Competition year : 
2024-2025

Deadline (application) : 
October 3rd, 2023 at 16:00 (EST)

Announcement of results : 
April 2024

Amount : 
$45,000

Duration : 
2 or 3 years

Program Rules

This program refers to the FRQ’s Common General Rules (CGR), which govern all of the FRQ’s programming. The information below provides guidelines specifically applicable to the Postdoctoral Training Scholarship Program, and these rules take precedence over the CGR.

A link to the FRQnet electronic Portfolio, as well as the forms associated with this competition, may be found by visiting the “Portal Access” section of FRQ’s website. More information is also available in the FRQnet electronic Portfolio under “Documents.” Please note that it is the applicant’s responsibility to use the correct application form. In the event that an error is made, the FRQ will not transfer the application from one program to another and the application will be deemed as not eligible.

The FRQ requires that the Canadian Common CV and a list of detailed contributions be included in the FRQnet electronic Portfolio. The applicant must ensure that the Fonds de recherche du Québec-Nature et technologies (FRQNT) version is used. The information in these documents must be updated as of June 2022 or later.

For complete instructions, please consult the documents Instructions for detailed contributions and the Canadian Common CV – FRQNT and the Presentation standards for attached files (PDF) to FRQnet forms which may be both found in the “Portal Access” section of the FRQ website as well as in the FRQnet electronic Portfolio under “Documents.”

APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED AFTER THE COMPETITION DEADLINE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED BY THE FRQNT.

IMPORTANT NOTE (Section 3.3 of the CGR): Applicants are advised to prepare documents required for their applications sufficiently in advance and obtain necessary approvals from the managing institutions in order to submit the form by the deadline. Applicants should also anticipate and take into account the high volume of applications of applications and requests received by the FRQNT at the end of the competition period.

1. Objectives

The objectives of the FRQNT’s Postdoctoral Training Scholarship Program are to:

  • Support the next generation of students working in a variety of research environments within the fields of natural sciences, mathematical sciences and engineering.
  • Generate the interest of new doctoral graduates to further their training and broaden their field of research.
  • Encourage the mobility of research trainees towards dynamic and stimulating scientific environments (universities, university-affiliated service institutions, businesses, government agencies, etc.).

2. Characteristics

The minimum duration of the research is six months and the maximum is two years.

The maximum annual value of the postdoctoral award is $45,000.

The maximum overall amount of the award totals $90,000 and will be paid over 6 installments (6 semesters).

The award may be renewable for one additional year upon the evaluation of a renewal application (see Section 11 for more information).

Supplement for research conducted outside Quebec

This supplement is intended to help applicants whose research is conducted outside of Quebec, i.e. in an institution outside of Quebec located at a road distance of more than 250 km from the borders of Quebec or in an institution outside of Canada.

This supplement is only available to applicants who have indicated a research location that is outside of Quebec at the time of application.

The maximum annual value of this supplement is $10,000.

3. Eligibility

Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements as per the program rules and CGR that are in effect at the time of the application submission.

3.1 Target applicants and eligibility period

This program is intended for applicants who:

  • Have graduated from the doctoral program within the last two years as of the competition deadline.

OR

  • Have not yet completed a doctoral degree, but plan to proceed with an initial submission of their thesis by March 1, 2025, the deadline for the commencement of the award period.

The date of degree completion is defined as the date when all degree requirements are met, including the successful defense of the thesis and the submission of the corrected version of the thesis.

In the event that the applicant holds more than one doctoral degree, the date of completion of the first degree will prevail.

3.2 Special cases and exemptions for eligibility period

The FRQ reserves the right to refuse any request for eligibility period exemptions that are not sufficiently justified.

Exemptions regarding the eligibility period of applicants may be granted in circumstances beyond the applicant’s control, particularly in the case of serious illness, major family obligations or a disability.

  • Major family obligations or serious illness: Applicants who have suspended or delayed their studies due to parental leave, serious health reasons or major family obligations may request to extend their eligibility period by a maximum of 12 months. The FRQNT will determine the length of the extension to be granted, based on the supporting documentation provided with the application.
  • Disability: As stipulated in the Act to ensure the exercise of the rights of handicapped persons with a view to achieving social, school and workplace integration (LRQ,  chapter E-20.1), individuals who meet the definition of “handicapped person” contained in this Act are exempt from the program rules relating to eligibility period. However, the maximum duration of the scholarship will remain as 6 semesters, and all necessary supporting documentation must be submitted with the application.

3.3 Citizenship and residency requirements

For more details, please refer to Section 2.1 of the CGR.

3.3.1     Basic conditions

To be eligible to apply for a postdoctoral training scholarship, applicants must:

  • Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident

AND

  • Have a health insurance card issued by the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) valid at the competition deadline, or proof that a health insurance card has been requested from the RAMQ and that the card will be valid at the competition deadline.

If either of the above conditions is not met, the applicant must submit the following document to be eligible:

o   An acceptance form from the research supervisor at a Québec university (“Supervisor’s form”).

3.3.2     Conditions for training outside Québec

An applicant may carry out training outside Québec on the condition they:

  • Are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident

AND

  • Have a valid health insurance card issued by the RAMQ or proof of RAMQ eligibility

If either of the above conditions is not met, the applicant must carry out their training in Québec. Continued physical presence in Québec is required throughout the entire term of the scholarship, excluding the break periods specified in the academic calendar, unless the institution approves* travel outside Québec deemed necessary for the proper implementation of activities related to the program of study.

Applicants who are not eligible for training outside of Québec at the time of application will not be eligible for training outside of Québec during the grant period, even if their citizenship and residency conditions change.

* To avail themselves of this option if the scholarship is awarded, applicants must provide a Declaration of travel outside Québec approved by the Québec university in the Manage my funding section of the FRQnet electronic Portfolio.

3.4 Restrictions

Eligible applicants may submit only one application per year to one postdoctoral research scholarship program of one of the three branches of the FRQ.

Only one application may be submitted to any given scholarship program in a single year.

Applicants who have received, or are currently receiving, a postdoctoral scholarship from a Quebec or federal granting agency are not eligible for this competition.

3.5 Choice of host environment(s)

Postdoctoral research must be carried out at an institution other than the one that awarded the doctoral degree. Internationally recognized host institutions outside of Quebec are preferred. Exceptionally, if the applicant demonstrates that their mobility is restricted due to a serious illness, a handicap or major family obligations, the research may be carried out in the same institution that awarded the doctoral degree. If an exception is requested, it is strongly recommended that the person in charge of the scholarship program be consulted before the request is sent to the FRQNT.

3.5.1 Supervisory environment

The persons responsible for the direction and co-direction of the applicant’s doctoral studies may not act as supervisors of the postdoctoral internship, even if they have changed institutions. Exceptionally, if the applicant demonstrates that their mobility is restricted due to a serious illness, a disability or major family obligations, the persons in charge of the doctoral studies may act as supervisor of the postdoctoral internship, on the condition that it is also demonstrated that it is impossible for the internship to be supervised by another person.

3.5.2 Co-supervision environment

The postdoctoral research can be co-supervised, provided that the applicant spends a minimum of 6 months in the co-supervisory environment.

3.6 Paid leave

An applicant who is on sabbatical or educational leave with a salary of more than 50% of their base salary is not eligible. However, an individual receiving a deferred salary is not subject to this restriction.

4. Application

The 2023-2024 electronic application form will be made available on the website of each of the FRQ’s three branches at least one month prior to the competition deadline. Applications must be submitted electronically by the competition deadline.

For information on the language of submitted forms and documents, please refer to Section 3.6 of the Common General Rules.

The internship supervisor must fill out a letter of acceptance from their user account on the FRQNT website. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that their internship supervisor sends the letter of acceptance by the competition deadline.

4.1 Selection of Evaluation Committee

Applicants are responsible for their choice of evaluation committee. No changes may be made after the competition deadline. This choice must be made according to the research subject, the field and the training program.

4.2 Documents required from the applicant

All required documents must be included in the application for it to be considered eligible. Documents that are illegible, of low resolution, or that do not allow eligibility verification to be carried out will be rejected.

Any official document submitted in a language other than English or French must be accompanied by a certified professional translation of the original. Any other document submitted in a language other than English or French must be accompanied by a simple translation.

Academic transcript

Missing, incomplete, unofficial, unmarked, or out-of-date academic transcripts will render the application ineligible.

Copies of all academic transcripts are required for all doctoral studies that the applicant had followed, whether completed or not. This includes transcripts from exchange programs or courses (equivalencies), if applicable.

For any ongoing programs of study, the academic transcript must include the last semester completed before the competition deadline, including the summer semester, if applicable.

The elements that make an academic transcript official may differ from one academic institution to another. Nevertheless, to be considered as official by the FRQNT, each academic transcript must:

  • Be issued by the relevant academic institution.

AND

  • Show evidence that it is an official transcript for that academic institution. This may include the presence of the academic institution’s seal AND/OR the signature of the registrar, AND/OR a notation of “Official Transcript”, etc.

VISIBLE WATERMARKS will not render an academic transcript unofficial as long as the requirements specified above are met.

If there is any doubt about the authenticity of an academic transcript, the FRQNT reserves the right to verify with the applicant and possibly with the institution involved.

Academic transcripts that are submitted in a sealed envelope from the Registrar’s Office may be opened and its contents scanned.

Other documents to be attached, if applicable, with the academic transcripts:

  • A document explaining the current academic grading system, in the case of transcripts obtained outside North America. The letter attached to the file must explain very clearly the grading system used so that the transcripts can be understood.
  • A letter of explanation from the institution (Registrar’s Office or equivalent administrative body) if no academic transcript is issued. The letter attached to the file must specify the reasons for the missing transcripts. The FRQNT reserves the right to verify and accept/reject the reasons provided.

If no transcripts are issued and the applicant is unable to obtain a letter from the university, a letter of explanation from the applicant justifying the absence of transcripts, and endorsed by the department chair of the host institution, must be provided.

RAMQ card (if applicable) 

Applicants who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents AND have  

  • a Régie d’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) card that is valid at the competition deadline; 

OR  

  • an official document from the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) that establishes their status as a resident of Québec within the meaning of the Health Insurance Act; 

OR  

  • proof that a card has been requested from the RAMQ and that the new card will be valid at the competition deadline must provide one of these documents.
  • Applicants who do not have any of the three documents listed above do not need to attach any other documents in this section of the form.  

Study Permit or Work Permit

  • Applicants who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada must provide a copy of their study permit or work permit issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Additional documents

Applicants who wish to apply for exemptions regarding the eligibility period must provide the following:

  • Official document attesting to the duration of the parental leave, sick leave, such as a medical certificate or a copy of the birth certificate.
  • For situations where there is a major family obligation or for individuals having a disability, please provide documents attesting to the situation.

Applicants whose research will take place outside of Quebec and who have confirmed that they will have a permanent position in a Quebec research centre or university upon their return:

  • A letter from the director of the research center or university department confirming that the applicant will have a permanent position upon return from the training period.

Applicants who choose “Multidisciplinary Committee #14” must:

  • Attach a one-page document in the “Other Documents” section of the application form to demonstrate how the program of study is multidisciplinary (Section 3).

4.3 Research supervisors

Supervisors, and co-supervisors where applicable, must complete the form provided for that purpose in their own FRQnet E-portfolio and attach the required file (letter of acceptance).  

A supervisor or co-supervisor who does not have an FRQnet account must first create a user account (Créer un nouveau compte).  

Supervisors and co-supervisors must complete and submit their letters and forms prior to the submission of the applicant’s application, no later than the competition deadline. If any of these letters are not received by the Fonds, the application will be deemed ineligible.  

Only letters completed using the supervisor acceptance form in the FRQnet E-portfolio will be accepted. It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide the persons concerned with instructions for creating an account and writing the letter, and to ensure that the letters and forms are submitted before the deadline. 

Notice

A message regarding the status of your application (i.e. if it was forwarded for evaluation or if was deemed ineligible) will be sent to you by email no later than December. Applicants who have not received a notification should contact the program officer before December 15.

5. Evaluation

For more information on the rules regarding the scholarship evaluation process, please see Section 4 of the CGR.

Applications will be evaluated according to the following evaluation criteria and weighting:

Postdoctoral training criteria

Academic file and career path 

  • Academic transcripts
  • Recognitions (awards, distinctions and scholarships obtained)
  • Achievements (scientific, professional, social, etc.) and relevant experience (related to the project or career path)
  • Capacity for engagement and leadership (inside and outside the academic community)
  • Ability to create a dialogue between science and society
Weighting

35 points

Postdoctoral training criteria

Research project

  • Originality of the project and its potential to contribute to the advancement of knowledge
  • Clarity and coherence of the research problem
  • Relevance of the methodology
  • Feasibility of the project and its schedule
Weighting

50 points

Postdoctoral training criteria

Host environment

  • Justification and relevance of the host environment chosen for the project
  • Added value for career development
Weighting

15 points

Postdoctoral training criteria

TOTAL

Weighting

100 points

6. Open Access Dissemination Policy

Peer-reviewed publications resulting from the research made possible by this award shall be published as immediate open access (without embargo), under an open license, in accordance with the FRQ Open access policy for the dissemination of research (revised in 2022).

7. Partnership

The FRQ may offer training scholarships in conjunction with a partner. As with all scholarships offered by the FRQ, this scholarship is based on a merit-based selection process, following scientific evaluation by a peer review committee.

The selection of eligible applicants for these scholarships involves three steps:

  • The applicant selects, in the Partnerships section of the application form, one or more partners whose research areas correspond to the applicant’s research theme.
  • The FRQ will send the identified partners a list of applicants who have expressed interest. The partners will also receive information to help them evaluate the applications in relation to their own strategic and research priorities.
  • After evaluating the applications by following the evaluation guidelines outlined in section 5 of these rules, applications that have obtained a rating of scientific excellence and that are deemed relevant by the identified partners may receive an offer of partnership funding.

By choosing to be considered for a scholarship with a partner and by obtaining this type of grant, applicants agree that the partner may contact them for activities related to their research project.

PARTNER:

Patient-Oriented Research

Recherche axée sur le patient

PARTNER

SSA Québec Support Unit

SPOR National Training Entity

Research with and for patients in a learning health system approach

The SSA Québec Support Unit is a provincial unit of the national SPOR network of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). The Unit’s vision is to continuously improve the Québec health system and make it a learning system. It mobilizes and empowers the network to do things differently and achieve the quintuple aim by making partnership a driving force, integrating science and innovation, and facilitating change. The unit’s teams work across Quebec and deploy their expertise by offering training, consultation services, tools, facilitation and networking opportunities:

  • It builds scientific and experiential knowledge
  • It offers support to project leaders in the network
  • It oversees the continuous improvement of quality

The SPOR National Training Entity (NTE), an integral part of the CIHR SPOR network, is a pan-Canadian organization that aims to increase, support and maintain the capacity of a collaborative, interdisciplinary research community focused on partnerships with and for patients. The NTE provides answers to changing healthcare questions, helping to improve the patient experience.

The scholarships offered by the FRQ in partnership with the Unit and the SPOR National Training Entity allow scholarship holders to hone their skills and gain experience in research with and for patients, to network, and to work across disciplines with different healthcare professionals and organizations in a learning health system approach.

8. Terms of the Scholarship

To maintain a scholarship or scholarship supplement, the following basic conditions must be maintained by the scholarship holder throughout the duration of the funding:

  • Meet citizenship and residency requirements
  • Have made an initial thesis submission before starting the scholarship and meet all requirements for the doctoral degree by the time of the second installment
  • Be present in the host environment on a full-time basis to carry out the postdoctoral research
  • Respect the rules relating to concurrent funding
  • Respect the rules relating to employment and internships

In addition, all other conditions specified in the applicable program rules and CGR must be maintained.

Award holders have the obligation to notify the FRQNT as soon as any one of these conditions are no longer met and upon any change in their situation that could have an impact on compliance with the award conditions. Failure to do so (or failure to inform us of such a change) may result in cancellation of the scholarship and/or a request for a full refund of the amounts received.

8.1. Commencement of the scholarship

Payments may begin during any of the three semesters following the recipient’s acceptance of the award.

The start date of the scholarship refers to the semester in which the first payment can be claimed (see Section 8.11.2 for more information).

  • For individuals whose training program has not started at the time of the award letter, the first installment can be claimed as of:

May 30 following the award (summer semester)

September 30 following the award (fall semester)

January 30 following the award (winter semester)

  • For those whose training program is in progress at the time that the award letter is issued, the first payment will be made as of:

May 30 following the award (summer semester)

8.2 Payments and Management

Payments are conditional upon compliance with the scholarship’s basic conditions and receipt of all required documents in the FRQnet electronic Portfolio.

8.2.1 Cancellation of a payment or scholarship

Payments cover a period of 4 months and are conditional upon compliance with the scholarship’s basic conditions as well as upon receipt of all required documentation in the FRQnet electronic Portfolio.

The FRQNT will cancel a payment, upon notice, if it is not claimed or deferred, or if the required documents are not received within two months of the beginning of the period.

The FRQNT will terminate the scholarship, upon notice, if the scholarship holder does not make the necessary actions in their FRQnet electronic Portfolio for two consecutive periods.

The FRQNT will also terminate the scholarship, upon notice, if two consecutive payments have to be cancelled due to non-compliance with the scholarship’s basic conditions or if required documents are missing at the end of the two-month period following the beginning of the periods in question.

In addition, the FRQ reserves the right to cancel any payment(s) or the scholarship in accordance with the Policy on Responsible Conduct in Research.

An offer of award declined by the applicant cannot be reactivated.

8.2.2 Reporting

A final report, in the format established by the FRQ, is required after the end of the semester corresponding to the last payment.

8.3 Exceptions for part-time postdoctoral research

In all of the following cases, the FRQNT reserves the right to reject an application that is insufficiently justified.

Part-time postdoctoral research is permitted only in the cases listed below:

8.3.1 Caregivers, parenting or medical conditions

This measure is intended only for scholarship holders who are caregivers for close family members, who are the primary caregivers for young children (5 years and under), or who have a medical condition that prevents them from devoting themselves full-time to their research (in the case of a disability, see section 8.3.2). During part-time periods, the scholarship holder may receive 50% of the value of the award installments.

The scholarship holder wishing to take advantage of this measure will need to provide the necessary information in the FRQnet electronic Portfolio and attach the following documents:

  • Letter from the supervising individual confirming agreement with the part-time period.
  • Copy of a medical certificate (caregiver, medical condition) or birth or adoption certificate of a child (parent)

Concurrent funding with parental insurance benefits is possible, if applicable.

8.3.2 Disability

An individual with a disability who is unable to pursue their postdoctoral research on a full-time basis is permitted to carry out their research part-time and benefit from the full amount of the scholarship, as long as the individual’s supervisor authorizes this part-time work and that a medical certificate or any other official document justifying the situation is presented. This exceptional measure is in accordance with the Act to ensure the exercise of the rights of handicapped persons with a view to achieving social, school and workplace integration (R.S.Q., c. E-20.1) and is reserved for persons who meet the definition of “handicapped person” contained in this Act.

The scholarship holder will have to provide the necessary information in the FRQnet electronic Portfolio and attach the following documents:

  • Letter from the person providing supervision confirming agreement with the part-time period
  • Medical certificate attesting to the condition

8.4   Convertibility of the scholarship

A scholarship holder who obtains a regular faculty position at a university located in Quebec may, after having completed one full year of postdoctoral research since the start of the scholarship, request to use a portion of the scholarship as a start-up grant. A maximum of $15,000 may be converted to a start-up grant in the new position, for which the applicable eligible expenses are presented in Section 8 of the CGR.

The effective date of the start-up grant will be the date of employment. A copy of the letter of employment indicating the date of the start-up position must be submitted to the FRQNT. Information about salaries does not need to be submitted.

8.5   Reimbursement of travel expenses

Travel expenses outside Quebec for the scholarship holder, their spouse and their children to the main location of the postdoctoral research at the beginning of the research and for the return to Quebec at the end will be reimbursed by the FRQNT, provided that they are not already reimbursed by other organizations. For scholarship holders whose thesis defense will take place during the postdoctoral fellowship, additional travel expenses will be reimbursed for the scholarship holder only.

8.5.1 Eligible expenses

  • Transportation (air, sea, rail, bus) purchased prior to the award of the scholarship:

The FRQNT reimburses transportation tickets upon presentation of supporting documentation (travel agency receipts and photocopies of tickets). The maximum amount for air travel allowance will be equivalent to the cost of a round-trip economy ticket.

  • Purchase of travel tickets (air, sea, rail, bus) by the FRQNT :

If you have not purchased transportation prior to the scholarship, the FRQNT will be responsible for purchasing all your transportation. To do so, you must send an email message to the scholarship program officer indicating the date of departure, the city of departure, the city of arrival and, if applicable, the names of your spouse and children for whom transportation tickets must be purchased. You must also indicate the date of birth for each person. A ticket purchased directly by the scholarship holder after the scholarship is awarded will not be reimbursed by the FRQNT.

  • Automobile Transportation:

The allowance is $0.545 per km, up to the cost of a one-way economy airfare. You will be reimbursed for these expenses upon presentation of two gas station receipts, one at your departure city and one at your destination city. All automobile transportation claims must be submitted to the FRQNT no later than two months after the trip.

8.5.2 Ineligible Expenses

  • Transportation purchased directly by the scholar after the scholarship is awarded
  • Moving your personal effects
  • Transportation of your research materials
  • Any additional baggage fees imposed by airlines
  • Vehicle rental
  • Parking fees
  • Urban public transportation/commuter train fees
  • Taxi fare

8.6 Concurrent scholarships

The following table shows permitted, partial and prohibited combinations of funding from concurrent scholarships.

RULES FOR CONCURRENT SCHOLARSHIPS

Type of scholarship / Scholarship program

Training scholarships (master’s, doctoral and postdoctoral) from federal granting agencies such as Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) and Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

RULES

Partial concurrent funding* allowed

Type of scholarship / Scholarship program

Training scholarships (master’s, doctorate, postdoctorate, in partnership) from Quebec government funding agencies such as the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQS), the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture (FRQSC)

RULES

Concurrent funding prohibited

Type of scholarship / Scholarship program

Scholarships from Canadian and Quebec government departments and agencies, other than those mentioned above

RULES

Concurrent funding allowed

Type of scholarship / Scholarship program

Scholarships supporting international mobility for co-tutoring or for internships in or outside Québec

RULES

Concurrent funding allowed

Type of scholarship / Scholarship program

Scholarships from the Canada Council for the Arts (CCA) or the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ)

RULES

Concurrent funding is not permitted if the funding is for the same project

Type of scholarship / Scholarship program

Scholarships from the private sector, internal scholarships from universities and affiliated centers, and supplements to scholarships from the person directing the research

RULES

Concurrent funding allowed

* Partial concurrent funding with scholarships from a federal agency

Partial concurrent funding with a merit-based scholarship from a federal agency is possible when the FRQNT offers a scholarship of a higher value or longer duration than the scholarship for which concurrent funding is prohibited. When there is a situation of a double award, the scholar must accept the federal offer. However, the recipient may also accept the FRQNT’s offer in order to receive certain additional benefits not covered by the federal scholarship, if applicable:

  • When the FRQNT’s scholarship is of a higher value than the other scholarship, the FRQNT scholarship amount will be adjusted to make up the shortfall.
  • When the FRQNT’s scholarship is of a longer duration than that of the other scholarship, the FRQNT will provide funding to make up the shortfall once the other scholarship has expired, unless the total value of the other organization’s scholarship is higher than or equal to the total value of that offered by the FRQNT.
    Any financial privileges associated with the FRQNT’s scholarship will also be maintained.

It is not permitted to defer a payment or delay the scholarship commencement date in order to receive concurrent scholarship that that is not permitted.

A refund will be required for any installments received during a prohibited concurrent funding situation.

8.7 Parental Leave Scholarship Supplement

During the authorized suspension of the study project due to the birth or adoption of a child, a scholarship holder may request a scholarship supplement for parental leave for a continuous period of eight months. Individuals who have already received their first installment as a scholarship holder are eligible to apply for this supplement.

To be eligible for this scholarship supplement, the scholarship holder must not be enrolled in a training program or be gainfully employed for the duration of supplement period. If there is concurrent funding in place, the scholarship supplement cannot be awarded when a parental leave allowance is received from a federal agency. In this case, the scholarship holder must take the paid leave offered by the federal agency. If your university permits, parental leave may be extended for an additional four months without pay.

8.8 Employment and internships

Within the limits outlined below, it is possible to accept a course load, complete an internship (mandatory or not) or hold a paid job.

8.8.1 Paid work

Paid employment to supplement training is permitted without a time limit. Such employment must be approved by the person supervising the research and must not interfere with research activities.

In addition to the paid work allowed per semester, it is permissible to accept a salary for working solely on a research project funded by the FRQNT. As per the rules regarding concurrent funding (Section 8.6), this salary will then be considered as a scholarship and concurrent funding will be permitted when confirmed by the person supervising the research.

8.8.2 Internship

You may receive a scholarship payment during an internship, paid or unpaid, as long as the person directing your research does not object. You must indicate this in the “Manage My Funding” section of the “Declarations – Income and Study Status” section of your request for payment.

8.9 Deferral

Deferral of payment is permitted for sick leave (see section 6.14 of the CGR), parental leave (see section 6.13 of the CGR), leave for family-related responsibilities and for the acquisition of relevant experience.

8.9.1 Acquisition of relevant experience

For each full year of funding granted, the FRQNT may authorize the suspension of one scholarship payment (4 months) in order to acquire relevant experience (i.e. experience within a research team, teaching experience related to the field of training, language training, etc.). This payment may then be deferred until the end of the funding period. This provision cannot be used for your first payment. In addition, this provision cannot be used to accept another scholarship that is prohibited as per the concurrent funding rules or to return to work while on study leave.

Deferrals for the purpose of gaining relevant experience may be consecutive if approved by the person supervising the research.

To take advantage of this measure, the scholarship holder must first apply to the appropriate branch of the FRQ. In addition, the person supervising the research must provide a letter confirming their agreement and the relevance of the activities undertaken. The FRQNT reserves the right to reject any request that is insufficiently justified or irrelevant.

8.9.2 Leave of absence for major family obligations and parenthood

The FRQNT authorizes the deferral of one or more payments during a break in training to meet major family obligations or parenthood for as long as the scholarship holder’s university permits.

8.10 Withdrawal from or part-time pursuit of postdoctoral research

A scholarship holder who abandons their research during the course of funding or decides to pursue it on a part-time basis, except in the cases described in section 8.3, will be no longer eligible for the scholarship and must notify the FRQNT in order to terminate it. Depending on the case, a refund of any ongoing payments may be required.

8.11 Requesting Changes

Any change in the situation of a scholarship holder must be reported via their FRQnet electronic Portfolio. In the interest of fairness, the FRQNT will ensure that any requested changes do not affect the outcome of the initial assessment of the file and that the changes respect eligibility requirements and the program rules. The request for modification is analyzed by the FRQNT for approval. The FRQNT may decide to continue, reduce, suspend or terminate payments. The FRQNT may also require the reimbursement of the amounts paid.

In all of the following cases, the FRQNT reserves the right to reject a request that is insufficiently justified or that calls into question the elements set out in the preceding paragraph.

8.11.1 Change in citizenship status

The conditions and privileges attached to the scholarship in relation to citizenship status at the time of application shall continue throughout the duration of funding, even if citizenship status changes during the award period.

8.11.2 Change in the duration or commencement of the scholarship

This type of change must be made prior to the first payment. It is strongly suggested that the request for a change be made at the same time as the acceptance of the scholarship offer. No changes to the duration of funding or the start date of the scholarship are permitted after the first installment.

8.11.3 Change of research environment

A change of research environment is permitted as long as it is consistent with section 2.1 “Citizenship and Domicile” of the CGR.

8.11.4 Change in research supervisor

You must demonstrate that the quality of your new host environment is equivalent to that of the original proposed environment and include a letter of acceptance from your new supervisor with your application. In addition, the new host environment must comply with the program’s rules regarding the location of the research.

8.11.5 Change in research project

The scholarship holder must justify, describe and demonstrate that the scientific quality is equivalent to the initial project as evaluated by the committee. Before making a decision, the FRQNT will ensure that this change will not alter the parameters of the original evaluation. It is also important to specify whether you will remain in the same field, in the same department, with the same person who is directing your research, and in the same university or research environment.

9. Effective date

These rules are in effect for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.

10. Contact person

Michel Garceau
Program manager
Scholarship programs
FRQNT Training Scholarships
Phone: 1 418 643-8560, ext. 3459
Email: bourses.nt@frq.gouv.qc.ca

Scholarship renewals

It is possible to request that the scholarship be renewed for an additional year (3rd year). A renewal request form will be deposited in your FRQnet electronic Portfolio once the FRQNT has received the completed form Demande d’accès au formulaire de renouvellement de la bourse B3X, which may be found in the program Toolbox.

No change of research setting is permitted between the submission of the renewal application and the end of the third year of funding.

To be eligible for renewal, the renewal application must be submitted within the last seven (7) months of the FRQNT funding. The form is available on the FRQnet electronic Portfolio. It must be completed and submitted electronically by one of the deadlines listed below.

There will be three assessments per year and three deadlines for filing renewal applications. These dates are:

  • February 1
  • June 1
  • October 1

A renewal application submitted after the end of the FRQNT funding will not be eligible.

The internship supervisor must complete a letter of support to be attached to the “Other Documents” section of the application form. The letter must state the reasons why the third year is necessary.

The criteria for evaluating the renewal application are:

  • The state of progress of the project considering the methodology and discipline (30%)
  • The relevance and added value of a third year (30%)
  • The potential for success (30%)
  • Publications, conferences and other presentations since the start of FRQNT funding of the postdoctoral research (10%)

The results of renewal applications will be announced approximately six (6) weeks after each application deadline.

To use a scholarship to study outside Quebec, you must be a Canadian citizen and have a valid RAMQ card or proof of RAMQ eligibility at the time of application as specified in Section 3 of these rules.