Queen's University NSERC USRA Program

Queen's University with NSERC

Earn $10,416 for a 16-week full-time summer research placement at Queen's University — apply through your supervisor's department, usually by early- to mid-February.

Published by G Paul · last checked September 26, 2026

Total value

$10,416

Level

Undergraduate

Apply on the official site ↗

What you will need

Application submitted through the home department of your supervisor
Official or unofficial transcript
Transcript legend (if you study at another university)
For CIHR and SSHRC awards: self-identification as a Black student researcher
For NSERC supplementary awards: self-identification as a Black or Indigenous student researcher

About this award

You will receive a total award of $10,416.00 for working full-time (35 hours per week) for 16 consecutive weeks from May 1 to August 31. This is based on a salary rate of $18.60 per hour, which includes a $560.00 top-up from Queen's (the VPR). You also get an additional 4% vacation pay, bringing the gross total to $10,832.64 before mandatory employer payroll deductions like CPP (Canada Pension Plan), EI (Employment Insurance), EHT (Employer Health Tax), and WSIB (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board). This is paid to you as wages for full-time research work, so there is nothing to repay. This program is for undergraduate students in health, natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, or humanities who want to build a research career. Extra awards are set aside for Black and Indigenous student researchers to address historic underfunding, and the CIHR and SSHRC awards are currently reserved for Black student researchers. Deadlines are set by each individual department and typically fall in early- to mid-February. Because dates vary, you must check with your home department or the faculty member you wish to work with to confirm the exact closing date. You will hear back through your department's internal process. Selection is managed by the departments and the Research Services office. While the program supports more than 3,000 students annually across Canada, the number of awards at Queen's University depends on the specific allocations from the tri-agency partners. Ask Queen's University with NSERC how many awards are typically available in your specific department so you can judge your odds. Your pay is handled through the university's payroll system. Your department pays you and is reimbursed $6,560 per student by the Tri-Agency award and the Queen's top-up; the department covers the rest. Ask Queen's University with NSERC during your application to confirm the exact pay schedule and how deductions will affect your take-home pay. To keep the award, you must work the full 16-week term and adhere to provincial minimum wage requirements. If you have a Teaching Assistantship during your term, your supervisor must approve it and you must make up any missed hours. Renewal conditions aren't listed — if you're counting on this for multiple years, confirm with Queen's University with NSERC whether you can hold multiple awards over your degree.

Who qualifies

You must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or have refugee or protected-person status in Canada as of the application deadline. You must be registered in a bachelor's degree program at an eligible institution and have a satisfactory cumulative average, which is typically at least a B, though your department may require a higher grade. You cannot be registered, or previously registered, in a graduate program in the same field, and you must not have completed all your degree requirements (though you may hold an award in one of the two terms immediately following completion). You cannot be enrolled in an undergraduate professional health degree—such as Medicine (MD), Dental Surgery (DDS), or Nursing (BScN)—unless you are applying specifically for CIHR (the Canadian Institutes of Health Research — the agency that funds health science) awards. Note that CIHR and SSHRC (the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council — the agency that funds social science and arts) awards are currently reserved exclusively for Black student researchers. For NSERC (the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council — the agency that funds science and engineering research) awards, the university may recommend applications from self-identified Indigenous student researchers beyond the normal allocation.

This is what the award's official page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm on the award's official page before you apply.

Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person
Open to undergraduate students
Studying health, natural sciences, engineering, social sciences or humanities

How to apply

Read the award's official page
Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.
Order your transcript1–2 weeks
Your school's registrar can take a week or two.
Check this year's deadline
We don't have a confirmed date for this round. The award's official page will have it.

Tips for applying

SupervisorAvoid applying blindly to any professor. Instead, build a relationship with a faculty member whose research matches your interests. Email a potential supervisor early to discuss a project before the February deadline.
TranscriptsAvoid uploading a transcript without the accompanying legend. Instead, ensure both the official or unofficial transcript and the transcript legend are included in your upload. This ensures the reviewers understand your specific grading scale.
StrategyAvoid focusing only on your grades. Instead, highlight your desire to pursue a long-term research career or graduate studies. Explain why this specific 16-week experience is the necessary next step for your professional development.
RealismAvoid assuming the deadline is the same for everyone. Instead, treat your department's specific date as the absolute cutoff. Contact your department coordinator immediately to get the exact date for this year.

Questions students ask

How do I apply?

Use the Apply on the official site button on this page: it opens the official application page in a new tab.

When is the deadline?

We don't have a confirmed deadline for this one. Check the award's official page for this year's date.

Can international students apply?

No. You need to be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person.

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FundMyCourse.ca · checked Sep 26, 2026