FRQNT master’s training scholarships

1. Objectives

The scholarships granted by the Fonds de recherche du Québec aim to:

• help support new generations of students in a range of research sectors:
  • natural sciences, mathematics sciences and engineering (FRQNT)
  • human health (FRQS)
  • humanities, social sciences, art and literature (FRQSC)
• spark the interest of new generations of students in research; and
• support research excellence by providing financial assistance to the best students as they undertake or pursue a master’s research program.

2. Main features

The master’s scholarship is valued at $17,500/year.

The maximum amount is six (6) payments totalling $35,000.

Supplement for students who pursue their training outside Québec

The supplement available to students who pursue their training outside Québec is meant to help awardees undertake or pursue a graduate program outside the province.

The supplement is only available to awardees who specify a training location outside Québec in their application. Each Fonds may attribute the supplement to the ten applications that ranked first among all the applications evaluated by the review committees. All applications that specify a training location outside Québec will be automatically considered. Co-supervised programs are not eligible.

The maximum value of the supplement is $1,500/year.

3. Eligibility

Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements in effect during the competition period, as stipulated in the program rules and the CGR.

3.1 Applications and eligibility period

Master’s training scholarship

The master’s training scholarship program is open to applicants who want to undertake or pursue a master’s research program in one of the areas covered by the Fonds.

As part of the master’s research program, the awardee must be required to write a research thesis (essays, research reports, dissertations and articles not eligible). Professional master’s programs are not eligible.

Scholarship for re-entering the research community at the master’s level

The scholarship program to re-enter the research community at the master’s level is open to applicants who want to re-enter the research community by pursuing their studies or the equivalent in one of the areas covered by the Fonds.

The program is aimed at applicants who:

• have not been registered in a graduate program for at least five (5) years (applicants may be registered for their first semester at the time of filing);
• have not earned university credits for at least five (5) years at the competition deadline; and
• have held an undergraduate degree for at least five (5) years at the competition deadline.

3.1.1 Eligibility period

Applicants must have been enrolled in a master’s program for up to three (3) full-time semesters (1 year) or less before May 1, 2023. Semesters completed in a professional master’s degree program and those completed in a master’s research program in another area leading to graduation are excluded from the calculation.

Applicants who obtained a first master’s degree in research and who seek to undertake a second in another area may apply to the Fonds if their initial master’s degree was not funded by a Fonds de recherche du Québec scholarship program. The Fonds reserve the right to deny an application when they deem there are too many similarities between the two master’s programs.

Applicants who are not enrolled in a master’s program and considering graduate studies are eligible for the program on the condition they start their program between May 1, 2023, and January 15, 2024.

Applicants applying to FRQNT are eligible for a master’s research scholarship for their first six (6) semesters at the master’s level (or equivalent). Any semesters already completed in a master’s program (or equivalent) at the time the scholarship comes into effect will be subtracted from the funding period.

Applicants who apply to the FRQS or FRQSC are eligible to receive scholarship payments for a period of six (6) semesters or until the end of the program for which the scholarship is sought, whichever comes first.

To be eligible for a training scholarship, students admitted to a doctoral program directly from a bachelor’s program and students who are fast-tracked to a doctoral program without submitting a dissertation must apply to a master’s training scholarship competition, if eligible.

The Fonds will consider unregistered semesters and those completed on a part-time basis when calculating the eligibility period. Applicants can verify their eligibility by consulting the Equivalent table for part-time terms.

The Fonds will also consider the number of semesters during which applicants received financial support from a recognized funding agency of the Canadian or Québec government (e.g., NSERC, CIHR, SSHRC, Fonds de recherche du Québec) to ensure the total funding granted does not exceed six (6) semesters.

Applicants may not submit concurrent applications to the Scholarship program for re-entering the research community at the master’s level and a master’s or PhD training scholarship program.

Applicants who apply for a scholarship for their preparatory studies are not eligible.

Applicants may submit concurrent applications to a master’s and a doctoral scholarship program if, during the scholarship deferral period (Section 8), the eligibility period for the master’s scholarship ends as the eligibility period for the doctoral scholarship begins.

3.1.2 Exceptions

The Fonds reserve the right to refuse any exception request that is not adequately justified.

The rules pertaining to the eligibility period for training scholarships allow for exceptions in circumstances that are beyond an applicant’s control, such as serious illness, major family obligations or disability.

• Major family obligation or serious illness: an applicant who has suspended or delayed their studies owing to a parental leave, serious illness or a major family obligation may seek to extend the eligibility period for up to twelve (12) months. The Fonds will determine the duration of the extension based on the supporting documents provided by the applicant.
• Disability: as defined in the Act to secure handicapped persons in the exercise of their rights with a view to achieving social, school and workplace integration (E-20.1) and reserved for persons who meet the definition of ” handicapped person ” in the Act, the rules pertaining to the eligibility period do not apply. The maximum duration of the funding is six (6) semesters at the master’s level. Supporting documents must be submitted with the application.

3.2 Citizenship and domicile

Applicants should refer to Section 2.1 of the CGR for further details.

To be eligible for a master’s scholarship, the applicant must:

• have a health insurance card issued by the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) that is valid at the competition deadline or provide proof of application for a RAMQ card whose validity covers the competition deadline. The RAMQ card is issued by the government of Québec so citizens can benefit from the services covered by the province’s health insurance program;

OR

• be enrolled in a Québec university for at least two (2) full-time semesters (or the equivalent) in the three (3) semesters prior to the competition deadline. The fall semester of the competition cannot be used to calculate the number of semesters.

Applicant may carry out training outside Québec on the condition they:

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

AND

• is a Canadian citizen.

Applicants who do not meet these requirements must carry out their training in Québec and submit a project that does not involve any field work outside the province. Continued physical presence in Québec is required throughout the entire term of the scholarship, excluding the break periods specified in the academic calendar. The rule also applies to applicants who are pursuing a co-supervised program. In their case, studying abroad in the country of a co-supervisor is prohibited.

Applicants who are not eligible to follow training outside Québec at the time of filing their application to the competition will not be eligible to study abroad during the scholarship period, even if their citizenship and domicile conditions change.

3.3 Minimum overall average

Students applying for a master’s scholarship must have:

• an overall average (not rounded up) in their undergraduate university program equal to or greater than 3.55;

OR

• the equivalent for their undergraduate study program.

Students with a lower overall average are not eligible. For more information on equivalencies see the Equivalency table – minimum average – FRQSC.

In the case of a career change, grades from unrelated degrees shall not be considered. However, the degrees used as a basis for admission are considered relevant when calculating of the overall average and must be included in the application.

4. Application

The 2023–2024 application e-form will be available on the respective websites of the Fonds at least one month prior to the competition deadline. The form must be submitted electronically by the competition deadline, as determined by the Fonds.

Applications should be written in French, but may also be in English. However, the title and summary of the project (when required) must be in French.

Refer to the Presentation standards for attachments in the FRQnet ePortfolio for further details.

4.1 Selection of the review committee

Applicants are responsible for selecting their review committee. No changes may be made after the competition deadline. The choice must be made on the basis of the research topic, field and training program.

4.2 Required documents

All required documents must be included with the application for it to be considered eligible. Documents that are illegible or low-resolution and those that do not make it possible to determine eligibility will not be accepted.

Official documents submitted in a language other than English or French must include a certified professional translation. Any other documents submitted in a language other than English or French must include a simple translation.

Transcripts

Transcripts that are missing, incomplete, unofficial, uncertified or not up-to-date shall render the application ineligible.

Copies of all transcripts are required for all the applicant’s academic studies, whether completed or not, including transcripts from exchange programs and courses (equivalencies), if applicable.

The transcript for an applicant’s current program of study must include the last semester completed prior to the competition deadline, including the summer semester, if applicable.

The elements that make a transcript official may differ from one academic institution to the next. Nevertheless, in order to be considered official by the Fonds, each transcript must:

• be issued by the relevant academic institution;

AND

• include the elements that prove it is an official transcript from the academic institution, including the university seal and/or signature of the registrar and/or wording such as official transcript, etc.

A WATERMARK does not render a transcript unofficial as long as the requirements specified above are met.

If there is any doubt as to the authenticity of a transcript, the Fonds reserve the right to confirm the information with the applicant and with the academic institution.

A transcript submitted in a sealed envelope from a registrar’s office may be opened and scanned.

Other documents to be attached with the transcripts (if applicable)

• For transcripts obtained outside North America, a document explaining the current grading system. The attachment must clearly explain the grading system so that the transcripts may be easily understood;
• Explanatory letter* from the institution (registrar’s office or equivalent administrative body) when no transcript is issued. The attachment must detail the reason(s) for the missing transcripts. The Fonds reserve the right to verify the admissibility of the reasons given;
• Explanatory letter from the applicant and signed by the department chair of the host institution when no transcript is issued and the applicant is unable to obtain a letter from the university.

* The Fund reserves the right to verify the admissibility of the reasons given.

RAMQ health insurance card (as applicable)

Case 1: Applicants who have not been registered for at least two (2) full-time semesters in a Québec university in the three (3) semesters preceding the competition deadline

Case 2: Applicants who are Canadian citizens and wish to use or eventually use a training scholarship to study outside Québec

Applicants in cases 1 and 2 must provide:

• a photocopy of their RAMQ health insurance card valid at the competition deadline;

OR

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

OR

• if an official document is not available, proof that a health insurance card has been requested from the RAMQ and that the card will be valid at the competition deadline.

Case 3: Applicants who do not have a RAMQ health insurance AND who were registered for at least two (2) full-time semesters in a Québec university in the three (3) semesters preceding the competition deadline must provide:

• an attestation from the registrar’s office indicating the full-time semesters completed (if they do not appear on the transcript).

Acknowledgement of receipt from publishers

• Acknowledgements for all papers submitted to publishers and publisher notifications for papers accepted for publication (acknowledgements for previously published papers are not shared with the committee).

Additional documents

Applicants who completed one or more part-time semesters since the date at which they first registered for a graduate program and applicants whose transcripts do not include all registered semesters:

• Attestation from the registrar’s office indicating all semesters.

Applicants seeking to avail themselves of an exception:

• Official document attesting to the duration of the parental leave or sick leave, such as a medical certificate or a copy of the child’s birth certificate.
• In the case of a major family obligation or a person with a disability, documents attesting to the situation.

Applicants who select the multidisciplinary committee (14):

• One-page document in the form under Other Documents to demonstrate the program’s multidisciplinary aspects (Section 3).

No appendices or documents other than those required will be shared with the review committee. Applications cannot be updated after the competition deadline.

Notice

Applicants will receive an email notification to inform them that their application was either sent to the review committee or deemed ineligible by December at the latest. Applicants who have not received an email notification must contact the program manager before the end of December.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Any anticipated changes to the training location, research supervisor, project, training program, etc. between the time the application is submitted and the scholarship announcement, if applicable, must be communicated to the Fonds. After analysis, the Fonds may deem an application ineligible. No document may be added to an application in connection with a change.

5. Evaluation

For more information on the rules regarding the evaluation process, refer to Section 4 of the CGR.

Applications are reviewed according to the following evaluation criteria and weighting.

6. Open access policy

Peer-reviewed publications stemming from the research funded by the scholarship must be made immediately available on an open access (non-embargoed) basis under an open license in accordance with the FRQ’s Open access policy for the dissemination of research (revised 2022).

Master’s thesis stemming from the research funded by the scholarship must be made available on an open access (non-embargoed) basis in an institutional or disciplinary repository, in accordance with the FRQ’s open access policy for the dissemination of research (revised 2022).

7. Partenariat

The Fonds may grant training scholarships with partners. As with all scholarships granted by the Fonds, scholarship offers are given out according to merit following a scientific evaluation by a peer review committee.

There are three steps in the process to select eligible applicants for the scholarships:

• Applicants select one or more partners whose research areas are in line with their research theme (in the Partnerships section of the application form);
• The Fonds send the partners the list of applicants who have expressed interest and the information required to determine the relevance of the applications to their strategic and research priorities;
• When the evaluation process is complete (see Section 5 of this document), applicants who obtained a scientific excellence rating that entitles them to receive funding from the Fonds and whose proposed projects are deemed relevant by the partners may receive an offer for a partnership scholarship.

By choosing to be considered for a partnership scholarship and being granted a scholarship, applicants agree that the partner may contact them regarding activities related to the research project.

Partner

8. Using a scholarship from the Fonds

To maintain a scholarship or supplement, the awardee must meet these basic requirements throughout the funding period:

• Meet citizenship and residency requirements;
• Be enrolled in the training program for which the scholarship was granted on a full-time basis (subject to the exceptions specified in this section);
• Comply with the rules pertaining to concurrent scholarships;
• Comply with the rules pertaining to employment and internships.

Awardees must also comply with all the requirements specified in the program rules and CGR.

Awardees who are registered in a program outside Québec (when permitted under the terms of the scholarship) must request official proof of registration from their university at the start of every semester and send it to the Fonds. For awardees registered in a Québec university, proof of registration is sent directly to the Fonds by the institution.

Awardees must notify the Fonds as soon as possible when a requirement is no longer met and whenever there is a change in their situation that could affect compliance with the terms of the scholarship. Failure to do so may result in the cancellation of the scholarship and/or the obligation to reimburse the amounts received.

8.1 Coming into effect of the scholarship

The payments may start in any of the three (3) semesters following the awardee’s acceptance.

The start date of the scholarship refers to the semester in which the first payment may be claimed (see Section 8.10.2 for further details).

• For awardees whose training program has not started when the scholarship letter is issued, the first payment may be made as of:

May 30 after the scholarship is granted (summer semester)

September 30 after the scholarship is granted (fall semester)

January 30 after the scholarship is granted (winter semester)

• For awardees whose training program is in progress when the letter of scholarship is issued, the first payment will be made as of:

May 30 following the scholarship (summer semester)

8.2 Payments and management

Payments are conditional on compliance with the basic requirements and submission of all requirements documents in the FRQnet electronic portfolio (ePortfolio).

8.2.1 Cancellation of a payment or a scholarship

The Fonds will cancel a scholarship upon notice if it is not claimed or deferred or if required documents are not received in the two months following the start of the semester.

The Fonds will cancel a scholarship upon notice if the awardee has not taken any action in their FRQnet ePortfolio for two consecutive semesters.

The Fonds will cancel a scholarship upon notice if two consecutive payments must be cancelled due to non-compliance with the basic requirements or if required documents have not been submitted in the two months following the start of the semester.

In addition, the FRQ reserves the right to cancel any payment or scholarship in accordance with the Policy for the responsible conduct of research.

A scholarship offer that is declined by the applicant cannot be reactivated.

8.2.2 Report

A final report in the format required by the FRQ must be submitted at the end of the semester in which the last scholarship payment is made.

8.3 Exceptions for awardees registered as part-time students

In all the following cases, the Fonds reserve the right to deny an insufficiently justified request.

Part-time studies are permitted only in these cases:

8.3.1 Family caregiver, parenthood or medical condition

This exception is only available to an awardee who is the caregiver for a close family member, who is the primary caregiver for a young child (5 years and under) or who has a medical condition that prevents them from following a full-time program (in the case of a disability, see Section 8.3.2). During part-time semesters, the awardee may receive 50% of the value of the scholarship payments.

Awardees who want to avail themselves of this exception must complete their FRQnet ePortfolio and attach the following documents:

• Proof of part-time studies from the university
• Copy of the medical certificate (caregiver, medical condition) or the birth or adoption certificate of a child (parent)

It is possible to receive concurrent parental insurance plan benefits, as applicable.

8.3.2 Disability

A person with a disability who is unable to pursue their training program on a full-time basis may choose to enrol on a part-time basis and benefit from full scholarship payments when the university allows for part-time status and upon presentation of a medical certificate or an official document attesting to the situation. This exception is in accordance with the Act to secure handicapped persons in the exercise of their rights with a view to achieving social, school and workplace integration (E-20.1) and reserved for persons who meet the definition of “handicapped person” in the Act.

Awardees must complete their FRQnet ePortfolio and attach these documents:

• Proof of part-time study from the university
• Medical certificate attesting to the condition

8.4 Concurrent scholarships

The following table details the rules for concurrent funding.

9. Effective date

These rules apply to fiscal year 2023–2024.

10. Contact person

Michel Garceau
Program manager
Bourses de formation FRQNT
Téléphone : 418 643-8560 poste 3459
Courriel : bourses.nt@frq.gouv.qc.ca