The object of this program, which is sponsored by NSERC (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council), is to stimulate students' interest in research in the natural sciences and engineering, and to encourage students to undertake graduate studies and pursue a research career in these fields.
Eligibility Requirements
- You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
- You must be registered (at the time you apply) as a full-time student in a bachelor's degree program in the natural sciences or engineering at an eligible university.
- You must 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 university.
Value, Term and Supervision
- The award is valued at $4,500.00.
- The term is 16 weeks starting in May and ending in August.
- Before you complete your application you must find a faculty member in the School to work with.
- Your supervisor is expected to top up the grant to $7840.00 .
Ranking
The following procedure is used to rank applications in the School of Computing. The ranking committee is to consist of the Undergraduate Chair and up to two other faculty persons who are not supervisors of USRA applicants.
The first step will be to remove applications from students whose academic record or research aptitude are deemed inadequate. The remaining applications are then ranked taking into account the following:
Ranking Criteria
- Students' academic record and research aptitude.
- Supervisors are to submit statements of support, and preferences if more than one student has applied to do research with them.
- Students who have previously received an USRA are considered to have had their interest in research adequately stimulated and, other factors being equal, would be ranked lower than students who have not yet received an USRA.
- Students in first and second year are ranked lower than students in third year, on the grounds that it is the latter who are most likely to be considering graduate work and are most likely to be useful to researchers.
- Students in their final year of a program are ranked lower on the grounds that they would have already decided whether to pursue graduate studies.
How to Apply
- Students must fill out Form 202, Part I on the NSERC website.
- Supervisors must fill out Form 202, Part II on the NSERC website.
- Both students and supervisors must submit a paper copy of their respective parts to Karen Knight before the announced deadline near the end of February.
- Students must also provide Karen with an official transcript, which can be obtained from the Registrar's Office in Gordon Hall.
Do not submit more than one application; you should choose which project you want to be involved with before submitting your application.