Scholarships

$9,000 (less 13% for mandatory employer related costs).  Research is conducted from May 6 – August 14, 2024 and is full-time (37.5 hrs per week).  NSERC’s contribution is paid directly to the host university to help cover the cost of your employment.  Concordia will issue payment to you in accordance with our pay procedures. Concordia will also issue a T4 slip to you at the appropriate time.

To be eligible for an USRA, you must:

• be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada;
• be registered in a full-time course load as per Concordia’s Student Registration Status Policy 4.6, at the time you apply, in a bachelor’s degree program at an eligible university;
• be in good academic standing the year of application (i.e., not be on academic probation). Have obtained over the previous years of study, a cumulative average of at least a ‘B’ on the equivalent Concordia University of Edmonton grading scale (for repeated courses, the last passing grade counts).  Students who do not meet the cumulative average requirement must have a ‘B’ average on their last 30 credits.  Students currently on academic probation are not eligible.
• submit a separate Concordia USRA Application form along with NSERC’s Form 202 (Part I & II), by the deadline.

In addition:

• If you already hold a bachelor’s degree and are studying toward a second bachelor’s degree, you may still apply to this program.
• You may hold only one USRA per fiscal year (April 1 – March 31).
• You may hold a maximum of three USRAs throughout your university career.
• Complete the self-identification statement and provde consent if relevant (for Black and Indigenous student researchers).

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 at least one of the two immediately preceding terms 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.

You are not eligible for an award if:

• you are currently enrolled in an undergraduate professional degree program in the health science (e.g., MD, DDS, BScN); or
• you hold higher degrees in the natural sciences or engineering;
• once NSERC has approved your USRA for tenure at one particular institution, you may not transfer it to another institution.

To apply students must:

1. Read the program description and eligibility requirements: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/students-etudiants/ug-pc/usra-brpc_eng.asp
2. Identify a faculty supervisor and confirm the official start date of the work period
3. Complete Concordia’s USRA Application Form
4. Register and/or login to the NSERC online system
5. Complete Part 1 of Form 202.
6. Provide a copy of your Form 202, Part 1 with your reference number to your proposed supervisor
7. The supervisor completes Part 2 of Form 202 and submits the application electronically (on behalf of the applicant) by selecting ‘Submit to LO’

Application Deadline: February 1

Useful Timelines:

February 1: Application Deadline
February – March: Committee Review & Selection
March: Notification of Results (sent from CUE to students)
May 6: USRA term begins (14 weeks minimum required length)

CUE receives a quota of Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Undergraduate Student Research Awards.

NSERC – 1 award allocation.  Small institutions that have one allocation reserved for them can request up to four awards should they be able to offer them.  In order for Indigenous and Black student researchers to be recommended for awards above the institution quota, they must self-identify and provide consent within the online application form.

SSHRC – 1 award allocation for a Black scholar only

Selection is based on academic excellence, research potential and expected quality of training and mentorship to be received.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information, visit the NSERC website to review the “Frequently Asked Questions for Applicants and Proposed Research Supervisors”, or contact the Financial Aid and Awards Office at 780-479-9219 or by email finaid@concordia.ab.ca

All transcripts must be saved into a single portable document format (PDF) file and uploaded to the NSERC online system. 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.

You must provide official up-to date transcripts for CUE and all other university programs you have attended. Your CUE transcripts must show your previous fall term grades, and your winter term course registration in progress (IP).  Note:  CUE transcripts requested prior to census day will not show IP grades for winter term.  Please make your transcript request with the Registrar’s Office after census day.  Transcripts such as those printed from a 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. All transcripts must include the legend (found on the back of a transcript).