VIU Scholarship, Research, and Creative Activity

Student Research Funding and Awards

Mitacs Accelerate

Provides funding to create a paid internship at an organization that needs your expertise.

  • Value: $10,000 or $15,000
  • Deadline: Apply anytime
  • Availability: Senior Undergraduate and Graduate

Learn more about Mitacs Accelerate funding

Mitacs Business Strategic Internships (BSI)

The Business Strategy Internship (BSI) provides funding to students who develop innovative projects designed to help an organization thrive.

  • Value: $10,000 or $15,000 per internship
  • Deadline: Apply anytime, but need to apply through the Office of Scholarship, Research, and Creative Activity - October 15 for a January 2024 internship
  • Availability:  Senior Undergraduate and graduate

Learn more about Mitacs Business Strategic Internships

Canadian Psychological Association Student Awards

Numerous available in various sections.

  • Value: Varies
  • Deadline: Check specific awards
  • Availability: Check specific awards

Learn more about Canadian Psychological Association Student Awards

Mitacs Globalink

Provides funding to take your research abroad. Globalink offers travel funding between Canada and several international partners.

  • Value: $6,000
  • Deadline: The call for student applications for the summer of 2024 is now closed.
  • Availability: Senior undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows

Learn more about Mitacs Globalink funding

Sigma Xi Grants in Aid of Research (GIAR) program

Students use the funding to pay for travel expenses to and from a research site, or for purchase of non-standard laboratory equipment necessary to complete a specific research project. See categories funded on website.

  • Value: $1,000 USD
  • Deadline: October 1
  • Availability: Undergraduate and Graduate

Learn more about the Sigma Xi Grants in Aid of Research program

Reach Award

Provides funding for student engagement in research from study design to knowledge mobilization.

  • Value: To be determined annually
  • Deadline: October 31
  • Availability: Undergraduate and Graduate

Learn more about the Reach Award

Milner Gardens & Woodland Undergraduate Research Award

Intended to foster student research at Milner Gardens & Woodland. The project may be primarily student driven or one that is associated with a faculty member’s research program.

  • Value: $2,000
  • Deadline: October 31 at 4pm 
  • Availability: Undergraduate and Graduate
  • Contact: Geoff Ball

Learn more about the Milner Gardens & Woodland Undergraduate Research Award

CUR - Psychology Student Awards

The CUR Psychology Division is offering a limited number of travel awards (up to $200 each) for undergraduate students presenting original psychological research results at a regional or national, discipline-specific meeting.

  • Value: Up to $400 USD
  • Deadlines: TBD
  • Availability: Undergraduate psychology students

Learn more about CUR - Psychology Student Awards

Smithsonian Graduate Student Fellowships

The program offers 10 week opportunities for independent research or study related to Smithsonian collections, facilities, and/or research interests of the Institution and its staff.

  • Value: $7,500 USD stipend
  • Deadline: November 1 
  • Availability: Graduate

Learn more about Smithsonian Graduate Student Fellowships

Fulbright Research Awards

Intended for students enrolled in a graduate program at a Canadian university, and who wish to conduct research in the United States that will support their Canadian degree.

  • Value: $25,000 USD
  • Deadline: November 15
  • Availability: Graduate
  • Contact: Paulo Carvalho, Fulbright Canada Recruitment Specialist

Learn more about Fulbright Research Awards

Fulbright Independent Research Awards

Intended for researchers who have completed an undergraduate degree or a master’s degree at a Canadian university and who wish to pursue one academic year of independent research in the United States.

  • Deadline: November 1 5
  • Availability: Graduate
  • Contact: Paulo Carvalho, Fulbright Canada Recruitment Specialist

Learn more about Fulbright Independent Research Awards

WorkSafeBC Research Training Awards

Funds projects that provide insights and solutions for real issues faced by workplaces and WorkSafeBC.

  • Value: $20,000 stipend + $2,500 research and travel allowance
  • Deadline: The next competition is anticipated to launch in November 2024.
  • Availability: Graduate students

Learn more about WorkSafeBC Research Training Awards

Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRAs)

USRAs are meant to nurture your interest and fully develop your potential for a research career in the natural sciences and engineering. They are also meant to encourage you to undertake graduate studies in these fields. If you would like to gain research experience in an academic setting, these awards can provide you with financial support.

  • Value: $6,000 plus VIU top-up
  • Deadline:  January 29 (VIU's internal deadline)
  • Availability: Undergraduate 

Learn more about Undergraduate Student Research Awards

Hannah Summer Studentship

Offers undergraduate students and MA students an opportunity to study and learn the techniques of historical research and to encourage future serious study of medical history.

  • Value: $5,500
  • Deadline: February
  • Availability: Undergraduate and MA students

Learn more about the Hannah Summer Studentship

Scholarship in Food Insecurity

These scholarships will support graduate students who propose to pursue research that contributes to the body of knowledge on food insecurity, including determinants, risk factors, impacts, and the efficacy of potential interventions such as programs, policies, and market instruments.

  • Value: $15,000
  • Deadline: February 23, 2024
  • Availability: Graduate

Learn more about the Scholarship in Food Insecurity

Sigma Xi Grants in Aid of Research (GIAR) program 

Students use the funding to pay for travel expenses to and from a research site, or for purchase of non-standard laboratory equipment necessary to complete a specific research project. See categories funded on the website.

  • Value: $1,000 USD
  • Deadline: March 15
  • Availability: Undergraduate and Graduate

Learn more about the Sigma Xi Grants in Aid of Research (GIAR) program 

Please note the funding and awards listed below are ordered chronologically based on their due date in the academic year (September to August).