2025 Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA)

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for an award, a student 

• must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada or a Protected Person under subsection 95(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada), as of the deadline date for applications at the institution
• must be registered, as of the deadline date for applications at the institution, in a bachelor’s degree program at an eligible institution
• must have obtained, over the previous years of study, a satisfactory cumulative average (normally at least B, 3.0 GPA, or 2nd class)
• cannot be currently enrolled in an undergraduate professional degree program in the health sciences (e.g., MD, DDS, BScN) (does not apply for CIHR USRAs)
• cannot be currently registered or have been previously registered, at any time, in a graduate program in the same field of study
• cannot have completed all your degree requirements

In addition:

• A student who holds a bachelor's degree and is studying toward a second bachelor's degree may still apply for this award.
• A student may hold only one university USRA per fiscal year (April 1 to March 31).
• A student may hold a maximum of three (3) university USRAs throughout their undergraduate university career.
• USRAs may be held during co-op placements.
• Students studying at a foreign institution who are a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada may be eligible for USRA provided they meet all other eligibility requirements.

To hold an award, a student must:

• have completed all the course requirements of at least the first year of university study (or two academic terms) of the student's bachelor's degree
• have been registered in at least one of the two terms immediately before holding the award in a bachelor's degree program at an eligible university
• not have started a program of graduate studies at any time
• be engaged on a full-time basis in research and development activities in the natural sciences or engineering during the tenure of the award

A student is NOT eligible if:

• he/she is currently enrolled in an undergraduate professional degree program in the health sciences (e.g. MD, DDS, BScN);

• he/she holds higher degrees in the natural sciences or engineering (i.e. Master's or PhD).

   

Funding for Black undergraduate student research with USRA

To reduce racial inequities in research opportunities, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) implemented a new Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA) program in 2023 to support Black scholars in summer research projects in health research or social sciences or humanities research. Students must apply using the same common application form.
 
In addition, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) announced additional federal government funding to support Black undergraduate scholars in summer research projects. All applications from students of Indigenous and/or Black heritage who meet the eligibility requirements will be put forward to NSERC for funding. 

Note: CIHR and SSHRC USRAs are, at the present time, exclusively for Black student researchers. To be considered, you must self-identify as Black.

Summary

Student Deadline: 11:59 pm MT Friday, January 27, 2025

Supervisor Deadline: 11:59 pm MT Friday, January 31, 2025

Please visit the common application system to submit your application for the internal selection process.

Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRAs) are meant to nurture your interest and fully develop your potential for a research career in health, natural sciences, engineering, social sciences or humanities. These awards are also meant to encourage you to undertake graduate studies by providing research experience that complements your studies in an academic setting. UCalgary offers a 16-week USRA program where undergraduate students make a full-time commitment to their research for 16 consecutive weeks with a faculty member.

The USRA program is allocation based with limited number of awards available.

Students will apply through the undergraduate summer studentship central application for the internal USRA selection process. Successful applicants will be notified and directed to complete form 202 Part I and II for submission in the NSERC online portal.

Important Note

A student may submit one (1) application with one (1) supervisor only per competition.

Supervisors may support two (2) student submissions in AwardSpring (central application system). Due to the limited number of awards and to ensure we distribute opportunities for students and supervisors across campus, a supervisor will only be awarded up to a maximum of two (2) studentships.

Students are required to upload an official transcripts issued by Student and Enrolment Services (Registrar's Office) to the USRA application:

• After the official transcripts have been received from the Registrar's Office, break the seal (disregard the watermark) and upload this version of the official transcripts to the USRA application.

• Students whose home institution is not the University of Calgary are also required to upload a copy of the grading scale (grading legend) from the official transcripts to the USRA application.

   

For Non-Calgary Students

External applicants must request a UCID in order to access the application. Refer to Important Application Information for Non-UCalgary Students on this website. 

The Request for UCID webform will close 12pm (noon) on Thursday, January 23, 2025. Due to high request volume, processing can take 1-2 business days.

Application deadlines

Program application deadline

Application deadlines

Supervisor Deadline

Students apply through the undergraduate summer studentship central application for the internal USRA selection process at the University of Calgary.

The common application form supports applications to the following programs:

• Alberta Cancer Foundation (ACF)
• Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI)
• Alberta Innovates Summer Research Studentships (SRS)
• Biomedical Engineering (BME) Summer Research Studentships
• Dianne LaFlamme-McCauley Summer Research Studentships
• Libin Cardiovascular Institute Donald and Loreen Dunklee Summer Studentship in Heart Research
• McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health RR Singleton Summer Studentship
• Neuroscience Summer Research Scholarship (NSRS)
• O’Brien Centre Summer Studentships (OCSS)
• Program for Undergraduate Research Experience (PURE)
• Schulich URP 50:50
• Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA -NSERC, CIHR, SSHRC)

Award eligibility will be automatically determined at application based on your qualifications. Applicants will be considered for all awards they meet eligibility criteria for, however only ONE (1) offer of award will be made to successful students.

Successful USRA candidates will be notified and directed to complete form 202 Part I and II for submission in the NSERC online portal.

The Research Services Office conducts the administrative review of the applications to ensure compliance with the funding agency's Terms of Reference and guidelines.

Decisions are final and cannot be appealed.