Industrial Undergraduate Student Research Awards (IUSRAs) are meant to stimulate your interest in research in the natural sciences and engineering. They are also meant to encourage you to undertake graduate studies and to pursue a research career in these fields. If you would like to gain research work experience in an industrial setting that complements your studies, these awards can provide you with financial support through your host organization. NSERC encourages qualified Aboriginal students to apply for an IUSRA.
Value: $4,500 plus organization contribution
Application Deadline: Minimum of four weeks before start date of work term
How to Apply: See below
Application Forms: Form 183B – Application (new or renewal) for Eligibility of Organizations to Participate in NSERC’s Industrial R&D Fellowships Program, Industrial Postgraduate Scholarships Program and Industrial Undergraduate Student Research Awards (completed by the organization within the last three years)Form 202, Parts I and II – Application for an Undergraduate Student Research Award and for an Industrial Undergraduate Student Research Award. To create or access an application, select On-line System Login. To view forms and instructions, select PDF Forms and Instructions.
Need more information? Contact the NSERC regional office in your area.
Are you eligible for an award?
To be eligible to apply for an award, you must:
- be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada;
- be registered, at the time you apply, in a bachelor’s degree program in the fields of natural sciences or engineering at an eligible university or college; and
- have obtained, over the previous years of study, a cumulative average of at least second class (a grade of “B” or “B-,” if applicable) as defined by your institution. This will be demonstrated by including an official transcript with your application. In order to receive an official transcript from your postsecondary institution, you must contact the institution’s registrar’s office (or equivalent). Unofficial transcripts or transcripts that have been downloaded from your postsecondary institution’s Web site are not sufficient to demonstrate that you meet the academic standards of the award.
IUSRAs may be held during co-op placements.
In addition…
- If you already hold a bachelor’s degree and are studying toward a second bachelor’s degree, you may still apply for an IUSRA.
- You may hold only one IUSRA per fiscal year (April 1 to March 31).
- You may hold a maximum of three IUSRAs throughout your postsecondary career.
To hold an award, you must:
- have completed all the course requirements of at least the first year of postsecondary study (or two academic terms) of your bachelor’s degree;
- have been registered in the term immediately before holding the award in a bachelor’s program at an eligible institution;
- not have started a program of graduate studies in the natural sciences or engineering; and
- be employed full time in research and development activities in the natural sciences or engineering during tenure of the award.
Value of awards
- These awards have a maximum value of $4,500 for a full 16-week period.
- Organizations are required to supplement the award by at least 25 percent of its value. The organization will be responsible for supplements to the weekly value and fringe benefits (if applicable).
- NSERC’s contribution is paid directly to the host organization and is included in the salary you receive.
- A travel allowance may also be granted (see Travel allowances for more information).
NSERC will not reimburse the organization for any period during which you worked part time. No payment will be approved for any holidays you take during tenure of the award.
How do you apply?
You may apply for these awards at one or more organizations. Contact organizations at which you might like to work. If they are interested, you must complete and submit your application using NSERC’s On-line System. Refer to the instructions for completing Form 202. Paper copies are not accepted.
Application deadlines
IUSRA applications may be submitted at any time. For administrative purposes, NSERC should receive applications from the organization at least four weeks before the scheduled start date of the work term. Applications received more than two months after the proposed start date of the work term will not be approved.
If you have already started your work term with an organization before NSERC has notified you of the decision, there is no guarantee that your application will be successful. NSERC may still reject your application based on eligibility criteria or availability of awards.
