The Office of Research Services oversees a number of research-based scholarships and awards for undergraduate and graduate students.  Please see the opportunities below for more information.

Canada Graduate Research Scholarships-Master’s (CGRS-M) Program

The objective of the CGRS-M Program (formerly the CGS-M) is to help develop research skills and assist in the training of highly qualified personnel by supporting students who demonstrate potential to contribute to Canadian research. This award is administered by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

The value of the award is $27,000 for 12 months, non-renewable.

CGRS-M applications must be submitted electronically via the Research Portal by the Tri-Agency CGRS-M deadline.

INTERNAL DEADLINE:  November 17 (The Internal Deadline is optional for applicants who want their applications vetted prior to submission.)

CGRS-M DEADLINE:  December 1, before 8:00 p.m. (ET)

Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRAs)

Undergraduate Student Research Awards are meant to stimulate students’ interests in research in the natural sciences and engineering (NSERC), social sciences and humanities (SSHRC), and health studies (CIHR). They are also meant to encourage graduate studies education and the pursuit of a research career in these fields. USRAs allow students to gain research work experience that complements their studies in an academic setting; these awards can provide financial support through Brandon University.

BU USRA Submission Requirements and General Information

Deadline:  February 1 (Where the 1st falls on a weekend, the deadline will be the following business day.)

Other Tri-Agency Opportunities

• CIHR Graduate Opportunities
• NSERC Graduate Opportunities
• NSERC Undergraduate Opportunities
• SSHRC Funding Opportunities (search by “Applicant” or “Type”)

Research Manitoba Master’s Studentship Awards (MSA)

Research Manitoba Master’s Studentship Awards support highly qualified Master’s students prepare for careers as independent researchers in industry, healthcare, and other environments, thus attracting and retaining the best students within Manitoba.  The program partners with several organizations in Manitoba to provide joint funding opportunities, increasing the number of Studentships awarded annually.

The MSA program accepts applications under Health, Natural Sciences & Engineering, and Social Sciences & Humanities categories.

All awards consist of a $20,000 stipend for up to a maximum of one year.

MSA DEADLINE:  November 10, 2025

In order for the applicant to submit their application, it must first be approved in the Research Manitoba Grants Management System by both their Supervisor and the Dean of their graduate program faculty. The student must inform both the Supervisor and the Dean that they are planning to submit an application, and complete their part of the application at least one week prior to the submission deadline for review and approval.

The submission process is as follows:

1. The student completes their portion of the application, they invite their Supervisor and Dean to the application by entering their names and email in the portal.
2. The Supervisor (and Co-Supervisor, as applicable) completes their section(s), including the attachment of their CCV(s).
3. After the Supervisor completes their section, the Dean is sent an automatic email, and they are prompted to provide their approval.
4. The student can then submit the application by the November 10, 2025 deadline.
5. After submission, the three Referees are emailed and prompted to complete their Assessor Letters in the Grants Management System by November 24, 2025.
6. Up-to-date official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate studies, including any studies that are in-progress (even where no grades have so far been given for the current coursework) are to be emailed to helpdesk@researchmb.ca by November 24, 2025.

Mitacs

Mitacs offers multiple award and internship opportunities for undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows. For a full list of all Mitacs programs, please visit the Mitacs website.

Globalink Research Internships (GRI)

The Mitacs Globalink Research Internship (GRI) program pairs professors in Canada with international undergraduate students for 12-week research projects in a variety of academic disciplines. Faculty members submit project proposals to Mitacs in early June for internships that will take place in the following year. International students apply in the fall and are matched to projects for internships that start between May 1 and July 31, and end by October 31.

Faculty Deadline: Project proposals are normally submitted to Mitacs in the first week of June.

GRI – BU Application Process

Globalink Research Awards (GRA)

Brandon University has partnered with Mitacs to offer the Globalink Research Award (GRA).  The GRA supports research collaborations between Canada and select partner organizations and eligible countries and regions. Under the joint supervision of a home and host professor, successful senior undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows receive a research award to conduct a 12-to-24-week research project in the host country. The GRA program has multiple streams with different funding models.

For projects that fall into the Allocation Stream, the internal submission deadline is October 1, 2024

GRA – BU Application Process

Accelerate

The Mitacs Accelerate program supports internships for undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows with partner organizations seeking highly skilled research talent.

Please visit the Mitacs Accelerate website for more information on this program.

Polar Knowledge Canada Northern Scientific Training Program (NSTP) Awards

Polar Knowledge Canada NSTP Awards provide supplementary funding for university students in all disciplines, with an interest in northern studies.  NSTP funds are intended to assist in defraying the additional costs attributed to northern research projects (i.e., transportation costs, living expenses, freight costs, and interpreter fees) and are therefore supplementary in nature.  NSTP funds are not intended as on-going support in the form of general scholarships.  Applicants are required to clearly indicate other sources of funding in their applications, so it is clear that requested NSTP funds are indeed supplementary.  Applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss additional means of support with their supervisors.

INTERNAL DEADLINE:  November 1 (Where the 1st falls on a weekend, the deadline will be the following business day.)

NSTP DEADLINE:  December 1

• BU NSTP Guidelines

Other Research Scholarships and Awards

• Canadian Blood Services
• Fulbright Canada