Scholarships & Funding

The NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA) detailed below provides opportunities for students to gain valuable research experience in a laboratory setting while being remunerated.

For additional Funding oppourtunities, visit SFU Financial Aid and Awards.

There are also exciting opportunities for Internships abroad, including RISE (Research Internships in Science and Engineering).

Summer 2023 - Spring 2024 USRA competition announcement

By Wed, February 15, 2023 at 10:00 am NSERC USRA applicants must submit their online application to NSERC and an electronic copy to mbb@sfu.ca, and VPR USRA applicants must submit their electronic application, to mbb@sfu.ca. Note that this include uploading transcripts and having a supervisor complete form 202 (Part II).

*NOTE: The MBB department has a different process and deadlines are different from what is posted on the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies website. ENSURE you follow the MBB process and deadlines under MBB PROCESS. Interested students have to find a supervisor first and then apply. Make sure to email your supervisor to complete Part II of Form 202 before you submit your final application to NSERC and the MBB office.

» See MBB PROCESS

NSERC / CIHR USRA

The USRAs are granted to undergraduate students working in a research capacity with an academic supervisor for a 16-week duration. Meant to encourage undergraduate students to pursue graduate degrees and/or a research career, this is also a way to recruit students into graduate programs.

The award portion of the USRA’s is $6,000 for the 16-week period at 35 hours per week.

The student must also receive a faculty supplement valued at a minimum $2,764 + 14.18% benefits.

» See Full Criteria at SFU GRADUATE STUDIES

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for an award, you must:

be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada as of the deadline date for applications at the university;
be registered, at the time you apply, in a bachelor's degree program at an eligible university; 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 university.
Additionally, this year CIHR USRAs are reserved for Black students doing health research.

In addition...

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 university USRA per fiscal year (April 1 to March 31).
You may hold a maximum of three university USRAs throughout your undergraduate university career.

To hold an award, you must:

have completed all the course requirements of at least the first year of university study (or two academic terms) of your bachelor's degree;
have been registered in at least one of the two terms immediately before holding the award in a bachelor's degree program at an eligible university;
not have started a program of graduate studies in the natural sciences or engineering at any time; and
be engaged on a full-time basis in research and development activities in the natural sciences or engineering during the tenure of the award.

How To Apply

Students eligible for both awards an NSERC Online Account and complete the application for an Undergraduate Student Research Award Form 202 (Part I).

VPR USRA Sciences

If students do not meet the eligibility criteria for an NSERC / CIHR USRA, they may be eligible for a VPR USRA. (For example, international students). All rules for holding the award remain the same. Note that non-SFU students are not eligible to apply.

» See Full Criteria at SFU GRADUATE STUDIES

Eligibility

Note that VPR USRA Sciences applicants must:

be an SFU undergraduate student;
have completed all the course requirements of at least the first year of university study;
have been registered in at least one of the two terms prior to the award term;
have obtained, over the previous years of study, a cumulative average of at least 2.67;
have held 2 or fewer USRAs (including NSERC USRAs) in the past; and,
not have started a program of graduate studies.

Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry