FRQSC – Undergraduate Initiation to Research Scholarship, 2022-2023 competition

1. OBJECTIVES

The mission of the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture includes promoting and providing financial support for the training of a new generation of researchers, by awarding:

·     Training awards for master’s and doctoral students and people wishing to do postdoctoral research;

·     Scholarships for internships in practice settings;

·     Knowledge mobilization grants for students already funded under its postdoctoral program;

·     Research initiation internship scholarships for college students.

A Chief Scientist’s award, the Relève Étoile Paul-Gérin-Lajoie Award, also recognize the achievements of Québec student researchers

Complementary to these initiatives, with its Undergraduate Initiation to Research Scholarship program, the FRQSC wishes to promote access to graduate studies by providing research experience in a university setting and by encouraging undergraduate students to pursue research careers in areas covered by the FRQSC.

The FRQSC awards three scholarships of $5,000 each to each eligible university, which must put in place a procedure for evaluating and selecting candidates. The list of eligible institutions can be found in the program Toolbox.

2. TARGET GROUP

This initiation to research scholarship is intended for individuals pursuing a full-time undergraduate program at eligible universities (see the list of eligible institutions in the program Toolbox) and whose research Initiation activities are supervised by a university researcher with Status 1 of the CGR (Definitions – Status and roles) working in an area covered by the FRQSC.

3. ELIGIBILITY

In addition to the conditions indicated in the CGR, applicants must meet the eligibility requirements specific to this program at the time of application and throughout the duration of the scholarship. If awarded, the terms of the scholarship must also be respected.

The following are eligible to apply to this program: individuals who

·       have been registered for at least two consecutive full-time semesters or three consecutive part-time semesters in the same undergraduate program in an area covered by the FRQSC at the scholarship effective date

AND

·       have never held an Undergraduate Initiation to Research Scholarship.

The applicant must also:

·       have a valid Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) card at the time of application or proof that he/she has applied for a RAMQ card and that the card will be valid for the duration of the internship

OR

·      have been enrolled at a Québec university on a full-time basis for at least two of the three semesters prior to the date of submitting the application.

4. APPLICATION

Universities submitting applications should send the names of the selected candidates and their email addresses to boursesb.sc@frq.gouv.qc.ca. The selected candidates will then be asked to complete and submit the form that will be made available in their FRQnet electronic Portfolio under “Available competitions”.

The link to the FRQnet electronic Portfolio and the forms associated with this competition is available under Portal access on the website. Further details are available in the Documents menu of the FRQnet electronic Portfolio.

It is preferable that the funding application be written in French, but it can also be written in English. However, the title and abstract must be in French. These may be used by the Fonds for promotional and dissemination purposes (CGR, Section 3.6).

Documents to attach to the form

1. Proof of enrolment

A letter from the university registrar’s office identifying all full-time and part-time semesters completed in the undergraduate program.

2. Proof of residence in Québec

An applicant who was not enrolled at a Québec university on a full-time basis for at least two of the three semesters prior to the date of submitting the application must provide:

·       A photocopy of a Québec health insurance (RAMQ) card that is valid at the competition deadline;

OR

·       An official document from the RAMQ establishing the applicant’s status as a resident of Québec within the meaning of the Health Insurance Act.

OR

·       If this document is not available, proof that the applicant has applied for a RAMQ card and that the card will be valid for the duration of the internship.

3. Supporting document for eligibility exceptions (if applicable)

Document justifying an exception to the eligibility requirements. The Fonds reserves the right to refuse any request for eligibility exceptions that is not sufficiently justified.

For full details about eligibility exceptions, please refer to Sections 3.1 and 4.2 of the Master’s Research Scholarships and Scholarships for re-entering the Research Community programs.

4. Internship description (3 pages)

A letter of up to two pages written by the internship supervisor and comprising two sections:

–        Description of the research initiation project

–        Description of the roles and tasks assigned to the intern

This letter written by the internship supervisor must be accompanied, as an appendix, a one-page schedule of activities planned in connection with the objectives of the internship, and specifying the number of hours per week the intern will be required to spend at the internship site.

It is important to check that the FRQnet electronic form has been successfully submitted. In the “My forms” section of the Portfolio, the form should be flagged as “Transmis au Fonds”.

5. EVALUATION

CRITERIA

Applications are evaluated by the universities using a procedure of their own devising and based on the following criteria:

• Quality of academic record

• Aptitude for research

6. ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESULTS

The results will be announced no later than 6 weeks after submission of the scholarship application, via the applicant’s FRQnet electronic Portfolio.

7. TERMS OF THE SCHOLARSHIP

Internship scholarship recipients must maintain full-time registration in their study program throughout the duration of the internship. If the internship is in the summer, proof of the applicant’s enrolment for the winter semester prior to the internship or the fall semester following the internship is required. Any change in status must be reported to the Fonds beforehand or as soon as possible.

It is up to the intern to ensure that he/she has insurance coverage throughout the internship. If insurance coverage is not provided by the institution, the intern is responsible for taking out private insurance.

The internship start and end dates can be modified, subject to Fonds approval of a documented modification request submitted through the FRQNet electronic Portfolio. The proposed changes must meet all eligibility conditions and cannot change the nature of the internship as evaluated by the Fonds. After analysis, the Fonds may decide to pursue, reduce, suspend or terminate the payments. The Fonds may also require that the amounts paid be reimbursed.

VALUE OF THE SCHOLARSHIP

The annual value of an Undergraduate Initiation to Research Scholarship is $5,000, for a total of 200 hours over one or two semesters, to be distributed according to needs.

FINAL REPORT

A final report summarizing the research initiation activities carried out during the internship must be sent to the Fonds no later than 30 days after the end of the internship, by email to the address boursesb.sc@frq.gouv.qc.ca. The Final report  form can be downloaded in the Toolbox section of the page presenting the details of the Undergraduate Initiation to Research Scholarship program.

Future funding under a different Fonds de recherche du Québec program is contingent upon receipt of a duly completed final report (see CGR, Section 7).

8. OPEN ACCESS POLICY

Peer-reviewed publications resulting from the research made possible by this scholarship must be released as immediate open access (without embargo), under an open license, in accordance with the FRQ Open Access Policy (revised in 2022).

9. EFFECTIVE DATE

The provisions of this document apply to the 2022-2023 financial year.

Updated on July 7, 2022.