URI Undergraduate Researcher Stipend

The Undergraduate Researcher Stipend enables undergraduate students to carry out mentored research projects and creative activities. The URI Stipend allows undergraduate students to enrich their university experience through hands-on discovery and skill development in a research-intensive university.

The URI is committed to supporting opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds. The URI Stipend is open to students in any year of study, and any discipline, including full-time or part-time students, domestic and international students enrolled in a degree program at the U of A. The URI Stipend is not adjudicated on the basis of GPA, and demographic information is not provided to adjudicators.

URI Stipend Funding Streams

The URI Stipend uses a common application and adjudication process to allocate funding from a variety of sources. Students complete ONE application, and will be considered for any awards for which they are eligible, including general URI awards, and any of the targeted awards listed below that are relevant to your project.

Targeted Stipends

What if my project doesn’t fit any of these targeted streams?

The majority of URI Stipend applications don’t fit any of the targeted streams — that’s entirely okay! Proposals that do not meet the criteria for targeted funding are welcome and encouraged, and will be considered for general URI awards. Roughly 75% of URI Stipends in any given year go to projects outside of the targeted streams.

Eligibility

Student eligibility

University of Alberta undergraduate students in any year and any discipline may apply for the URI Stipend, provided they meet the following criteria:

• Students must have a confirmed supervisor prior to applying. Students may apply with only ONE supervisor each application cycle (see supervisor eligibility below).
• Students must be currently registered in a full-time or part-time University of Alberta undergraduate degree program at the time of application, and have satisfactory academic standing (see Calendar — Academic Regulations).
• GPA is not considered in the application. Students completing their final semester may apply, provided they are not entering a graduate program during the term of their award.
• Students must be in their first undergraduate degree program in order to be eligible for the URI Stipend. Holders of previous undergraduate or graduate degrees are not eligible to apply.
• Students must not have held the URI Stipend previously.
• Students may not apply for the URI Stipend to support a project for which academic credit is concurrently earned (e.g., research-based courses, honours projects).
• Students may not hold another stipend-type award concurrently (e.g., Alberta Innovates SRS, NSERC USRA, Roger S Smith, or similar award).

Supervisor eligibility

URI Stipend projects may be supervised by:

• University of Alberta faculty members
• Faculty lecturers (provided their contracts are valid for the duration of the student’s project)*
• Postdoctoral fellows*
• Graduate students*
• Non-academic staff*

*Please note: If the supervisor is NOT a University of Alberta faculty member, applicants must also have a University of Alberta faculty member to sponsor the application. The faculty sponsor is not normally required to provide direct, day-to-day supervision of the student, but must be willing to serve as a resource for the student and supervisor to ensure that the student’s research adheres to University of Alberta research policies and ethics guidelines. In the event of an unanticipated or prolonged absence of the primary supervisor, the faculty sponsor may be asked to provide alternate supervision of the student.

Supervisors may apply with a maximum of FOUR students through the URI streamlined application process (which includes the Alberta Innovates SRS, URI Stipend, and all affiliated funding programs). Each student must have a separate project. Applications in excess of this limit will not be adjudicated.

Application Process *New for 2026*

Preparing your application

• Project proposals must be written by the student in plain language. Students are strongly encouraged to work with their supervisors on the development of their proposal, but must write and submit the student part of the application themselves.
• The supervisor section is completed independently by the supervisor, similar to a reference request. Once the student saves or submits their part of the application, an email will be automatically sent to the supervisor requesting them to complete their part.
• You may use the following downloadable templates to assist with the preparation of your application:
  • Student section (to be submitted by the student)
  • Supervisor section (to be submitted by the supervisor)

Getting support or feedback on your application

• Students can book an appointment with a URI advisor to get support with their funding application. Current U of A students may request an appointment via campusBRIDGE. External applicants may request an appointment via email (uri@ualberta.ca).

Selection Process

• Applications are normally reviewed by three faculty members or PhD-level researchers knowledgeable in the broad disciplinary theme selected by the student.
• Adjudicators score each application according to the adjudication criteria.
• Adjudication decisions are not appealable. Applicants who are unsuccessful are welcome to reapply in a future application cycle, and are encouraged to contact URI for feedback regarding their application.
• Historically, the URI Stipend has received ~200 applications per year, and has a success rate of approximately 20-25% (subject to funding availability).