UTM Biology is not currently accepting applications from students for the NSERC USRA Awards. Applications will open in January 2027 for summer 2027 awards.
Deadline
TBD – sometime mid-February 2027.
Purpose
Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRAs) are meant to nurture your interest and fully develop your potential for a research career in health, natural sciences and engineering, or social sciences and humanities. These awards are also meant to encourage you to undertake graduate studies by providing research work experience that complements your studies in an academic setting.
Award Details
- Award Value: $7,500 minimum
- Duration: 14 to 16 full consecutive weeks (starting after May 1 and finishing before September 1)
- Supervisor: Students should solicit a supervisor from UTM Biology. Eligible students who are interested in this program and are having trouble securing a supervisor should browse the UTM Biology faculty websites and reach out to faculty members who are doing research that is interesting to them.
- Number of awards: TBD for 2027. UTM Biology was granted 5 awards for summer 2026.
- Payment of Award: You will receive your payment directly from the institution (UTM).
- For more information: Visit the FAQs about USRAs web page.
How to apply
- Find a UTM Biology faculty member who is interested in developing an excellent, feasible research project with you that you can conduct over the summer.
- Read through the program guidelines on the NSERC USRA website.
- Complete and submit the 2027 USRA and UTEA Application Form. Your supervisor will need to complete their part of the form.
- Submit the completed application form and an unofficial transcript generated from ACORN to cindy.short@utoronto.ca by the application deadline (TBD).
After Applying
- Your application will be reviewed for both eligibility and by a divisional expert committee.
- Award decisions will be sent in April, with expected May 1st award start dates.
Selection Criteria
- academic excellence
- research potential
- expected quality of the training and mentorship to be received
Eligibility of Students
To be eligible to apply for an award, a student must:
- you 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;
- you must be registered, as of the deadline date for applications at the institution, in a bachelor’s degree program at an eligible institution;
- you must have obtained, over the previous years of study, a satisfactory cumulative average (normally at least B-; varies by institution);
- you 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)
- you cannot be currently registered or have been previously registered, at any time, in a graduate program in the same field of study;
- you cannot have completed all your degree requirements by the application deadline.
To be eligible to hold an award, a student must:
- you must have completed all course requirements for at least the first year of study (or two academic terms) of your bachelor’s degree.
- you must have been registered in a bachelor’s degree program at the time of application and in at least one of the two terms immediately before holding the award
- you must be working full time in eligible research and development activities in your proposed field of research during tenure of the award
- you cannot be registered in a graduate program
Please also note that:
- if you already hold a bachelor’s degree and are studying toward a second bachelor’s degree, you may still apply for this award.
- you may hold only one USRA per fiscal year (April 1 to March 31).
- you may hold a maximum of three USRAs throughout your undergraduate career (regardless of the granting agency).
If you have any questions, please contact Cindy Short at cindy.short@utoronto.ca.