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USRA Awards

The Summer 2026 USRA competition information is listed below. Please note that applications will need to be submitted by email to the Graduate Program Assistant (statgrad@sfu.ca) (with any "printed" materials included as pdf attachments). Please indicate which supervisor you would like to work with / which project you would like to work on in your cover letter, or in the body of your email.

The Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) programs expose upper-division undergraduates to research, with the goal of encouraging upper-division students to pursue graduate studies leading to research careers. Students must be available to work full-time during the 16-week tenure of the award, from May-August, inclusive. Previous students have been able to link their USRA to a co-op work term; please contact the  for more information on this possibility. If you are assigned to a project and would like to link the USRA to a co-op, please check first with your supervisor. Students requiring further feedback on or assistance with the co-op report or paperwork should consult the co-op office. 

Science students have access to two programs, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) USRA program and the 911³Ô¹Ï Vice President, Research (VPR) USRA program. NSERC USRAs are restricted to Canadian citizens and permanent residents; VPR USRAs are open to international students. Canadian citizens and permanent residents should apply to the NSERC program only.  For more information, please see the 911³Ô¹Ï Dean of Graduate Studies USRA website.  

Application Process

Note:  We thank all applicants for their interest but request that they refrain from contacting prospective supervisors. Supervisors will contact applicants selected for an interview.

NSERC Award:

Canadian citizens and permanent residents should apply for the NSERC USRA only; please do not apply for the VPR USRA. If you are eligible for the NSERC USRA:

• Go to the website
• Please submit the following: the printed NSERC Form 202 (Part I) with your NSERC Online Reference #; an up-to-date, unofficial transcript (not an advising transcript); and, optionally, a short statement (<200 words) about yourself and your interest in the USRA program. These must be submitted electronically to the Graduate Program Assistant (statgrad@sfu.ca) in the Department of Statistics & Actuarial Science by Friday, February 6th, 2026. 
  
• Selected students will be notified by the department. These students must verify their applications online by Friday, February 6th 2026. Note that this verification includes uploading transcripts.

VPR Award:

If you are eligible only for the VPR USRA:

• Go to /gradstudies/awards-funding/ugrad-research-awards/deadlines-application-procedures.html and complete the student portion of the application form.  In the section on Award Information, filling in the proposed supervisor is optional.
  
• Once you have completed the student portion, print it and attach an up-to-date, unofficial transcript (not an advising transcript) and, optionally, a short statement (<200 words) about yourself and your interest in the USRA program. These must be submitted electronically to the Graduate Program Assistant (statgrad@sfu.ca) in the Department of Statistics & Actuarial Science by February 6th, 2026.
  
• Selected students will be notified by the project Supervisors.
• Supervisors will fill out the "Supervisor Information" and "Research Project" sections of the form.

Past Projects

Find information about past USRA projects here.