Skip to main content - Skip to contact information

NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA)

Undergraduate students enrolled in a bachelor's degree program are eligible to apply for Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA). USRA awards are granted to students to enable them to work on a research project with an NSERC research-funded faculty member. These awards pay $4,500 from NSERC plus a minimum additional 25% or more, for a minimum 16-week consecutive period. NSERC encourages qualified Aboriginal students to apply to this program.

Application Deadline & Where to Submit your Application
VIU Faculty Members Who Can Supervise USRA Students*
How to Apply
Eligibility
Duration of Awards
Vancouver Island University USRA Selection Criteria

Application Deadline

Applications must be submitted to Kathryn Jepson (Research & Scholarly Activity Office, Building 305, Room 446) no later than 4 pm on Wednesday, March 3, 2010. Please contact Dr. Andy Spencer (andy.spencer@viu.ca), with any questions.

VIU USRA Supervisers

For a description of the research project and the role of the student please contact the supervisors directly.

Erik Krogh, (250)753-3245 Local 2307, e-mail: Erik.Krogh@viu.ca .
Chris Gill, (250)753-3245 Local: 2303, Chris.Gill@viu.ca .
Stefanie Duff, (250)753-3245 Local: 2074, Stefanie.Duff@viu.ca .
David Gaumont-Guay, (250)753-3245 Local: 2314, David.Gaumont-Guay@viu.ca .
Duane Barker, (250)753-3245, Local 2296, Duane.Barker@viu.ca

*Students may only apply to work with one of the faculty members listed above.

How to Apply

Please read through the regulations governing this award on NSERC's web site, http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Students-Etudiants/UG-PC/USRA-BRPC_eng.asp.

To apply for these awards, you must complete an Application for an Undergraduate Student Research Award Part I (Form 202). Send the application, along with your up-to-date official transcript(s), to the proposed supervisor. The proposed supervisor must complete Part II of Form 202. Form 202 is available in electronic format and in a PDF version. NSERC encourages students and their proposed supervisors to fill out the electronic form directly from the web site, http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/OnlineServices-ServicesEnLigne/Index_eng.asp. Select Login to the system or Register as a New User.

Once completed, Part I and Part II must be printed, signed, and submitted along with two official transcripts (one of which may have been opened by the proposed supervisor) and a brief cover letter outlining your research interests and career goals. Submit the full application to Kathryn Jepson (Research & Scholarly Activity Office, Building 305, Room 446) no later than 4 pm on Wednesday, March 3, 2010. Filling out the electronic form on-line will not transmit it electronically to NSERC.*Note that an appropriately signed hard copy of the application is required for submission.

No hand-written applications will be accepted. Applications presentation standards must be followed.

Part II of Form 202 must be signed by the proposed supervisor. No one else can sign for the supervisor. The Head of the Department must also sign the form. If the supervisor is the Head of the Department, his/her delegate must sign. The PIN (Personal Identification Number) of the NSERC grant are essential.


You can apply to more than one university. You must apply directly to the university where you would like to be considered. However, please note that it is the university's choice whether to accept candidates from other institutions. Vancouver Island University does accept applications from candidates from other universities.

Eligibility

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) as a full-time student 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 (B- minimum average = Cumulative GPA of 5.0 or above at VIU).

In addition...

  • If you already hold a bachelor's degree and are studying towards 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 degree program at an eligible university;
  • not have started a program of graduate studies in the natural sciences or engineering; and
  • be engaged on a full-time basis in research and development activities in the natural sciences or engineering during the tenure of the award.
  • work with an NSERC research-funded faculty member (see list above).

* Note: If you were registered full-time throughout your program, except for the final term during which you were only required to register part-time in order to complete your degree, you are eligible to apply for an award to be held immediately following your final term, regardless of your graduation date.

Duration of Awards

  • The duration of the award is 16 consecutive weeks on a full-time basis.
  • You can hold an award at any time during the year as permitted by your academic program, although typically these awards are held during the months of May through August at Vancouver Island University.

Vancouver Island University USRA Selection Criteria

All applications are reviewed by the VIU NSERC Scholarship/Awards Selection Committee. Awards will be granted based on:

  • Academic excellence
  • Year of study (Students completing the third and fourth years of their B.Sc. will be given preference over those in earlier years, with first year students given the lowest preference).

Where students of similar merit (based on the criteria outlined above) are eligible for an award, the distribution of awards across faculty and departments will be a factor in the final decision. While students may hold up to three USRA awards during their B.Sc., the number of years a student has held an award may be a deciding factor in the case where a student is applying for their third USRA award (i.e. they have previously held two of these awards) and they are competing against one or more equally meritorious students who have received fewer (0 or 1) past USRA awards.

Updated February 19, 2010