If you have any questions about the USRA, please email nserc.usra@ubc.ca or phone 604-827-2937, from 9 AM - 4 PM Monday through Friday.
The information on this page applies to both UBC Okanagan and Vancouver students and faculty members.
The Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) program is administered jointly by Canada’s three research granting agencies: the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). Eligible faculty members may apply for the Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) program. Through these awards, you can receive a wage subsidy of $6,000 to hire an eligible student to work on research and development in your lab. Professors gain valuable help in furthering their research while supporting students in their learning.
Selected applications are submitted to NSERC by institutions through NSERC’s online system. No USRA applications may be submitted directly to the agencies. At the present time, CIHR and SSHRC USRAs are exclusively for Black student researchers.
Updates to Application Form 202 Part I and Part II
The NSERC form 202 part I (students) and part II (supervisor) was updated from Jan 19, 2023 on the NSERC online system, which include revision to the self-identification statements and the new terms and conditions of applying to the USRA program.
Following the update, the terms and conditions of applying has been reset to “Not accepted”, meaning you will need to click the new link in the portfolio page to accept the new terms and conditions of applying. When you click on “Verify” for your form, you'll get an error message if you haven’t accepted the terms and conditions of applying.
If you face any technical issues regarding NSERC online portal, please contact NSERC helpdesk.
Goals
The objectives of the USRA program are:
- to stimulate student interest in research in the natural sciences and engineering,
- to encourage students to undertake graduate studies and pursue a research career in these fields; and,
- to provide research work experience that complements a student’s degree program in an academic setting
NSERC encourages qualified Black and Indigenous students to apply for this award. Specific award pathways have been established (see the Pathways to USRA for more details).
Scope
In January of each year, the UBC Career Centre receives UBC’s quota (for both UBC-Vancouver & UBC-Okanagan) of USRA spots for the fiscal year. The USRA program is administered and coordinated through the Faculty/School/Department USRA Coordinators.
Supervisors must be faculty members who are authorized to independently supervise students deemed by their home institution. As part of UBC’s requirement, eligible faculty will need to continue holding an active NSERC grant from the Research Grant list. Faculties/Schools have the ability to endorse non-NSERC grant holders to apply for the award, on the approval of the Associate Dean or appropriate designate. Additionally, they must ensure that their research project be in the area of research supported by the respective agency they are applying to. Details and general guidelines for the eligibility of subject matter can be found at Selecting a Federal Granting Agency and has been updated to provide greater clarity in determining the eligibility of applicants’ proposed research. As an additional reference, an Addendum to the Guidelines for the Eligibility of Applications Related to Health contains examples of eligible and ineligible research topics.
Note: CIHR and SSHRC USRAs are, at the present time, exclusively for Black student researchers.
Students must be engaged in research and development activities on a full-time basis (35 hours paid hours/week plus a 1-hour/day unpaid lunch break) during the tenure of the award (minimum of 16 consecutive weeks). Awards can be taken up during the summer (May – August), fall (September – December) or winter (January – April) term. Under exceptional circumstances, students can work less than 16 consecutive weeks (prior approval from NSERC is needed and requests are to be submitted well ahead of the application deadline). The USRA program makes no provision for sick leave or other interruptions of awards. Please inform the NSERC Liaison Officer immediately should a work term be interrupted or terminated early for any reason.
The USRA research is a full time activity. Students should not receive academic credits for the work done during the term of the USRA. Award holders may take a maximum of two courses in addition to their USRA with the agreement of their supervisor. If the course is during normal working hours, special arrangements with the supervisor must be made for the student to make up the time spent on the course. In particular, USRA holders are not permitted to do thesis research during the term of the award.
The value of the NSERC USRA (the faculty supervisors’ reimbursement) is $6,000 per student.
For the student’s salary, BC’s minimum wage requirements must be met. As of November 24, 2022, the minimum wage in BC is currently $15.65 per hour. Note: On June 1, 2023, BC minimum wage will increase from $15.65/hour to $16.75/hour.
Based on the current BC’s minimum wage requirements, the minimum pay for the tenure of the award of 16 weeks (May 1, 2023 - Aug 18, 2023) is $9,457.08, inclusive of 4% vacation pay; The minimum top-up from the supervisor will be $3,457.08.
For more information on student’s salary calculations, please refer to
- NSERC USRA Appointing Students 2023-24 UBC-V (Updated April 5, 2023)
- NSERC USRA Appointing Students 2023-24 UBC-O (Updated April 5, 2023)
In addition, supervisors are required to fund benefits (CPP, EI, WCB) amounting to approximately 7.48% of the monthly wage. Please note that $9,457.08 for the work term from May 1 – Aug 18, 2023 is the minimum pay and many supervisors choose to provide a larger top-up using their own funds from research grants or other sources.
View student eligibility criteria
Program |
|||
TYPE OF STUDENT |
|||
Undergraduate |
Y | Y | Y |
Graduate/Professional |
Y | ||
Y | Y | ||
Domestic Students |
Y | ||
Visiting Students |
Y | ||
TYPE OF WORK |
|||
Research Related |
Y | Y | Y |
Non-Research Related |
Y | ||
Full-time |
Y | Y | |
Part-time |
Y | ||
Year Round |
Y | Summer Only | Y |
Timelines
-
Announcement of award allocations: end of January
-
Application period / student recruitment: January - March
-
Deadline for Faculty/School USRA Coordinators to submit A&B List of Recommended Applicants (for all terms): March 31, 2023
-
Review of NSERC on-line applications: April 2023
-
Deadline to submit student appointments: Summer: May 12, 2023, Fall: September 15, 2023, Winter: December 8, 2023
-
USRA placements: Summer (May 1 to August 31, 2023) / Fall (September 1 to December 31, 2023) / Winter (January 1 – April 30, 2024)
-
Award notifications: Summer awards (July), Fall awards (November), Winter awards (February)
-
Reimbursement of award funds: Summer awards - September/October / Fall awards – January/February / Winter awards – May/June
Your involvement
In January, the UBC Career Centre will announce the number of USRA quota spaces UBC has received for the fiscal year’s competition and the number of awards allocated to each Faculty/School.
Faculty/School offices establish their own selection criteria within the broad guidelines that NSERC provides, and they may choose to apply stricter criteria. The following Selection criteria and indicators for USRA applications contains suggestions for evaluating the three selection criteria when reviewing supervisor/student applicants:
• Academic excellence
• Research potential
• Expected quality of the training and mentorship to be received
As per NSERC’s recommendations, institutions are encouraged to consider the above evaluation methods when determining A-List/B-List candidates.
Please contact your 2023-24 Faculty/School/Department USRA Coordinators to find out how many awards are available to your Faculty/School for the fiscal year.
2023-24 Resources for Faculty/School/Department Coordinators
Please find hyperlinks to important reference tools and required documents for supervisors and coordinators that will help to ensure the applicants are eligible and applications are completed correctly.
- NSERC USRA Info for Faculty/School/Department Coordinators 2023-24
- NSERC USRA Info for Potential Faculty Supervisors 2023-24
- NSERC USRA Form 202 Common Errors 2023-24
- NSERC USRA Appointing Students 2023-24 UBC-V (Updated April 5, 2023)
- NSERC USRA Appointing Students 2023-24 UBC-O (Updated April 5, 2023)
- NSERC – List of Research Subject Codes for Scholarships and Fellowships
- NSERC USRA 2023-24 Eligible Research Grant List (Effective as of Dec. 15 2022)
- NSERC USRA 2023-24 Recommended Applicants A-List & B-List Template
- 2023-2024 Cycle FAQs
Both faculty supervisors and students must complete and submit an online NSERC USRA application Form 202 part I (student) and Part II (supervisor) by clicking on “System Login” or, if you are a first time user, “Register”. Instructions on how to complete the forms can be found on the NSERC USRA website. Additional resources can be found here:
- Online Application Portal for Faculty Supervisors and Student Applicants
- NSERC USRA Instructions for Completing Form 202
- NSERC USRA Program Application Tutorial
Each Faculty/School establishes procedures for identifying and ranking applicants and will set their own internal deadlines. Please contact your 2023-24 Faculty/School/Department USRA Coordinators for application details.
CareersOnline (the online job board for UBC students) is a great resource for posting your opportunity. UBC employers can advertise positions free-of-charge. Make sure your posting includes student eligibility criteria in the qualifications section to ensure you get applications only from eligible undergraduate students.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI):
UBC believes that sustained excellence in research, education and engagement depends on the integration of diverse perspectives and approaches and the inclusion of those who have been historically, persistently or systemically marginalized. UBC wants to ensure equitable access to these opportunities with NSERC, both for faculty members and students. Please ensure a thorough review of your recruitment and application processes to ensure equitable consideration is given to all applicants.
Here are some UBC-specific guidelines and resources you may want to review:
- resources for ensuring equitable hiring and interview practices
- resources for researchers on how to incorporate EDI practices into their research
Visit UBC HR for information on general student hiring and practices or Work Learn for onboarding resources and evaluation templates for student staff, and UBC Safety and Risk Services for information on New Worker Safety Orientation and Training.
The UBC Liaison Officer will review and confirm all applications submitted via NSERC’s online portal. If there are any errors/omissions or the application is incomplete, the UBC Liaison Officer will RETURN the application to the supervisor to allow the student and/or supervisor to make changes to it. If the application is returned, the faculty supervisor will receive two e-mails:
- a generic e-mail notification from NSERC informing them that their application has been returned
- an e-mail from the UBC Career Centre with details about the error or missing information, steps on how to make edits to their application and how to re-submit on-line
Please remember that at this point your application is still subject to final NSERC approval. It’s usually the case that students will start work on their USRA before awards are actually confirmed by NSERC. If eligibility criteria are not met and the student starts his/her award tenure, the student would still be expected to finish their award and be paid the full amount, although a reimbursement will not be issued and the supervisor will be responsible for the students’ full wages.
As supervisors, you are responsible for your student(s) wages. Once you have selected your candidate, faculty supervisors must appoint their student by submitting a Hire Business Process (BP) through Workday by the deadline date provided. It is important to have students appointed in their positions prior to starting work. Hire BPs will be automatically routed to our approval queue once submitted in Workday. If you have specific questions about Workday, please contact the UBC IRP team for further support.
Deadline to submit student appointments: Summer: May 12, 2023, Fall: September 15, 2023, Winter: December 8, 2023
2023-24 Info sheet for appointing students
- NSERC USRA Appointing Students 2023-24 UBC-V (Updated April 5, 2023)
- NSERC USRA Appointing Students 2023-24 UBC-O (Updated April 5, 2023)
The normal duration of the award is a minimum of 16 consecutive weeks. Award winners are required to work full time (35 paid hours/week plus a 1-hour unpaid lunch break) during the Summer term (May – August), Fall term (September – December) or Winter term (January – April). Under exceptional circumstances students can work less than 16 consecutive weeks (prior approval from NSERC is needed).
Visit UBC HR for information on general student hiring and practices or Work Learn for onboarding resources and evaluation templates for student staff, and UBC Safety and Risk Services for information on New Worker Safety Orientation and Training.
NSERC will send award letters directly to students in July for the Summer term, November for the Fall term and February for the Winter term. NSERC will notify the UBC Liaison Officer regarding applications that have been rejected. Replacements for rejected candidates will not be accepted in the same term. If eligibility criteria are not met and the student starts their award tenure, the student would still be expected to finish their award and be paid the full amount, although a reimbursement will not be issued and the supervisor will be responsible for the students’ full wages.
The UBC Career Centre will reimburse department accounts in the amount of $6,000 for each USRA.
- Summer term – October/November
- Fall term – February/March
- Winter term – May/June
Resources for Supervisors
The hiring process doesn't only happen during the interview; it begins the moment you decide to fill a need in your unit or department. Coming up with an effective hiring plan, determining the appropriate method for recruiting and selecting the best candidates, and consulting with key stakeholders are all important decisions that, if unprepared, could result in a stressful experience. The resources below are useful tools to use through recruiting, selecting, and on-boarding successful candidates. Before you do anything, it may be helpful to create a Student Hiring and Recruiting Plan.PDF to ensure you aren't missing anything important. It is also a good idea to familiarize yourself with The BC Employment Standards Act Fact Sheets.PDF. You can also check out the USRA Supervisor Guide to acquaint yourself with the critical aspects of being a supervisor.
During Interviews
(In Basket Interviews)- Designed to test a candidates ability to perform a task within a set of set requirements. In Basket Testing Tips.PDF
Competency Based Interview Questions
Competency Based Interview Questions.PDF General Interview Questions.PDF Sample Interview Rubric.PDF
After Interview
After you have completed your interviews, you will have to make your decision as to who you would like to extend an offer to and who you want to decline. It is best to extend an offer as soon as possible, as students are often applying to more than one role. Waiting to offer may mean you miss the opportunity to work with your star candidate! Sample Offer Letter.PDF
A lack of a thorough on-boarding experience and expectations has been noted as one of the main reasons employees are not engaged or productive in their workplace. Thoughtful preparation for your new employee, setting clear expectations at the beginning, and ongoing integration into the new workplace plays a key role in fostering a positive working relationship and setting the student staff up to be successful in the role. The templates are a great way to get you started.
Before the student begins the position
Work Learn On-boarding Plan.PDF
Expectations Setting Worksheet.PDF
Getting to Know You Worksheet.PDF
Sharing some of the interesting facts you learn about the student employee with other full-time staff members is a small act that goes a long way in integrating the USRA student(s) to the larger team. Work Learn_New Work Learn Students Template.PDF
This template can be used for positions in which a new staff manual is included in the on-boarding process. New Staff Manual Template.PDF
Having a new student set learning objectives is an excellent way of engaging them right from day one, as well a way to provide structure in following up with a student throughout their position. Learning Objectives Worksheet.PDF
This is an agreement between the employer and the student, with the aim of outlining employment expectations of both parties, to ensure an overall successful experience for the student and the employer. Work Learn Program - Supervisor and Student Work Agreement.PDF
Performance management is an ongoing process between you and your employee that involves creating goals, assessing progress, and proving guidance and feedback along the way. The resources below can be used to guide those conversations with your student staff, evaluate their performance, and reflect on what they are learning in their roles.
The 5-15 Check in is one way of a student keeping you up to date with their work progress, challenges, and ideas. A 5-15 is meant to take the student no longer than 15 minutes to write and to take you no more than 5 minutes to read. These can be especially helpful if the student you supervise has different hours than you. 5_15 Check In
Bi weekly status report
Biweekly Status Report - Template
If you have a concern about the safety or well-being of a student employee, we encourage you to submit an Early Alert: https://facultystaff.students.ubc.ca/systems-tools/early-alert
Performance Reviews
Performance reviews are a crucial way for students to learn and reflect on their positions. They do take time so it is a good idea to start early. We strongly encourage all USRA facilitators to conduct a mid-point performance review with each student they supervise.
Mid-Point Performance Evaluation (for lab setting)
Mid-Point Performance Evaluation (non-lab setting)
Employee Recognition
Recognition is a way of showing your employees that you notice and value what they bring to the workplace. Student employees have a huge impact on the UBC workplace; bringing fresh ideas, high energy, and a willingness to learn. Taking some time to acknowledge a job well done is a great way to keep your staff engaged and motivated.
Students have identified that one of the main reasons they choose to hold a USRA is to gain professional experience that will serve them after graduation. So much of what impacts a student's ability to learn on the job is their connection to you, their supervisor. The following are a series of templates you can use to help guide professional development conversations with the students you supervise.
Goal-Setting
HARD Goals Template S.M.A.R.T Goals Template
Professional Development Plan
Cross-training is an opportunity for students to work with colleagues of yours in other units. Cross_Training Plan
Strengths and Opportunities for Development
The end of the USRA term calls for celebrating and recognizing your student staff, reflecting on what they have learned in their placement, and planning for new (or returning students). It's also a great time to solicit feedback on how the experience was for the student, and incorporate your own learning into your next cycle of student management. Below are some resources you can use as you prepare to have end-of-term conversations with your student, ensure they are off-boarded appropriately, and prepare for your new employees.
End-of-Term Reflection Questions.PDF
Contact Information
Workplace Learning
Phone: (604) 827 - 2937
Email: nserc.usra@ubc.ca