U of T Undergraduate Research Awards: UTEA & USRA

Updated: January 2026

 

Opportunities for research experience at the undergraduate level in the Natural Sciences & Engineering (NSE), Social Sciences & Humanities (SSH), or Health & Life Sciences (HLS) are available through two award streams:

These programs are designed to augment the University’s formal research courses and provide undergraduate students with opportunities to gain direct research experience, learn investigative methodologies, and consider career paths in research.

The two programs – UTEA and USRA – are harmonized as much as possible to ensure a single application process for either award. Each student awardee must be supervised by an eligible faculty member, and applications are submitted to the Division at which the supervising faculty member holds their primary academic appointment.

The below guidelines outline the process for both award streams and highlight wherever one program differs from the other.
 

Award Value and Duration

Award Value: Each award (UTEA or USRA) is valued at $6,000, with a minimum $1,500 top-up from the supervisor or division, for a total award value of $7,500, paid to the student as a stipend.

Duration: 14-16 weeks during the summer term, where:

  • USRA is held from May 1st to August 31st
  • UTEA is held between May 1st and September 30th


Eligibility of Students

  • Registered in a bachelor’s degree program at the University of Toronto at the time of application and in at least one of the two terms immediately before holding the award.
  • Graduating (i.e. 4th year) students may hold an award in the summer term immediately following the completion of their undergraduate program, as long as they have not started a graduate program.
  • Must have obtained a cumulative average of B- or higher. Exception letters may be considered.
  • May already hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline and be studying towards a second bachelor’s degree.
  • For UTEA: Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or international student with valid visa for the full summer term are eligible.
  • For USRA: Canadian citizen or permanent resident. International students are ineligible for USRAs.

Notes:

A student may only hold one award – either UTEA or USRA – per year and cannot concurrently hold any other equivalent summer research award.

A student may hold a maximum of three awards – any combination of UTEAs or USRAs – throughout their university career with priority given to first-time applicants.


Ineligibility of Students

Students are ineligible if they:

  • Are currently enrolled in an undergraduate professional degree program (e.g., M.D., D.D.S., B.Sc.N.).
    • Exception: does not apply to CIHR USRAs (students in the HLS field and who self-identify as Black)
  • Hold higher degrees above Bachelor’s.
  • Are currently or have at any time been enrolled in graduate studies.


Eligibility of Faculty Supervisors

A faculty member can hold a maximum of two UTEA awards per year.

There is no limit on the number of USRA awards a faculty member can hold.

A supervisor must be:

  • A full-time faculty member:
    • For UTEA: whose primary employer is the University of Toronto (i.e. campus-based)
    • For USRA: who holds an academic appointment at the University of Toronto (i.e. campus- or hospital-based)
  • A principal investigator (PI) on an active Tri-agency grant or has a pending/recent Tri-agency application at the time of UTEA/USRA application. 

Note: Supervisors must hold an active tri-agency grant or have a pending tri-agency grant at March 16 as a principal investigator (PI). Co-investigator status is not eligible. 


Application

Department allocations:

  • UTEA: Up to 5 UTEA-NSE, 5 UTEA-SSH, and/or 4 UTEA-HLS applications from each department may be submitted for competition.
  • CIHR - USRA for Black Students: no department allocation.
  • NSERC - USRA for Black Students: no department allocation.
  • NSERC - USRA for Indigenous Students: no department allocation.
  • SSHRC - USRA for Black Students: no department allocation. 

Department ranking per award category is required, except NSERC - USRA for Indigenous Students. Applications must be submitted through potential supervisor’s departments for departmental internal review. Applications submitted by applicants or supervisors directly to the OVPRI are not accepted.
 

Submission Method and Deadline

The UTM internal deadline for departments to submit completed applications, including rankings for the UTM internal competition, is Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Departments should establish their own internal deadlines and review processes to ensure compliance with this requirement. 

Applications and the completed department ranked nomination spreadsheet should be submitted by departments through an online application form. OVPRI does not accept applications directly submitted by students or potential faculty supervisors. 

Each application for CIHR USRA for Black Students, NSERC USRA for Black Students, NSERC USRA for Indigenous Students, and SSHRC USRA for Black Students should include:

  1. Completed and signed 2026 UTEA and USRA Application Form (UTM Version).
  2. Student unofficial transcript generated from ACORN and verified by department.
  3. Completed 2026 USRA eligibility confirmation form signed by department chair.

Each application for UTEA-NSE, UTEA-SSH, and UTEA-HLS should include:

  1. Completed and signed 2026 UTEA and USRA Application Form (UTM Version).
  2. Student unofficial transcript generated from ACORN and verified by department.
     

After Applying

Applications will be reviewed by a divisional review committee for UTM competition. Applications for the USRA for Black Students and Indigenous Students will be reviewed by downtown research office for competition across divisions. Evaluative criteria include: the quality of the research project, the student’s academic excellence, clear learning outcomes, and the degree of supervisor engagement.

Award decisions will be sent in April, with expected May start dates. 

For USRA only: After being notified by the University that you have been internally awarded a USRA, the student and faculty member must complete and finalize their portions of the application on NSERC’s online system. Once finalized, the PI must remember to click “Verify” and “Submit”.
 

MRA

Successful UTEA and USRA applications from UTM internal competition will be required to submit an MRA application. Results of the UTM internal competition will be emailed to the departments by March 19. OVPRI will not communicate directly with the student applicants for the results.  

Please attach the following documents in the MRA application:

  1. Completed 2026 UTEA and USRA Application Form (UTM Version).
  2. For USRA only:
    • A completed NSERC application form by the student on NSERC's online system, commonly referred to as Form 202 Part 1.  
    • A completed NSERC application form by the PI supervisor for the student on NSERC's online system, commonly referred to as Form 202 Part 2.
  3. For UTEA only: Student unofficial transcript generated from ACORN and verified by department.

 

Research Environment and Fieldwork

Any additional research costs beyond the $7,500 stipendiary payment to the student, (e.g., supplies, services, and fieldwork [travel expenses]) are the responsibility of the supervisor or the Division.
 

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The University of Toronto embraces diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity.

The USRA program allocates awards dedicated to:

  • Indigenous student researchers (NSERC only)
  • Black student researchers (any discipline: NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR)

There is no change to the application process for these awards, other than that the student applicant must self-identify as Black or Indigenous at the time of application.


Contact

Questions about the program, eligibility, the UTM application process, deadlines, etc., should be addressed to funding.ovpri.utm@utoronto.ca.