Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) are meant to stimulate your interest in research in the natural sciences and engineering. If you would like to gain research work experience that complements your studies in an academic setting, these competitive awards can provide you with financial support.
The USRA positions are funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), with additional positions funded by the Faculty of Engineering and Design (FED).
Applications are particularly encouraged from Indigenous and Black student researchers, for whom there is additional funding from NSERC.
Overview
- The duration of the award is 14 to 16 weeks on a full-time basis (35 hr/wk) between May 1 and August 31.
- USRAs may be held during co-op placements.
- Total award value is dependent on the duration of your research, the contribution from your supervisor, and any supplemental earnings. The hourly rate of the minimum award value equates to the province’s minimum wage. For more details on the expected salary, please see the Award Value section.
Deadline
Applicants must submit their completed application package in the form by 4:00 pm on Tuesday, February 18, 2025. Please note that applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
See How to Apply for more details.
Supplements
The following supplemental awards are available to students who are granted a USRA:
FED Supplement to Carleton students graduating who pursue a master at Carleton
Carleton undergraduate students who will be graduating in April 2025 and are applying to pursue your graduate studies in the Faculty of Engineering and Design at Carleton University starting in September 2025, may be eligible for an additional $2,500 to their USRA funding. Please note that this is contingent upon you continuing your graduate studies in the Faculty of Engineering and Design at Carleton University starting in September 2025.
FED Supplement for EDI focused research
FED wants to encourage and support students and faculty members who incorporate Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in their research by offering up to 10 supplemental awards of $1,000 for NSERC or FED USRA students in FED.
To be considered for this supplement, you must submit an additional PDF document that outlines how EDI will be incorporated in the undergraduate research assistant’s own project or how the project of the undergraduate research assistant will support a larger research project that has EDI considerations overall.
The document outlining the EDI considerations should be half a page long (Times New Roman, 12pt, single spacing) due at the end of the summer research period.
Applicants who wish to be considered for this supplemental award should email Tom Morrice at GradAdminEng@cunet.carleton.ca to express their interest.
Canadian Forest Sector Workforce Diversity undergraduate supplements
- $5,000 supplement to NSERC USRA recipients (up to 30 available per year)
- Objective: Promote research opportunities in areas relevance to National Resources Canada (NRC) – Canadian Forest Sector (CFS)
- Applications will be automatically considered by NSERC if proposed project falls within areas of relevance (no separate application is necessary)
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) Atmospheric and Meteorological undergraduate supplements
- $1,000 supplement to active NSERC USRA recipients (up to 20 available per year)
- Objective: Stimulate research in this area, encourage and support interest, promote training of potential future graduate studies and employment at ECCC
- Must apply directly to ECCC by August 1
*Please note that all award supplements are subject to the mandatory employee and employer source deductions, just like the base award.
How to Apply
A) Students’ instructions:
- Students apply through the Faculty and Department/Unit where they request to hold their award (the supervisor’s Faculty, not necessarily the student’s).
- The internal deadline for the Faculty of Engineering and Design is 4:00pm on Tuesday, February 18, 2025.
Step 1: Find a supervisor – interested students should approach faculty members whose research matches their interests and ask them to support their application for USRA.
Step 2: Fill out an NSERC application.
- The student fills out and submits Form 202-Part I.
- Please see here for comprehensive instructions on filling out Part I.
- Attach a copy of your Carleton Transcript with the grading legend (the back page).
- Note: An official version of the transcript is requested, but unofficial transcript can be used for the application process.
- Forward the reference number provided by the system to their potential supervisor(s) – this is required to link Parts I and II.
- After supervisor fills out Part II, students should check the NSERC site to ensure application shows that it’s been “Submitted”.
B) Supervisor’s instructions:
- Complete and Submit Form 202 Part II in the NSERC portal.
- Please see here for comprehensive instructions on filling out Part II.
Eligibility
Student Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for an award, you must:
- be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada, or Protected Person as of the application deadline,
- be registered, at the time of application, in a bachelor’s degree program at an eligible institution (students from other institutions may apply),
- have registered in at least one of the two terms preceding the award,
- have completed all the course requirements of at least the first year of university study (or two academic terms) of your bachelor’s degree, and
- have obtained, over the previous years of study, a CGPA of at least B- (7.0) (this is a competitive adjudication process).
- You may hold only one USRA per fiscal year (April 1 to March 31), and a maximum of three USRAs throughout your university career.
- Students can register in a maximum of two courses during the tenure of the award.
Who is not eligible?
- Those currently enrolled in an undergraduate professional degree program in the health sciences (e.g., MD, DDS, BScN)
- Students who have already held 3 USRAs during their undergraduate career
- Students who have held a USRA during the current academic year (Fall 2023 – Summer 2024)
- Projects which do not lie within the NSE fields (Please refer to NSERC’s Eligibility criteria
- Students who have already graduated (at the time of the application deadline)
Project Eligibility
- NSERC-USRA projects must lie within the natural sciences and engineering fields.
- CIHR-USRA projects must primarily improve or have an impact on health and/or produce more effective health services and products and/or strengthen the Canadian health care system.
- SSHRC-USRA projects must be primarily in the social sciences and humanities.
- Summary: the subject matter being researched, however, must fall under the mandate of the relevant council.
Supervisor’s Eligibility
- Any faculty member authorized by the institution to independently supervise students in the natural sciences or engineering fields.
- Supervisors must meet the following minimum contributions per USRA student, using NSERC or any other research or faculty-approved funds:
- $3,692.20 for 14 weeks
- $4,384.50 for 15 weeks
- $5,076.80 for 16 weeks
Award Value
Salary Expectations
- The hourly rate of the minimum award value equates to the province’s minimum wage ($17.20/hr).
- 14 weeks x 35 hours/week = 490 hours at $17.20/hour = minimum amount of $8,428.00 minus mandatory source deductions
- 15 weeks x 35 hours/week = 525 hours at $17.20/hour = minimum amount of $9,030.00 minus mandatory source deductions
- 16 weeks x 35 hours/week = 560 hours at $17.20/hour = minimum amount of $9,632.00 minus mandatory source deductions
- Supplemental awards are also subject to mandatory employment deductions, and may be paid at the end of the work-term.
HR Links
Need More Information?
Any questions can be directed to Tom Morrice at GradAdminEng@cunet.carleton.ca.
It is strongly recommended that you also review NSERC’s Frequently Asked Questions/Answers.