University of Toronto Undergraduate Research Awards: UTEA & USRA

Award Value: Each award (UTEA or USRA) is valued at $6,000, with a minimum $1,500 top-up from the supervisor or division, for a total award value of $7,500, paid to the student as a stipend.

Duration: 14-16 weeks during the summer term: May to September.

Develop an excellent, feasible research project that you can conduct with a faculty supervisor over the summer. 

Reach out to the appropriate Divisional contact – see table below – for specific application details; each Division has its own respective process and internal deadline.  

For USRA: Applications require the inclusion of an unofficial transcript. Note: your division may also require an unofficial transcript for UTEA applications. 

Your application will be reviewed both for eligibility and by a divisional expert committee. Evaluative criteria include: the quality of the research project, the student’s academic excellence, clear learning outcomes, and the degree of supervisor engagement. 

Award decisions will be sent in April, with expected May start dates. 

For USRA only: After being notified by the University that you have been internally awarded a USRA, the student and faculty member must complete a secondary application in NSERC’s online system. 

Any additional research costs beyond the $7,500 stipendiary payment to the student, e.g. supplies, services, fieldwork (travel expenses) are the responsibility of the supervisor or the Division. 

The University of Toronto embraces diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. All divisions will ensure that opportunities are posted widely to attract a board and diverse pool of applicants, and review committees will consistently incorporate EDI principles into their processes. 

The USRA program allocates awards dedicated to: 

• Indigenous student researchers (NSE only) 
• Black student researchers (any discipline: NSE, SSH, HLS) 

There is no change to the application process for these awards, other than that the student applicant must self-identify as Black or Indigenous at the time of application.