Undergraduate Student Research Awards

Award information

What are these awards for?

Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) 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 pursue a research career in these fields. If you would like to gain research work experience that complements your studies in an academic setting, these awards can provide you with financial support through your host university. Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) encourages qualified Black and Indigenous students to apply to this program.

What is the value of the award?

Awards are available in the Faculty of Heath at Waterloo for a minimum of $6,000. In addition, your supervisor will supplement the award for up to a four-month period. 

How are award recipients selected?

The Associate Dean of Research in the Faculty of Health evaluates all completed applications for the upcoming fiscal year (April 1 to March 31) in February. Evaluations are based on your academic record and research aptitude.

Important details

  • This opportunity can provide great experience if interested in applying to graduate school.
  • Students can hold the award in Spring 2025, Fall 2025, or Winter 2026. 
  • You will need a supervisor before you apply.
  • Please contact Doris Makowich for specific term application deadlines. Applications will be available online in December.
  • Applications open to Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents.

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Eligibility criteria

SPHS reserves the right to change eligibility criteria within the constraints outlined by NSERC.

To be eligible to apply for an award:

  • 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 63% for SPHS).
    • Candidates are ranked primarily based on their cumulative overall average.
  • You cannot be currently enrolled in an undergraduate professional degree program in the health sciences (e.g., MD, DDS, BScN). This does not apply for Canadian Institutes of Health Research (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.

Note: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) USRAs are, at the present time, exclusively for Black student researchers. To be considered, you must self-identify as Black.

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 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).

To hold an award

  • You must have completed all the course requirements of 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 employed 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.

Notes:

  • You may hold an award at any time during the year as permitted by your academic program.
  • Tenure may start on a date acceptable to both you and your host institution.
  • USRA holders are not permitted to take courses during working hours throughout the USRA term unless special arrangements to make up the time have been made with the research supervisor. Those taking courses must be in part-time student study status during the USRA term with the written permission of the research supervisor. In particular, USRA holders are not permitted to do thesis research during the term of the award.

Training required for USRA holders

  • Ethics clearance and training required for all USRA holders

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Application process

  1. Secure a supervisor and confirm that they are willing to endorse your application.
    1. You will need to contact the faculty member directly and make your own arrangements to discuss their project.
  2. Complete the Complete Form 202 Part 1 NSERC USRA Application (available in December). 
    1. Before completing the form, read carefully the 'general information' provided by NSERC (e.g., the terms that you accept by applying for the USRA such as ethical conduct, notes regarding the content and presentation standards for completing the form, help using the on-line system, etc.)
    2. Login to the NSERC website as either a previous user or a first time user. Locate and complete NSERC Form 202 Part 1. If you recorded a Form 202 Part 1 for an earlier USRA competition, access that form and edit it for the current cycle. Do not create multiple forms.
    3. The PIN number requested is your NSERC PIN number not your student ID number. All USRA applicants have an NSERC PIN. It can be found on any official correspondence received from NSERC. Refer to your PIN each time you apply for a USRA and in future correspondence with NSERC. If you have not previously applied for a USRA, or if you cannot remember your PIN, leave the field blank.
  3. Upload a copy of your unofficial UWaterloo transcript or the system will not verify and confirm Form 202 Part 1. Note: Students external to the University of Waterloo must upload an official transcript.
  4. Confirm your supervisor completes Form 202 Part 2. 
  5. Contact Doris Makowich with the information requested in the format specified below:
    1. Email Subject: [YOUR FULL NAME, STUDENT ID] USRA APPLICATION
    2. Email Body: Copy and paste the following and add your answers in the body of your email

Name:

Student Number:

Reference Number:

Institutional Email Address:

For what semester are you applying for the USRA (Spring, Fall, Winter):

Have you had a NSERC USRA in the past (Yes/No):

Supervisor:

I confirm that I meet all the minimum requirements of the USRA award (Yes/No):

Briefly describe any research experience and/or list relevant research related courses (e.g., methods, statistics, apprenticeships):

Briefly describe your research related plans post-graduation:

Have you applied or are you a recipient of any awards during your anticipated NSERC USRA term (Yes/No):

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For more information and contacts

Students can find more information on the NSERC website.

Contact Doris Makowich with any additional questions.

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