Fall Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) for Black and Indigenous Scholars
Research Admin Offices:
- ROADS
Funding Type:
AwardOpportunity Type:
- Award
Value:
USRAs have a value of $6,000, and the host institution is required to supplement the award. The duration of the award is 14 to 16 weeks on a full-time basis (35 hrs/wk, e.g. co-op placement).
The agency’s contribution is paid directly to the host institution and is included in the funds that awardees receive.
The granting agencies will not reimburse the institution for any period during which you worked part time. No payment will be approved for any vacation leave awardees take during tenure of the award.
Sponsors:
Deadlines:
Internal Deadline:
September 24, 2025Sponsor Deadline:
October 1, 2025Additional Dates:
- ROADS Deadline – (complete form 202 via NSERC’s online system) - September 1, 2025
- USRA Program Deadline – (ROADS will submit final applications) - October 1, 2025
Description:
Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRAs) are meant to nurture interest and fully develop the potential of undergraduate students for a research career in health, natural sciences, engineering, social sciences or humanities. These awards are also meant to encourage undergraduate students to undertake graduate studies by providing research work experience that complements their studies in an academic setting. You are permitted to hold a USRA during a co-op placement.
Additional Program Information:
There is no limit on the number of NSERC USRAs for Indigenous student researchers at McMaster. For Fall 2025, the remaining number of SSHRC USRAs available for Black student researchers at McMaster is three (3). There are no remaining CIHR USRAs available for Black student researchers as our allocation has been fully utilized following the summer competition.
If the number of applications for SSHRC USRAs submitted by Black student researchers at McMaster exceeds the remaining available allocation of three (3), an internal selection committee will be established. The committee will select the awardees based on academic excellence, research potential, and expected quality of the training and mentorship to be received.
Eligibility:
To be eligible to apply for a Fall 2025 CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC USRA, a student:
- 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 (September 1);
- must be registered, as of the deadline date for applications at the institution (September 1), in a bachelor’s degree program at an eligible institution;
- must have obtained, over the previous years of study, a satisfactory cumulative average (normally at least B-);
- cannot be currently registered or have been previously registered, at any time, in a graduate program in the same field of study;
- cannot have completed all degree requirements. However, applicants who already hold a bachelor’s degree and are studying toward a second bachelor’s degree are eligible to apply;
- must not have already been awarded a USRA since April 1, 2025; and
- must not have already been awarded three USRAs throughout their undergraduate career.
Eligibility to hold an award
To be eligible to hold a Fall 2025 CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC USRA, a student:
- must have completed all the course requirements of at least the first year of study (or two academic terms) of their bachelor’s degree;
- 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;
- must be employed full time (35 hrs/wk, e.g. co-op placement) in eligible research and development activities in their proposed field of research during tenure of the award; and
- cannot be registered in a graduate program.
Application/Nomination Process:
Applications for the USRA program must be completed and submitted to the Canadian institution where the applicant wishes to hold the award through NSERC’s online system. More information about the application process can be found at Instructions for completing an Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) application – form 202. A student can apply to more than one institution. However, please note that it is the institution’s choice whether to accept candidates from other institutions.
Resources:
Contact:
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Faculty of Business
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Faculty of Engineering
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Faculty of Science
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Faculty of Health Sciences
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Faculty of Social Sciences
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Faculty of Humanities
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