2019 NSERC USRA and UTEA Awards
The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Undergraduate Student Research Award Program (USRA) and the University of Toronto Excellence Awards (UTEA) pay a student to do 16 weeks of research with a professor over the summer. This is a competitive process.
The USRAs will be decided on after we have all the applications and have matched students with supervisors; we expect to send the results by February 15th.
Eligibility: USRA and UTEA awards are open to second-year or higher full-time students who have a cumulative average of at least B+. USRA awards are open exclusively to Canadian citizens or permanent residents. UTEA awards are open to Canadian citizens or permanent residents, as well as foreign student with valid student visa for the full summer work term.
NSERC USRA
Deadline: 12 January 2019
This is a competitive process and there is no guarantee that your application will be selected.
Results will be announced by February 15th. Successful applicants will be asked to submit a final version of their application by March 6th.
To submit an application, follow these steps:
- Consult the list of available projects.
- Get your most current unofficial transcript from ACORN that includes your name.
- Register for an account at NSERC’s online system.
- Read the application instructions and fill out Form 202 Part I. NSERC also provides a useful video tutorial that illustrates this process.
- Please adhere to NSERC’s General Presentation Guidelines. Any application not following these guidelines will be sent back to you.
- IMPORTANT: At this stage, DO NOT submit your application using NSERC online system. Instead, print and sign Form 202 Part I. You will submit it for review using the link provided in step 9 of this page.
- Create PDF version of the signed Form 202 Part I (with only Part I completed) and your unofficial transcript.
- Prepare a single PDF version of your resume and a cover page describing your interest in research.
- Click here to submit the above items and to indicate your project preferences.
UTEA
Deadline: 12 January 2019
This is a competitive two-stage process that involves an initial selection step at the Departmental level followed by a final decision step at the Faculty level. There is no guarantee that your application will be selected.
Results for the initial Departmental selection will be announced by February 15th. Successful applicants will be asked to submit a final version of their application by March 6th.
Selected applications will be forwarded to the Faculty of Arts and Sciences for competition. Final results will be announced by mid-April.
To submit an application, follow these steps:
- Consult the list of available projects.
- Get your most current unofficial transcript from ACORN that includes your name.
- Complete the Part I of the UTEA application form.
- Create PDF version of the signed application form (Part I only) and your unofficial transcript.
- Prepare a single PDF version of your resumé and a cover page describing your interest in research.
- Click here to submit the above items and to indicate your project preferences.
Helpful Links
Video tutorial
NSERC USRA poster
NSERC Frequently Asked Questions
NSERC USRA Program Guidelines and Application Procedures
UTEA Program Guidelines