institutions and NSERC. Self-identification data are not seen or used during the review process or by the proposed research supervisor.
Consent to sharing information
NSERC asks applicants if they consent to sharing information contained in the completed application, including personal information, with other funding organizations for the purpose of applying for joint funding opportunities. Declining to share information has no effect on the applicant’s success in obtaining an award. However, it may affect supplements that are administered as joint funding opportunities between NSERC and other organizations.
If your current mailing address is temporary, indicate the leaving date. If you move after submitting your application, inform NSERC by sending an email to usra-brpc@nserc-crsng.gc.ca.
Ensure that your email address is up-to-date, as the award letters are sent directly to the applicants by email.
Include only current and past postsecondary programs. Do not include programs that you have not yet started. Provide the completion date for the proposed degree, if known.
Scholarships and other awards offered
List only competitive awards based on academic or research excellence and/or leadership or communication abilities. Include NSERC awards and declined awards. This section can be left blank if you have had no awards. You may list up to four awards, starting with the most recent.
Transcripts must be uploaded and saved into a single Portable Document Format (PDF) file. They must also be scanned (black and white recommended), and whenever possible, in portrait style. You must include one copy of the legend located on the back side of each transcript. Do not scan the legend multiple times.
Official, up-to-date transcripts for all university programs must be provided. You must obtain these documents from your registrar’s office. Transcripts such as those printed from the student’s account on the institution’s website are not official. In this context, official transcripts are those that show the name of the institution, the program in which you are enrolled, your complete course of study, your marks and the legend explaining acronyms, etc. We realize that transcripts provided directly to students are not official according to the definitions in use at Canadian institutions. Grade summaries that show only one term’s marks are not acceptable.
Once you have completed all the pages:
The title of the proposed research project may be used for publication purposes. It should describe the subject of the research for which you are seeking support. It should not contain a company or trade name. Spell out scientific symbols and acronyms.
Enter the research subject code that best describes the proposed area of research. For a complete list of these codes, consult the List of Research Subject Codes for Scholarships and Fellowships.
Enter the name and department of the institution that will administer the award.
Research supervisors who have previously applied to NSERC have received an NSERC Personal Identification Number (PIN) from the former Online System, or a Common Personal Identifier (CPI) from the Research Portal. The PIN or CPI is mandatory for research supervisors and can be found on all official correspondence from NSERC. Refer to your PIN or CPI each time you apply for an award and in future correspondence with NSERC. If you do not remember your PIN or CPI, contact the Online Services Helpdesk. Return to the eConsole page, select Maintain User Profile and enter your PIN. It will then appear on the Research Supervisor Profile page of the application.
If you have not previously applied to NSERC, leave the field blank and a PIN will automatically be assigned by the Online System.
Enter your primary place of employment in section 1 and, if applicable, in section 2, your position at a Canadian postsecondary institution if it is different from your primary place of employment.
Provide a description of the proposed research project for the period during which the award will be held. The proposed research must be related to a field in the natural sciences and/or engineering. Briefly specify the student's role. The inclusion of sex, gender and diversity considerations in research design makes research more ethically sound, rigorous and useful. Describe how these aspects will be addressed in the research design, if applicable. For more information, refer to pages 5 to 7 of the Guide for applicants: Considering equity, diversity and inclusion in your application.
Briefly describe the student’s role in the research.
Briefly describe the training environment to be provided to the student.
Once you have completed all the pages:
Note that NSERC’s Intellectual Property Policy does not apply to USRA. Refer to the institution’s intellectual policy regulations in effect for USRA.
NSERC does not require original signatures on applications or other documents submitted electronically through its Online System. The electronic submission of applications through this system represents approval and replaces the traditional "physical" or "wet" signatures.
Before you, as an applicant, provide the reference number assigned to your application to your proposed research supervisor, you must read and agree to the Terms and Conditions of Applying that appear in a pop-up window during the submission process. It is your responsibility to retain a copy of the agreed terms and conditions for your records.
The signatures of the institutional authorities certify that...
The institution will abide by the roles and responsibilities as set out in the Agreement on the Administration of Agency Grants and Awards by Research Institutions with the three federal granting agencies, including the
Tri-agency Framework: Responsible Conduct of Research.
Use the following list to make sure your application is complete.