Doctoral Training for Applicants with a Professional Degree / 2019-2020

Eligible applicants

• Applicants with a professional university degree in a human health sciences discipline and a valid license to practice in Québec at the inception and for the entire duration of the award

• Resident physicians (recognized by the Collège des Médecins du Québec) wishing to interrupt their clinical training to undertake research training (with a valid training card at the inception of the award)

• Canadian citizens or permanent residents domiciled in Québec (see section 2.1  Common General Rules )

• Canadian citizens or permanent residents that did not reside in Québec previously OR individuals who are not currently Canadian citizens or permanent residents are eligible to submit an application for training awards under certain conditions (see section 2.1 of the Common General Rules).

Citizenship and residency in Québec status must remain in effect for the entire duration of the award.

Health professionals without a valid license to practice in Québec (or without a valid training card for resident) at the inception of the award should apply to the program:

• Doctoral training (see program rules)

Are not eligible : holders of a university position unless they are granted a leave of absence without pay for the duration of the award. An official letter attesting to the employment status for that period and the reinstatement of the position at the end of the training must be provided by the employer.

Terms and regulations

• Must be enrolled in a full-time research doctoral program related to human health, in a Québec university, no later than January 15^th, 2020.

Doctoral awards are intended for applicants who are enrolled in a doctoral research program for 14 terms or less as of April 30, 2019.

The number of enrolment terms is calculated from the first application date to the doctoral program related to human health research

Individuals who enroll directly in a doctoral research program after their undergraduate degree or after a professional master’s program and individuals who are taking an accelerated path into a doctoral research program without having received a master’s diploma degree must first apply to the master’s research award if they are eligible (3 terms or less as of April 30^th 2019).

• To be considered “a research program,” the doctoral program must consist of a minimum of 36 credits dedicated to research and lead to the writing of a doctoral thesis.

• Individuals must be supervised by a university researcher or clinical university researcher (as defined in the Definitions section of the Common General Rules).

If the candidate’s supervisor is located outside of Québec, that person should still meet the criteria of university researcher or clinical university researcher in terms of university affiliation and autonomy (see the Definitions section of the Common General Rules).

• Individuals must devote at least 75% of their time to research and training activities.

• Students who suspended their doctoral studies to take parental leave may defer their eligibility period for up to one year.

• If an applicant is a handicapped person in accordance with the Act ensuring handicapped persons their rights for academic, professional and social integration (L.R.C. chapter E-20-1), the rules pertaining to program registration do not apply.

Part time studies are permitted in the following cases:

• Parent or caregiver: exclusively for the person who acts as the caregiver for a close family member or for a person that is the main care provider for a young child.

• Handicapped person: exclusively for a handicapped person in accordance with the Act ensuring handicapped persons their rights for academic, professional and social integration (L.R.C. chapter E-20-1)

• The affiliated university and the research supervisor should both authorize the request for part time studies (see the section Duration of the Award).

Restrictions

• Professional master’s or doctoral programs are not eligible.

• For doctoral programs in psychology, consult the Eligibility of doctoral programs in psychology for FRQS training awards document to check if the selected program is eligible.

• An individual who already holds a research doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in the field of human health is not eligible to submit an application in this program.

• An individual who has received financial support from a recognized funding agency (e.g. SSHRC, NSERC, CIHR, FRQNT, FRQS, FRQSC, etc.) over a period totaling six years (or 18 terms) cannot submit an application to the FRQS to undertake or pursue a doctoral program (see section 6.1 of the Common General Rules).
• Individuals cannot submit a new application in a program where they previously received an award offer.
• Individuals who have received an award in the regular doctoral degree program cannot submit an application to this program unless they have obtained their professional degree after receiving the scholarship in the regular program

Basic research ethics training

Basic research ethics training is mandatory for all FRQS awardees conducting research projects that involve human beings.

Research on human beings involves:

• Participation of human beings
• Use of human biological materials (parts, products, tissue, cells, genetic materials, derived from a living or dead individual)
• Assisted procreation activities or the use of human embryos derived therefrom, within the meaning of the Act respecting clinical and research activities relating to assisted procreation (CQLR c. A-5.01)
• The use of administrative, scientific or descriptive data from human participants

Awardees must therefore successfully complete levels 1 and 3 of the Online Tutorial in Research Ethics developed by the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux.

This training must be completed within one year of the date of confirmation by the FRQS that the award was granted.

The FRQS encourages awardees to follow a one-credit research ethics training course in addition to the mandatory basic research ethics training, whenever possible.

By October 15^th, 2018, 4:30 pm (EDT)

Documents sent via mail or e-mail will not be accepted. Letters of recommendation will not be accepted

Transmission via the FRQS electronic Portfolio  only

Any missing document or document that is not in conformity with the program rules and forms may result in the ineligibility of the funding application.

No extension will be permitted. After the application deadline, forms that are not already submitted, will be automatically rejected.

IMPORTANT : Once the application is submitted, it will no longer be possible to modify it.

• Canadian Common CV, Funding CV version, for the FRQS (updated since June 2016);

• Detailed contributions updated since June 2016 (attachment required through the FRQS Electronic Portfolio on the Canadian Common CV page), consult the document entitled Guidelines for the CV attachment in the Toolbox

• Electronic application form : Formation de doctorat pour les détenteurs d’un diplôme profesionnel
  PDF version – for information

• Form to calculate the number of training program terms (calcul du nombre de sessions aux programmes de formation) available in the FRQS Electronic Portfolio, menu Documents and in the toolbox

• A copy of official academic transcripts for all university courses taken, whether completed or not

Academic transcripts must be complete and include grading scales (at the back of the transcript), for candidates from Québec as well as for candidates outside of Québec.

For transcripts from institutions located outside North America, the applicant must include a note explaining the institution’s marking system.

• Copies of all awards, honours and distinction notices, including FRQS awards

• Acknowledgements from publishers for articles submitted or accepted for publication

For individuals with a Canadian citizenship or permanent residency and domiciled in Québec:

• a copy of a valid Quebec health insurance card OR evidence of eligibility to the RAMQ (official RAMQ document before the issuance of the card)

For individuals with a Canadian citizenship or permanent residency and domiciled in a province other than Québec:

• an official document confirming that the individual lived in Québec on a regular and daily basis for at least six months, within the seven months preceding the submission deadline of the competition (see the list of accepted documentation in the Toolbox)

AND

• a proof of application, registration or admission to a Québec university at the time of the application submission.

For individuals without a Canadian citizenship or permanent residency:

• an official document confirming that the individual lived in Québec on a regular and daily basis for at least six months within the seven months preceding the submission deadline of the competition (see the list of accepted documentation in the Toolbox)

AND

• a proof of application, registration or admission to a Québec university at the time of the application submission.

Candidates will be notified of the reception of their application and of their eligibility via email by the month of November at the latest.

• Canadian Common CV, Funding CV version, for the FRQS (updated since June 2016);

• Detailed contributions updated since June 2016 (attachment required through the FRQS Electronic Portfolio on the Canadian Common CV page), consult the document entitled Guidelines for the CV attachment in the Toolbox

• Supervisor’s electronic form and co-supervisor, if applicable
  PDF version – for information

For candidates pursuing their training outside Québec : the awardee must provide an official proof of registration at the university.

• A proof of membership in a professional corporation certifying the right to practice in Québec

• A confirmation from the supervisor stating that the awardee is under his / her supervision and that he / she spends at least 75% of his / her time on research and training activities (by email)

To start the second year of the award, the awardee will have to provide:

• the ethics training certificates (levels 1 and 3), if applicable (by email in a single PDF document)

Choice of training location

Full time registration in a research doctoral program related to human health is allowed:

• in a Québec university

OR

• in a recognized Canadian or foreign university exclusively for individuals who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents AND have a valid Quebec health insurance card OR evidence of eligibility to the RAMQ.
  Reminder: a license to practice or a training card must nonetheless be valid for the entire duration of the award.

Awardees must complete their research training in the physical location of the host institution. Distance learning is not allowed.

Change of training location, research project, study program or supervisor

Awardees who wish to change their research project, supervisor, program or training institution must submit to the FRQS the Change of research project, supervisor or training location form (see Toolbox) and the required documents in a single PDF file.

Effective start date 

May 2019 (Summer term), September 2019 (Fall term) or January 2020 (Winter term), according to the start date of the study program.

If the study program is already in progress in May 2019, the award should begin in May 2019, with some exceptions.

Duration

4 years maximum (12 terms*) or until the completion of the awardee’s doctoral studies (final submission of the thesis), whichever the earliest, non-renewable.

*when applicable, the payments of the 11^th and 12^th terms are conditional upon the submission of the thesis by the end of the 12^th term (proof of submission to the University)

The period of validity during which doctoral awards may be issued is limited to the first 15 terms of enrollment in the doctoral program that is the subject of the award. The initial calculation of the duration of the scholarship is based on the number of terms of doctoral studies completed on April 30^th, 2019. In the event that the award does not start in May 2019 but the study program is already in progress, a new downward calculation will have to be made based on the number of terms completed at the actual inception of the award.

Refer to the table for the calculation of the potential duration of the award based on the number of terms of study completed on April 30^th, 2019 (Toolbox).

Parental leave

The awardee may benefit from an award payment deferral during parental leave (maternity, paternity or adoption) for a maximum period of 12 months as described in section 6.13 of the Common General Rules.

Awardees must fill out the “Award payment deferral” form, accompanied by the documents supporting the leave, to inform the FRQS of their intention to receive a supplement to their award for a parental leave.

The FRQS reserves the right to reject any request that is not properly justified.

Awardees may defer their award due to illness or other reasons provided by the Loi sur les normes du travail as described in section 6.14 of the Common General Rules. Aawardees must fill out the “Award payment deferral” form accompanied by the documents supporting the leave.

The FRQS reserves the right to reject any request that is not properly justified.

It is possible, for each full year of funding provided by the FRQS, to suspend and postpone award installments for one term (4 months) in order to acquire relevant experience (working with a research team, acquiring teaching experience in the awardee’s field of study or research, language development trip, etc.). These installments are then rescheduled at the end of the funding period.

Deferrals with the goal of acquiring relevant experience can be consecutive if they are approved by the research supervisor.

To benefit from this measure, the award holder must submit a request to the FRQS by filling out the  “Award payment deferral” form (Report de versement de bourse). Furthermore, the research supervisor should provide a letter confirming his or her agreement and the relevance of the paid activities that are involved.

The FRQS reserves the right to reject any request that is not properly justified or relevant.

Part-time studies are permitted exclusively for caregivers, parents and handicapped individuals. To benefit from this measure, the award holder must submit a request to the FRQS by filling out the “Part-time studies” form (Études à temps partiel) and provide the required documentation.

Caregiver or Parent

This measure applies only to the award holder who acts as the caregiver for a close family member or for a person that is the main care provider for a young child.

During the terms that will be part-time, the awardee will receive 50 % of the value of the regular award installments.

The awardee will need to fill out the “Part-time studies” form (Études à temps partiel) and provide the following documents:

• a proof of part-time studies from the University

• a letter of support from the research supervisor

• a copy of the medical certificate (for caregiver) or the birth certificate or certificate of adoption of a child (parent)

If applicable, this can be cumulated with the benefits paid by the Parental Insurance Plan.

Handicapped person

This measure applies only to a handicapped person in accordance with the Act ensuring handicapped persons their rights for academic, professional and social integration (L.R.C. chapter E-20-1)

During the terms that will be part-time, the awardee will receive the full value of the regular award installments as long as the University authorizes the part-time studies of the individual.

The awardee will need to fill out the “Part-time studies” form (Études à temps partiel) and provide the following documents:

• a proof of part-time studies from the University

• a letter of support from the research supervisor

• a medical certificate confirming the condition

Maximum between $25,024 and $39,323/year*, depending on the year the professional degree was earned according to the number of eligibles terms (refer to Duration)

* except in some cases (see section on Awards in partnerships)

The award will be paid to the awardee by installments. Three installments per year will be made at the end of May, end of September, and end of January.

The awardee is responsible for paying the income tax due on the amounts received from the FRQS. The FRQS does not make any deductions on the amounts disbursed during the taxation year.

The payment date determines the year in which the awardee must declare the amounts received as income for personal tax calculations.

Revenue Canada’s T4A form and Revenue Québec’s Relevé 1 will be sent to the awardee’s mailing address (the one specified in the Module My funding (Gérer mon financement) in the FRQS Electronic Portfolio) in February of the following year of taxation.

The details provided in this program rules are for information purposes only. The FRQS is not responsible for the validity of any income tax information.

This program does not benefit from the amount paid out by FRQS to cover indirect costs of research of the institutions.

Authorized paid work

Awardees may supplement their income through professional activities, provided that they devote at least 75% of their time to research or research training and that the source of the income is not a FRQS grant.

Additional funding

Awardees may accept additional funds from their institution or their research supervisor.

Concurrent funding

Holding several scholarships is not allowed. Awardees who obtained an award from another public agency or a foundation recognized by the FRQS must notify the FRQS and decline the FRQS funding as soon as the award is offered, except in the case of the supplement given by the Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST).

However, if the amount of the other award is lower than the one given by the FRQS, the awardee is eligible to receive the difference.

Research internship

Holding an FRQS training award concurrently with a research internship to be done in another organization and that is not part of the training program of the awardee, is allowed under certain conditions.

For internships of $ 5,000 or less, awardees must notify the FRQS by email before the beginning of the internship.

For internships of $ 5,000 and more, awardees must ask the FRQS for authorization by completing the Internship authorization form (see Toolbox) before the internship begins. If the internship is approved, it will be allowed to either 1) combine the training award and internships amounts or 2) defer the amount of the FRQS award for a period equal to the duration of the internship or a maximum of 6 months.

All applications are reviewed by committees of experts representing various disciplines and institutions.

Quality and scientific value of the research project
– Clarity and conciseness of the research topic
– Clarity and consistency between the hypotheses and objectives
– Relevance of the methods and analyses
– Feasibility
– Originality of the project and contribution to the advancement of knowledge

Skills and experience
– Publications
– Lectures and presentations
– Research projects and research training programs

By submitting an application, the applicant must:

• Comply with the obligations outlined in the Common General Rules of the three Fonds and in the Policy Regarding Open Access to Published Research Outputs as well as with the conditions and requirements outlined in the electronic form and program rules.

• Comply with the ethics and integrity standards outlined in the FRQS document Standards en éthique de la recherche et d’intégrité scientifique and in the Policy for the Responsible Conduct of Research of the Fonds de recherche du Québec.

• Authorize the FRQS to retain and use the personal and scientific information included in the application documents, in keeping with the terms outlined in the document Énoncé relatif à la protection des renseignements personnels et confidentiels des dossiers des candidats, candidates et titulaires d’un octroi and provided that the people who are granted access to the information respect its confidentiality.

The supervisor and co-supervisor must:

• Oversee the awardee’s work and provide the awardee with the material and financial means necessary to carry out the research project.

• Comply with the ethics and integrity standards outlined in the FRQS document Standards en éthique de la recherche et d’intégrité scientifique and in the Policy for the Responsible Conduct of Research of the Fonds de recherche du Québec.

• Ensure that the awardee also complies with them.

The FRQS offers a number of awards in collaboration with partners. The financial contribution of FRQS and the partner as well as other funding conditions (i.e. funding period and renewal option) may vary according to the agreements in effect.

Eligible applicants are selected through a three-step process:

• Applicants must select by priority order, one or more partners whose research areas are in line with the themes of their application in order of preference (see section Partenariats [partnerships] on the form).

• The FRQS sends the partners a list of applications for relevancy review based on their interests and research priorities.

• Applications are then reviewed by the regular FRQS committees of experts or peers. Applications with a scientific excellence score of at least 70% and also relevant to one or more partners may be considered for funding in partnership.

Like all other FRQS awards, the awards in partnership are granted based on merit following a scientific evaluation by a committee of experts or peers.

Child Health

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis

Early childhood diseases (diagnosis)

Foundation of Stars
Training awards in the Pediatric research field, primarily in the area of early childhood diseases diagnosis.

Hypertension

Société québécoise d’hypertension artérielle (SQHA) – Jacques de Champlain Award
The Jacques de Champlain Award in Cardiovascular Health and Hypertension fields includes a research support supplement (maximum of $10,000 per year).

Macular Degeneration

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada
Training Awards in the Multiple Sclerosis research field. Candidates must also submit an application to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada. Amount of the Ph.D. award: $20,000 to $22,000 per year.

Osteoporosis

Parkinson’s disease

Traumatology

• Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS)
• Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ)
• FRQS Provincial Rehabilitation Research Network (REPAR)
• Comité directeur pour la recherche en traumatologie (formerly AERDPQ – AQESSS)