Skip to main content

U of T Engineering NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA)

University of Toronto Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering

Get $7,500 for 16 weeks of summer research experience in natural sciences or engineering — the 2026 deadline was February 23, 2026, and the 2027 date is not posted yet.

Published by · last checked September 26, 2026

Total value
$7,500
Deadline
Feb 23, 2026
Level
Undergraduate

Applications are closed for this cycle

Applications are not open right now (they last closed Feb 23, 2026). Many awards like this one run again each year, so we re-check this page and update it when the next cycle opens. Last verified Sep 26, 2026.

Still open

7 similar awards are still open, worth up to $14,000

What you will need

  • Student application (Form 202 Part I)
  • USRA Application Role Description
  • Copy of academic history from ACORN (the University of Toronto's official student record system)
  • All documents must be exported into a single PDF package
  • Submission of the single PDF through the Faculty's online form by the deadline (February 23 in 2026)

About this award

You will receive $7,500 in total value for this award. This consists of $6,000 from NSERC (the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada — the federal agency that funds science and engineering research) and a mandatory top-up of a minimum of $1,500 from your faculty supervisor’s research funds. Your department or supervisor may choose to provide a supplement above this minimum amount. As a grant, this money is yours to keep and you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you are an undergraduate student who wants to gain hands-on research experience to prepare for a future career in the natural sciences and engineering or to prepare for graduate-level studies in these fields. The last deadline was Monday, February 23, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. (ET), and the 2027 date is not posted yet, so check the official page early in the new year. When you apply, ask U of T Engineering how and when you'll hear back — whether it will be via email, a portal, or phone. Selection criteria aren't published — ask U of T Engineering how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask U of T Engineering during your application how the money will reach you — some awards pay students directly, others apply funds to tuition. Confirm this so you can plan your cash flow. To keep this award, you must work on a full-time basis on research and development activities for 16 full consecutive weeks during the Summer Term between May and September. You cannot receive academic credits for this work, and you cannot use the term for thesis research. If you want to take courses, you may enroll in a maximum of two courses (1.0 FCE — Full Course Equivalent) only if your supervisor gives permission.

Who qualifies

This is U of T Engineering's USRA process; apply at the department of your research supervisor if it is different from your own. You must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a Native American student from the continental United States (in recognition of the Jay Treaty of 1794). You must be registered full-time or part-time in a bachelor's degree program in at least one of the two terms immediately before the award. At the time you apply, you must have completed at least two academic terms; first-year students are not eligible. You also need a cumulative average of at least second class (B-, or 2.7). If you are a graduating student, you can apply as long as you have not graduated by the application deadline or started graduate school during the award period. Note that you can only hold one USRA per fiscal year (April 1 to March 31) and a maximum of three USRAs throughout your entire university career. Finally, both you and your faculty supervisor must be located at the same university during the award.

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 or permanent resident
  • Open to undergraduate students
  • Studying natural sciences or engineering

How to apply

  1. Read the award's official page

    Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.

  2. This round closed on February 23, 2026

    Check the award's official page for the next round before you prepare anything.

Tips for applying

  • Research StatementAvoid writing a generic interest in science. Instead, describe the specific research and development activities you will perform under your supervisor. Mention the specific goals of the project to show you understand the work.
  • SupportAvoid applying before you have a faculty supervisor. Instead, line one up first, since you hold the award with a supervisor at the same university. Confirm that your supervisor has the mandatory $1,500 top-up available in their funds.
  • StrategyAvoid applying to your own department if your research supervisor is in a different one. Instead, submit your application to the department where your supervisor is based to ensure the paperwork reaches the right office.
  • RealismAvoid planning for travel or vacation days during your 16-week term. Instead, remember that this award does not provide travel allowances or paid time off. Plan your personal budget and schedule knowing that fieldwork costs are not covered.

Questions students ask

How do I apply?

This round is closed. Check the award's official page for when the next round opens.

When is the deadline?

This round closed on February 23, 2026. Many awards like this run again each year, so check the award's official page for the next round.

Can international students apply?

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

Similar awards

Share this award

FundMyCourse.ca · checked Sep 26, 2026

U of T Engineering NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA)

$7,500 Closed Feb 23

$7,500 ($6,000 from NSERC plus at least $1,500 from your supervisor)

fundmycourse.ca/scholarships/u-of-t-engineering-nserc-undergraduate-student-research-award-usra

Screenshot or copy to share
$7,500 Closed Feb 23
Next round