The Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) program is an initiative designed to nurture the research interests of undergraduate students in Canada. The program supports more than 3,000 students annually and is Administered jointly by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).
URSA Program Overview
The USRA program aims to stimulate student interest in research and encourage them to pursue graduate studies or careers in their respective fields. It provides students with valuable research work experience that complements their academic studies. The program is open to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and Protected Persons under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada).
URSA Award Value and Duration
Each USRA award has a value of $6,000 provided by the granting agency (NSERC, CIHR, or SSHRC) and $1,500 contributed by the host institution. The research project must take place over 14 to 16 consecutive weeks on a full-time basis, typically during the summer.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for a USRA, students must:
Be enrolled in a non-professional bachelor's program at an eligible Canadian university.
Have a satisfactory cumulative grade point average (CGPA), usually at least B or 3.0.
Not be currently enrolled in an undergraduate professional degree program in the health sciences (e.g., MD, DDS, BScN).
Not have completed all degree requirements or be registered in a graduate program.
Application Process
Applications for the USRA program are completed and submitted through NSERC's online system. Students must work with their research supervisor to complete the necessary forms and submit their applications by the institution-specific deadlines. Institutions then select and submit the top applications to NSERC.
Special Initiatives
The USRA program includes special initiatives to support Black and Indigenous student researchers. These initiatives aim to reduce racial inequities in research opportunities and provide additional funding for summer research projects in health research, social sciences, or humanities.
Benefits
In addition to the financial support, USRA recipients gain invaluable research experience, enhance their academic resumes, and build professional networks with researchers and peers. The program also offers travel allowances and other benefits to support students during their research tenure.
ℹ️🌐 For Further details, visit the official webpage of URSA Awards on Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Website linked in button below.
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