Competition year : 
2023-2024

Deadline (application) : 
October 13th, 2022 at 16:00 (EST)

Announcement of results : 
End of April 2023

Amount : 
$45,000/year + $10,000/year if the host environment is more than 250 km from Québec + supplement for production costs

Duration : 
6 to 24 months + possibility of additional 12 months (conditions apply)

Note: In the event of a discrepancy between the English and French versions of this program, the French version prevails.

This program refers to the Common General Rules (CGR), of the Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ), which are applicable to all Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ) programs. It is the responsibility of applicants and/or funding holders to read the CGR, which set out all rules governing competitions and managing awards. Only the special conditions applicable to the FRQSC Postdoctoral Research-Creation Fellowship program (B5) are indicated in this document and these prevail over the  CGR.

The link to the FRQnet  E-portfolio and the forms associated with this competition is available under Portals access on the website. Further details are available in the “Documents” menu of the FRQnet E-portfolio.

AN APPLICATION THAT IS SUBMITTED AFTER THE COMPETITION DEADLINE OF 4 P.M. ON OCTOBER 13, 2022 WILL BE DEEMED INADMISSIBLE BY THE FONDS.

Should you have any questions while preparing your application, do not hesitate to contact the program officer.

This version was updated on July 7, 2022, subject to the approval of the Ministre de l’Économie et de l’Innovation.

1. OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the Postdoctoral Research-Creation Fellowship program are as follows:

  • Contribute to the development of a new generation of researcher-creators within the academic and artistic communities;
  • Help new doctoral graduates to strengthen their research-creation skills, enhance their creative processes and promote and disseminate their work. In this respect, the postdoctoral internship must constitute an added value to the applicant’s doctoral research-creation work;
  • Encourage mobility towards stimulating and dynamic academic and artistic environments for research-creation, both nationally and internationally.

The Fonds uses the term research-creation to designate any research process or approach that fosters creation and aims at producing new aesthetic, theoretical, methodological, epistemological or technical knowledge. All of these processes and approaches must include, to varying degrees (depending on the practices and temporalities specific to each project):

1) Creative or artistic activities (design, experimentation, technology, prototype, etc.)

AND

2) The problematization of these activities (critical and theoretical analysis of the creative process, conceptualisation, etc.).

As there can be no research-creation without give and take between the work of art and the creation process by which it exists, the Fonds requires that the creative or artistic activities and their problematization be carried out by the same person.

For the purposes of the Fonds, a research-creation approach is based on:

  • A sustained creative or artistic practice;
  • The problematization of this creative or artistic practice;
  • The transmission, presentation and dissemination of the experimentation and/or results of research-creation projects of all types to students, peers and the general public.

Specifically, the research-creation activities carried out under this program must contribute to the development of productions or works resulting from a creative or artistic practice, provided that they offer an element of renewal or innovation in terms of approach, process, technology, materials, form of presentation or experimentation, repertory or interpretative style. These productions must lend themselves to problematization leading to the development of new aesthetic, theoretical, methodological, epistemological or technical knowledge.

For the purposes of this program, performance in the context of a theatrical, choreographic or musical presentation is considered to be creation provided that it is innovative and gives rise to a problematization.

The following do not qualify for this program:

  • Performance as exegesis or as an analysis of a creator’s artistic works or productions;
  • The development of productions resulting from an artistic or creative practice that are not accompanied by problematization leading to the development of new aesthetic, theoretical, methodological, epistemological or technical knowledge.

2. VALUE AND DURATION OF THE FELLOWSHIP

The annual value of the postdoctoral research fellowship is $45,000.

The duration of the postdoctoral research fellowship is a minimum of 6 months and maximum of 24 months. Recipients of a FRQSC postdoctoral fellowship are also eligible to apply for a funding extension for an additional year through the Postdoctoral Research-Creation Fellowship – Knowledge Mobilization Plan (B5R) program. See Section 8 of these rules for the terms and conditions of this program.

If the postdoctoral research is being carried out more than 250 km from Québec’s borders, an annual supplement of $10,000 will be granted for a total of $55,000 per year. In the case of co-supervision with a Québec institution, the amount will be adjusted in proportion to the number of months spent outside Québec.

Supplement for production, dissemination and promotion costs

The Fonds also offers a supplement of up to $5,000 per year for costs relating to the conduct of the research-creation project (studio rental, purchase of materials and supplies, equipment rental, transport costs for works and/or equipment, etc.) on submission of a justification of the expenses with the application form. The supplement also covers costs related to the dissemination and promotion of the research and/or creation.

Variable costs incurred by a non-academic host organization for expenses related to the research-creation project may also be claimed. The organization’s fixed costs are not eligible. Expenses will be reimbursed upon the presentation of receipts to the Fonds and providing that they were not reimbursed by another agency.

The evaluation committee recommends the amount of the supplement based on the submitted justification and taking into account the objectives of the research-creation project. As a result, the recommended amount may be less than the amount indicated in the application.

The Fonds will also reimburse the purchase cost of books and reference documents to a maximum of $500 per year.

3. ELIGIBILITY

Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements on the competition deadline of October 13, 2022 at 4 p.m.

3.1 Eligibility period and target group

This program is aimed at applicants who:

  • obtained their doctorate in the 5 years prior to the competition deadline;

OR

  •  have not yet completed their doctorate but will make their initial thesis submission no later than March 1st, 2024, the deadline by which grant payments must begin.

Eligibility will be determined based on the date indicated on the doctoral diploma.

3.2 Eligibility period exceptions

Exceptions regarding postdoctoral fellowship eligibility periods will only be considered in circumstances that are beyond the applicant’s control. Applicants may suspend or postpone their studies for parental leave, major family obligations, serious illness, or because of a disability. In all such cases, supporting documents must be submitted along with the application, in the sections intended for this purpose (see Section 4 – “Required Documents” below). The Fonds reserves the right to refuse any request that is not adequately justified.

Parental leave, major family obligations or serious illness

Applicants who have interrupted or delayed their studies for parental leave, major family obligations or serious illness may be granted an eligibility period extension. In the case of parental leave, the eligibility period may be extended for up to one year per parental leave. In the case of major family obligations or a career interruption due to serious illness, the Fonds will determine the extension to be granted based on the supporting documents provided by the applicant.

Persons with disabilities

Applicants who suspend or postpone their studies for reasons related to a disability may also be granted an eligibility period extension. This exemption 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 (CQLR c. E-20.1). Supporting documents are required and must be submitted with the application.

3.3 Citizenship and residence

To be eligible to apply for a postdoctoral fellowship, applicants must provide proof that they lived in Québec for 6 months of the 7 months prior to the competition deadline or have a Régie d’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) card* that is valid at the competition deadline OR proof of application for a RAMQ card and that the new card will be valid at the competition deadline.

Any person who meets the above condition is eligible to apply to the present program and may use the postdoctoral fellowship outside Québec IF he or she is a Canadian citizen at the time of application AND has a valid RAMQ card or proof of application for a RAMQ card and that the new card will be valid at the competition deadline.

Individuals who do not have a valid RAMQ card or proof that they have requested a RAMQ card and that the new card will be valid at the competition deadline, or who are not Canadian citizens at the time of application, must pursue their postdoctoral internship in Québec.

Their continuous physical presence in Québec is required throughout the duration of funding, apart from break periods listed in the university calendar. As a result, projects submitted by such applicants must not involve field work outside Québec. Those under co-supervision are also subject to this rule.

IMPORTANT: Applicants who are not eligible to use their fellowship outside Québec at the time of application will remain ineligible for the duration of the funding period, even if their citizenship and residency conditions change.

FRQSC scholarship holders must meet the citizenship and residency requirements throughout the duration of the scholarship.

* The RAMQ card is issued by the Québec government and allows the holder to benefit from the services covered under the Québec health insurance plan. Private health insurance cards do not replace the RAMQ card and are not accepted.

3.4 Restrictions

Applicants may only submit an application to one of the following FRQSC scholarship programs in the same year:

  • Master’s Research Scholarships (B1Z)
  • Doctoral Research Scholarships (B2Z)
  • Scholarships for re-entering the Research Community (A2Z)
  • Postdoctoral Fellowship (B3Z)
  • Postdoctoral Research-Creation Fellowship (B5)

Applicants may only hold a scholarship from one of the Fonds (CGR, Section 3.1).

Applicants who receive or have received postdoctoral funding from a recognized agency in Québec or Canada (e.g. SSHRC, NSERC, CIHR, FRQSC, FRQNT, FRQS, FCAR, CQRS, etc.) are not eligible for this competition.

Applicants who hold a regular professorial position at a university are not eligible for this program, as per Section 2.2 of the CGR.

3.5 Choice of host environment (supervision and co-supervision, if applicable)

The research-creation postdoctoral internship may be carried out in an academic and/or artistic environment. The host organization(s) must enable applicants to join new networks, enhance their research-creation prospects and expose them to new approaches in a quality research and creation environment.

The postdoctoral research-creation internship may take place in a variety of settings: artists’ centre, cultural outreach agency, cultural journal, university research centre with programs that include and support research-creation, etc. The postdoctoral research-creation internship may also take the form of a collaboration with an artist or a group of artists. The applicant must plan to be present at the host environment throughout the duration of the fellowship, in accordance with the host environment integration objectives of this program.

The postdoctoral research can be co-supervised, provided that the applicant spends a minimum of 6 months of the 2 years at the co-supervisory environment. Co-supervision of the postdoctoral fellowship by members of academic and artistic environments is encouraged.

The host environment agrees to provide the artist with conditions that are conducive to artistic creation, production and dissemination. In certain cases, workspaces (e.g. studios) and other material resources needed for the internship will be requested. The host environment must also ensure ample opportunity for artistic exchanges between creators and collaborators.

The Fonds encourages mobility outside Québec and internationally, when permitted by the program’s eligibility requirements. However, the research can be carried out in Québec if the project brings added value to the applicant’s research training AND the choice is clearly justified.

Internship supervisor

The fellowship must be supervised by a person whose position or university affiliation qualifies them to act as the sole supervisor of graduate students and independently lead research projects.

A fellowship holder cannot be supervised by his/her doctoral research supervisor.

Similarly, the supervisor cannot be affiliated with the institution where the applicant carried out his/her doctoral studies.

Internship co-supervisor (if applicable)

The fellowship may be co-supervised by a person whose expertise is considered relevant to the postdoctoral research, and who holds a regular university position or a full-time paid position in a public, parapublic, community, private, or practice sector organization, or other setting deemed appropriate.

A fellowship holder cannot be co-supervised by his/her doctoral research supervisor.

Similarly, the co-supervisor cannot be affiliated with the institution where the applicant carried out his/her doctoral studies.

Supervising institution

The supervised internship must take place at the supervisor’s home university.

The supervised postdoctoral fellowship must be carried out at an institution other than the awarding institution or the co-supervisory/cotutelle institution (if applicable) of the doctoral degree.

IMPORTANT: Applicants who completed a joint doctoral program offered by multiple universities are encouraged to choose a host environment that is not at one of these associated universities. If not, this choice must be fully justified in the application.

Co-supervising institution (if applicable)

The co-supervising institution may be a university; a university-affiliated service centre; a public, parapublic, community, private or practice sector organization; or any other setting deemed appropriate.

A co-supervised postdoctoral fellowship must be carried out at an institution other than the awarding institution or the co-supervisory/cotutelle institution (if applicable) of the doctoral degree.

The restriction regarding host environments for applicants who completed a joint doctoral program also applies to the choice of co-supervisory environment, if applicable.

________________________________________

An exception may be made in the case of major family obligations, a disability or for serious health reasons. Following analysis by the Fonds, an applicant may be authorized to propose a postdoctoral research project at the same institution that awarded their doctorate, but under a different supervisor. In order for the application to be considered admissible at the eligibility stage, it is the applicant’s responsibility to provide the necessary explanations in an attachment in the “Host environment” section of the form and to upload relevant supporting documents (medical certificate, certificate of disability, proof of tax credit for caregivers, etc.) in the “Other documents” section. Note that these documents will be given to the scientific evaluation committee.

Applicants wishing to request an exception are advised to verify the admissibility of the exception with the program manager before submitting their application form.

________________________________________

Field research and data collection trips

Field research and data collection trips are permitted*. However, when these exceed a period of 6 months, a co-supervision agreement must be formalized in the application. A letter of acceptance must then be provided by the co-supervisor.

* Pursuant to Section 3.3 “Citizenship and residence”, in the case of applicants who are not eligible to use their fellowship outside Québec, all trips for field research or data collection must take place within Québec.

4. APPLICATION

Applicants are invited to refer to Section 3 “Submitting an Application” of the CGR.

IMPORTANT NOTE: It is strongly recommended that all individuals who apply for a postdoctoral fellowship with the FRQSC simultaneously submit a similar application at the federal level.

As indicated in Section 3.1 of the CGR, applicants are responsible for sending their application package to the appropriate Fonds by referring to the list of Research areas of the three Fonds.

The form and all required documents, including the creation portfolio, must be transmitted before the competition deadline.

4.1 Forms

The Postdoctoral Research-Creation Fellowship (B5) application form is available in the FRQnet portal no later than one month before the competition deadline.

Applicants must create an FRQnet user account on the Fonds website before applying, if they have not already done so. Individuals who already have a Fonds personal identification number (PIN) have direct access to a FRQnet account and must update their FRQnet E-portfolio profile. (Watch our video Premier accès à votre profil.)

As indicated in the CGR (Section 3.6), it is preferable that forms be filled out in French, but they can also be filled out in English. However, the title and abstract must imperatively be in French. This information will be used by the Fonds for promotional and dissemination purposes.

The following forms are required:

  • POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH-CREATION FELLOWSHIP (B5) APPLICATION FORM;
  • CANADIAN COMMON CV and DETAILED CONTRIBUTIONS: The Canadian Common CV and “Detailed contributions” attachment file are available in the Toolbox section on the fellowship program page or directly in the “Activity details” box in the FRQnet E-portfolio. The Canadian Common CV— “Fonds Société et culture” version—must be updated within the 12 months prior to the competition deadline. The Detailed Contributions file must be completed in due form and attached to the application in the appropriate section of the FRQnet E-portfolio. To ensure that the attachment is properly transmitted to the Fonds, it must be saved in PDF format under “Canadian Common CV” in the FRQnet E-portfolio. Refer to Preparing a CV for the Fonds and Detailed Contributions attachment to the Canadian Common CV  in the program Toolbox;
  • FORMS AND LETTER(S) FROM SUPERVISOR(S): 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 and/or co-supervisor who has a Fonds personal identification number (PIN) has access to an FRQnet account and must update his/her E-portfolio, if this has not already been done. A supervisor or co-supervisor who does not have an FRQnet account must first create a user account. Once they have been transmitted electronically in accordance with the instructions provided in the form, the form and letter will be automatically attached to the applicant’s fellowship application.

NOTE: this letter is mandatory even if the letter of invitation from the host environment is written by the same person.

The supervisors’ and co-supervisors’ (where applicable) letters must be completed in French or English and submitted electronically 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 FRQSC form in the FRQnet portal 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.

These letters of acceptance support the application but should in no way serve to fill any gaps in the applicant’s demonstration of alignment with the “Host environment” criterion.

4.2 Required documents

All required documents must be grouped and scanned (PDF file) into a single document for each of the appropriate sections of the form in the “Activity details” box. Do not include any documents that are not required.

To be accepted, scanned PDF copies must be legible and without read protection or special double tab configuration.

Any official document submitted in a language other than French or English must be accompanied by a professional translation certified as a true copy of the original document. Any other document submitted in a language other than French or English must include a basic translation.

Please refer to the FRQNet Application Presentation Standards document to properly format any documents to be attached to the application.

The number of pages required for each section may vary and is specified in the form.

4.2.1 “PRE-ELIGIBILITY” SECTION

  • RAMQ CARD (if applicable)

Applicants who are resident in Québec within the meaning of the act respecting the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) must provide a copy of their RAMQ card, which must be valid at the competition deadline, or proof that a card has been requested from the RAMQ and that the new card will be valid at the competition deadline. Please note that proof of initial registration with the RAMQ is not sufficient for this purpose.

4.2.2 “UNIVERSITY RECORD” SECTION

The following documents must be scanned and grouped into a single PDF document in the order listed below, before attaching them in the “University record” section:

DOCTORAL TRANSCRIPTS (mandatory)

Any doctoral transcripts that are missing, incomplete, unofficial, not certified as a true copy, or out-of-date transcripts, as well as the absence of any other required document listed below, will render the application ineligible.

A copy of all transcripts is required, for all doctoral studies pursued by the applicant, whether completed or not. This includes transcripts from exchange programs or courses (equivalencies), where applicable.

Transcripts must be up-to-date and include all completed semesters and grading scales (back of transcript).

Transcripts sent to the Fonds must be official. What makes a transcript official may differ from one academic institution to another. Nonetheless, to be deemed official by the Fonds, each transcript must:

1) be issued by the institution in question;

2) include elements indicating that it is an official transcript for that academic institution. This may be the seal or stamp of the issuing institution AND/OR the registrar’s signature AND/OR the notation “Official Transcript”, etc.

THE PRESENCE OF A WATERMARK will not render a transcript unofficial, as long as it meets the requirements specified above.

A transcript delivered in a sealed envelope by the registrar’s office can be opened and its contents scanned. Opening the envelope to scan the transcript will not render it unofficial for the purposes of the Fonds.

PLEASE NOTE: For a current program of study, the transcript must include the last semester completed before the competition deadline, including the summer session, if applicable. In this context, the Fonds will validate this document based on the date of issue indicated on the transcript. This date must be after the last session completed before the competition deadline.

Transcripts must be in vertical (portrait) orientation.

Other documents to be provided with the transcripts, where applicable:

If the institution where the applicant’s studies took place does not provide a transcript, the applicant must attach a letter of explanation from this institution (registrar’s office or equivalent administrative body) stating the reasons for the missing transcripts.

If such a letter from the institution is not available, a letter of explanation written by the applicant, justifying the absence of a transcript and endorsed by the department director at the host institution, must be attached to the application.

Either of these two documents should allow the Fonds to verify the eligibility of the application, and then allow the evaluation committee to understand the situation and take it into consideration. The absence of either of these two letters, when required under the circumstances described above, will automatically render the application ineligible.

For transcripts from institutions outside North America, the applicant must include a document (short letter) explaining the institution’s grading system, in order to allow a clear understanding of the transcripts.

The following documents are mandatory and must be included in the appropriate sections of the form:

4.2.3 RESEARCH-CREATION PROJECT DESCRIPTION SECTION (3 pages)

Refer to the evaluation criteria for the research-creation project (5.2) to be sure of including all necessary elements.

4.2.4 BIBLIOGRAPHY SECTION (1 page)

List the full references of the works used in the project description. Links to web pages may be included as bibliographic references where relevant.

4.2.5 HOST ENVIRONMENT SECTION (2 pages)

  • Justification of the host environment (mandatory)

This justification must demonstrate the quality of the integration plan. Refer to the evaluation criteria for the host environment (5.2) to be sure of including all necessary elements. The benefits of co-supervision must also be demonstrated, if applicable.

4.2.6 “OTHER DOCUMENTS” SECTION

More specifically, the following documents must be attached in the “Other documents” section of the form.

  • DOCTORAL DIPLOMA OR OTHER OFFICIAL DOCUMENT (if applicable):

If the doctoral program has been completed, a copy of the applicant’s original doctoral diploma issued by the registrar’s office is required.

If the doctoral diploma has not yet been obtained, the applicant must include proof that the thesis has been successfully defended and proof of the final thesis submission.

If the thesis has not been defended, proof of the initial thesis submission* must be provided.

If the thesis has not been submitted at the time of application, no document is required.

* The document attesting to the official submission must be provided before the beginning of the fellowship.

  • LETTER OF INVITATION FROM THE HOST ENVIRONMENT:

An official letter of invitation from the head of an arts centre, cultural outreach agency, cultural magazine, research centre, university department or other organization authorized to supervise the internship confirming that the applicant has been accepted.

NOTE: this letter may be written by the research supervisor. In this case, the supervisor’s letter is still required.

  • PROOF OF REGISTRATION OR INVITATION (if applicable):

Proof of registration or invitation to participate in a workshop, lecture, colloquium, meeting, biennale, festival, symposium or any other relevant event.

  • STUDY PERMIT OR WORK PERMIT (if applicable):

A copy of a valid study permit or work permit issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada must be attached to the application if the applicant is not a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada.

  • SUPPORTING DOCUMENT FOR ELIGIBILITY PERIOD EXCEPTION (if applicable):

Applicants seeking eligibility period exceptions in accordance with Section 3.2 above must provide an official document for each birth since the thesis submission or a medical certificate attesting to serious health reasons or disability.

Similarly, applicants seeking an exception to the host environment rule (see Section 3.5 above) must include the required supporting documents (medical certificate, certificate of disability, proof of tax credit for caregivers, etc.).

THE APPLICANT MUST NOT FORGET TO TRANSMIT THE APPLICATION AFTER COMPLETING AND VALIDATING IT, BY CLICKING THE “TRANSMETTRE” BUTTON IN THE FORM.

At any time, applicants may verify in their FRQnet E-portfolio that the most recent version of their application has been successfully submitted. The application file in “My forms” should be flagged as “Transmis au Fonds” before the competition deadline. This indicates that the application has been received by the Fonds.

4.3. Creation portfolio (mandatory)

ATTENTION: In the absence of the creation portfolio, the application will be deemed ineligible.

A portfolio is required, illustrating the applicant’s relevant creative achievements.

IMPORTANT: The creation portfolio must be transmitted in digital form, with all its component documents assembled into a single compressed file (ZIP file).

The file must be identified as follows:

LAST NAME OF APPLICANT_APPLICATION NUMBER (e.g., SIMARD_654321).

It must be uploaded before the competition deadline to the FRQSC’s “Répertoire de partage sécurisé de documents “:

https://repertoire.frq.gouv.qc.ca/authentificationPartage

The digital file must be smaller than 8 GB.

It must include a description of the items presented (a maximum of one to two-page PDF document). This document must allow easy identification of the different items making up the creation portfolio and may contain links to one or more websites for large files. However, it is not recommended to provide only hyperlinks to one or more websites. The creation portfolio may include files of various formats: PDF, MPEG, PNG, MP3, MP4, MOV, etc. A press kit may also be included (PDF document).

The person evaluating the application should not need to spend more than twenty minutes reading and assessing the creation portfolio.

Applicants are requested to send their accompanying documents only once, in their final version. In case of duplicate transmission resulting from a manipulation error, the most recent version will be considered for the evaluation.

________________________________________

If the portfolio cannot be transmitted in digital form, the applicant must notify the program officer sufficiently in advance to determine an alternative method of transmission.

If the portfolio is to be transmitted by post, the applicant must mail all documents being submitted for evaluation in triplicate to the following address:

Programme Bourse postdoctorale en recherche-création
Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture
140, Grande Allée Est, bureau 470
Québec (Québec) G1R 5M8

The Fonds will keep the documents submitted electronically or by post for a period of 90 days from the date on the letter announcing the results of the evaluation. After this time, unless otherwise requested, they will be disposed of.

The Canada Post postmark or the dated stamp of a messenger service will be considered proof of submission before the deadline of October 13, 2022.

All applications received by the Fonds are assessed for eligibility. A notice will be sent via email no later than December following the competition deadline, informing the applicant of the status of his/her application and, where applicable, its transmission to the evaluation committee.

Applicants whose application package is deemed incomplete or invalid will be notified by email that their application has not been transmitted to the evaluation committee.

An incomplete application that does not contain the information necessary to establish eligibility or which cannot be evaluated will be deemed invalid by the Fonds. Any documents that are not required will not be submitted to the evaluation committee. Applicants will not be notified of any information or documents missing from the application and no reminder will be made.

Any documents received after the competition deadline of 4 p.m. on October 13, 2022 will not be considered and applications cannot be updated after this deadline.

5. ASSESSMENT

5.1 Evaluation process

Research-creation project description must be written in such a way as to be easily understandable in a multidisciplinary context. The role of the evaluation committees and the conditions governing funding decisions are specified in the CGR, Sections 4.4 and 4.5).

Committee members evaluate the applications according to the evaluation criteria, sub-criteria and weighting specified in these program rules, based on the Fonds Scoring System Grid.

To be recommended, an application must obtain an overall score of 70% or more.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Applicants are advised to attach equal importance to both the evaluation criteria and their associated sub-criteria.
Applications are evaluated according to the following criteria, sub-criteria and weighting:

5.2 Evaluation criteria, sub-criteria and weighting

Research-creation project (45 points) :

  • Originality and impact on the development or renewal of the field, and added value to the applicant’s doctoral work;
  • Problematization of the creative or artistic practice, and appropriateness of the methodology for the stated objectives;
  • Realism of the time frame and feasibility Relevance of the planned dissemination activities.

Host environment (20 points) :

  • Quality of the plan for integration into the host environment (planned research, creation, teaching and dissemination activities, development of a network of contacts beyond the supervisor, proximity to other potential research and creation environments, access to documentary, material and financial resources, etc.);
  • Quality and relevance of the chosen environment to the project (including supervisors’ and co- supervisors’ letters).

Expertise (35 points)

  • Quality of academic record and recognition (scholarships, awards and distinctions, training, academic standing);
  • Quality of achievements: production/dissemination (compositions, choreographic creations, recordings, environments, exhibitions, installations, works, etc.) and research-creation activities (design or development of creation or interpretation tools, publications, writing of articles, reviews and educational/instructional documents, etc.);
  • Relevance of professional academic and/or non-academic and/or artistic experience related to the project (e.g. research or teaching assistantships, teaching assignments, internships, employment, volunteer involvement, etc.).

6. FUNDING AND CONDITIONS

The conditions regarding the announcement and management of funding are set out in the CGR (Sections 5 to 8).

Peer-reviewed publications resulting from the research made possible by this award must be released 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).

To retain the fellowship, fellowship holders must meet the following basic conditions throughout the duration of funding:

  • Respect the conditions relating to citizenship and place of residence.
  • Have made an initial thesis submission before starting the fellowship and meet all requirements for the doctoral degree at the time of the third instalment.
  • Be present at the host environment for the duration of the fellowship and devote himself/herself full-time to the postdoctoral research.
  • Respect the rules relating to concurrent funding.
  • Respect the rules relating to paid employment.
  • Respect the terms of the fellowship.

Fellowship holders who were not Canadian citizens at the time of application must live in Québec on a regular and daily basis throughout the entire duration of funding. The conditions and privileges attached to the fellowship in relation to citizenship status at the time of application will continue to apply throughout the fellowship, even if citizenship status changes during the funding period.

Fellowship holders are required to inform the Fonds immediately if they cease to satisfy any of these conditions. Should any of these basic conditions no longer be met, the Fonds will be obliged to withdraw the fellowship and could request reimbursement.

6.1 Fellowship period and instalments

The fellowship period must begin between May 1st, 2023 and March 1st, 2024.

More specifically, the first payment may be made as of one of the following dates:

  • May 30 following the award (summer term)
  • September 30 following the award (fall term)
  • January 30 following the award (winter term)

Each fellowship instalment covers a period of 4 months (the equivalent of one university term). Instalments must be requested each term in in the “Manage my funding” section of the FRQnet E-portfolio.

The first payment will only be made once the Fonds has received a certified copy of the fellowship holder’s doctoral diploma, certified by the Registrar’s office, or an official attestation of the initial doctoral thesis submission. A copy of the doctoral diploma or proof that all requirements have been met for the doctoral degree is required for payment of the third instalment.

Triannual instalment payments are made for the duration of the fellowship eligibility period, subject to the production of a satisfactory progress report along with the request for the 4th instalment.

With the exception of the first instalment, which must be claimed no later than March 1 of the year following the awarding of the fellowship under penalty of immediate cancellation of the fellowship, any unclaimed payment can be cancelled at the end of the period it covers, without advance notice.

The fellowship is non-transferrable from one year to the next.

The fellowship is not retroactive and any work conducted in the months prior to May 2023 will not be funded.

6.2 Presence at the host environment

To retain the fellowship, the fellowship holder must be present at the host environment for the duration of the fellowship and devote himself/herself full-time to carrying out the research activities. Failure to respect this rule could result in the withdrawal of the fellowship. If, under exceptional circumstances, these conditions cannot be respected, the Fonds must be advised as soon as possible and will determine whether the fellowship should be maintained or cancelled

A 4-week annual vacation period is permitted.

6.3 Paid employment

Paid work carried out while pursuing the Postdoctoral Fellowship program is permitted with no time limit per semester. This employment must be approved by the fellowship supervisor and must not interfere with the fellowship holder’s research activities.

In addition to the paid work permitted per semester, a fellowship holder may accept remuneration to work exclusively on the research-creation project funded by the Fonds. For the sole purpose of interpreting the rules for concurrent funding (see 6.9), this remuneration is considered a scholarship for which concurrent funding is permitted when confirmed by the fellowship supervisor.

6.4 Instalment deferral or suspension of fellowship

Note that the postdoctoral fellowship cannot be suspended during the funding period. However, in the event of force majeure that prevents all or part of the postdoctoral fellowship from continuing on a full-time basis (e.g. major family obligations, serious illness, etc.), the fellowship holder must contact the Fonds, which will analyze the situation on reception of the required supporting documents and approve or refuse the requested suspension. If a suspension is granted, the payment(s) covering this period may be carried forward to the end of the funding period.

For more information on the conditions surrounding medical leave or other types of leave provided for by the Act respecting labour standards, please refer to Article 6.14 of the CGR.

6.5 Parental leave

In addition to the suspension and deferral of funding du to force majeure, a postdoctoral fellowship holder may also suspend his or her research for an unpaid parental leave of up to one year.

During this leave, it is possible to receive an additional instalment for parental leave for a maximum of 8 continuous months, if the research is interrupted in the 6 months following the birth or adoption of a child and the first instalment of the fellowship has already been paid. If the fellowship holder receives this additional 8-month instalment, the unpaid leave is reduced to 4 months for a total of one year.

This supplement cannot be divided. In case of a parental leave of a shorter duration, the supplement will be adjusted. To receive the supplement for parental leave, the fellowship holder must suspend his/her postdoctoral research and not hold paid employment for the duration of the leave. Pursuant to the rules for concurrent funding (see 6.9), in the context of double funding with a Canadian granting agency, the fellowship supplement cannot be granted when a parental leave allowance is received from the federal agency. In such a case, the fellowship holder must accept the paid leave offered by the federal agency.

For more information about conditions regarding parental leave, refer to Section 6.13 of the CGR.

6.6 Modifying the research project, host environment or (co)supervisor

As indicated in Section 6.5 of the CGR, any modification to the research project, environment or (co)supervisor requires prior authorization from the Fonds. The fellowship holder must submit a change request in his/her FRQnet E-portfolio in the “Manage my funding” section. The program officer will analyze the request and ensure that it does not affect the outcome of the initial application evaluation or its eligibility for the award program. The decision to accept or refuse the request will be communicated via email.

6.7 Reimbursement of travel expenses

Travel expenses to and from the host environment outside Québec at the start and end of the postdoctoral program are reimbursed when supported by receipts, provided they were not reimbursed by another agency. The maximum travel allowance is equivalent to the price of one economy airline ticket. Fellowship holders who have not yet defended their thesis may be reimbursed for an additional round trip.

In addition, at the beginning and end of the postdoctoral fellowship, travel expenses outside Québec for the spouse and children of the fellowship holder may also be covered by the Fonds, provided they are not reimbursed by any other agency.

6.8 Convertibility of the fellowship as start-up grant

A fellowship can be used as a start-up grant by a fellowship holder who is offered a position as a regular professor in a Québec university. The fellowship holder must have completed a full year of funding under the postdoctoral fellowship (12 months) or received 3 full fellowship instalments before requesting to convert part of the fellowship (up to $15,000) into a start-up grant for the new position. The effective date of the start-up grant is the fellowship holder’s employment start date.

This grant is subject to the same rules as those of the Research-Creation Support for New Academics program . A person who benefits from this conversion remains eligible to apply for this program.

A SSHRC postdoctoral fellowship holder who has also received a FRQSC funding offer under this program and accepted it, may benefit from this conversion, if applicable.

6.9 Concurrent awards

The fellowship may not be held concurrently with:

  • A fellowship or scholarship from a Canadian granting agency such as the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), etc.
  • A fellowship or scholarship from a Québec granting agency such as the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQS), the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies (FRQNT) or the Conseil de recherches en pêche et agro-alimentaire du Québec (CORPAQ), etc.
  •  A scholarship from the Canada Council for the Arts (CCA) or the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ) awarded for the same project.

The fellowship may be held concurrently with:

  •  Scholarships and fellowships from ministries and agencies of the Québec and Canadian governments, other than those mentioned above;
  •  Private sector and university scholarships and fellowships.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Individuals who receive a funding offer from SSHRC and the FRQSC for the same application must ACCEPT the SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowship, and can then ACCEPT the FRQSC fellowship in order to receive any applicable additional benefits associated with the latter (i.e. the annual supplement of $10,000 for postdoctoral research more than 250 km from Québec, the possibility of obtaining an extension for an additional year of funding and the conversion into a start-up grant). These benefits are granted on analysis of the file and any supporting documents requested. Fellowship holders who find themselves   in this situation must send an email to the program manager, who will contact them directly.

7. SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED IN PARTNERSHIP

The FRQSC offers scholarships in collaboration with partners.

Eligible applicants are selected through a three-step process:

  • Applicant must select, in the ‘’Partenariats” section of the application form, one or more partners whose research areas are in line with the theme of their application.
  • The FRQSC sends the partners a list of interested applicants and the information needed to assess the relevance of the applications based on their strategic and research priorities.
  • Following evaluation of the applications by a peer committee, those that obtain a scientific excellence score of 70% and are deemed relevant by the partners concerned will be considered for partnership funding.

Like all other awards offered by the FRQSC, scholarships in partnership are granted based on merit following scientific evaluation by a peer committee.

By choosing to be considered for a scholarship in partnership and on obtaining this type of funding, the applicant agrees to being contacted by the partner for activities related to the research project.

Partner: 

Quebec SUPPORT Unit for patient-oriented research

The Support for People and Patient-Oriented Research and Trials (SUPPORT) strategy introduced in Québec consists of engaging the various stakeholders involved, including patients, caregivers and the public, in the development and execution of patient-oriented research (POR) projects. Québec’s SUPPORT Unit contributes to capacity building and professional development in POR among stakeholders.

The Unit’s scholarship program, developed in partnership with the Fonds de recherche du Québec, allows students, postdoctoral fellows, early-career researchers, and health professionals to hone their skills, develop (or reinforce) valuable POR expertise, and enhance their network of collaborators and mentors in the field.

8. FUNDING EXTENSION – KNOWLEDGE MOBILIZATON PLAN (B5R)

Recipients of a FRQSC postdoctoral fellowship under this competition may apply for an extension of funding for an additional year through the Postdoctoral Research-Creation Fellowship – Knowledge Mobilization Plan (B5R) program.

During the second year of the fellowship, a plan for the mobilization of knowledge stemming from the postdoctoral research can be submitted to the Fonds via a funding competition. The plan will be subject to evaluation. This funding extension may only be requested once.

IMPORTANT: It is the responsibility of the postdoctoral fellowship (B5) holder to consult the rules of the Postdoctoral Research-Creation Fellowship – Knowledge Mobilization Plan (B5R) program to obtain all the necessary information to apply for the extension. These rules are available on the Fonds website and are updated for each competition.

9. EFFECTIVE DATE

The provisions set out in this document apply to the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

Version updated on the website July 7, 2022.