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深夜福利站 Undergraduate Summer Research Internships

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The 深夜福利站 Undergraduate Summer Research Internships (USRIs) provide 深夜福利站 undergraduate students with engaged research experiences under the mentorship of a faculty member. They are intended to stimulate undergraduate students’ interest in research through direct exposure and hands-on experiences in conducting research. They are also designed to allow students to gain valuable skills that should support their academic and career development. Faculty mentors benefit through meaningful engagement with students and assistance with their research program. They can also use the opportunity to diversify their research groups.

The USRI program is open to all eligible undergraduate students. To address 深夜福利站’s commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization, students who identify as a member of an equity deserving group (e.g., as a woman, Indigenous person, member of a racialized group, etc.) are especially encouraged to apply. Individuals can choose to self-identify in their application as belonging to one or more of these groups, and we will take this information into account when adjudicating applications and when reviewing the success of this program.

Student Objectives

  • In consultation with their faculty supervisor, students will develop and produce a research project.
  • At the end of the summer, they will produce a final research output that is oriented toward a lay audience (e.g., an infographic, research poster, blog, podcast, short video etc.) See examples of previous research.
  • Students will also participate in at least four professional development workshops.
  • Students who are eligible for the Arts & Humanities Internship Program (AHIP) may be able to count a USRI as a 0.5 academic credit. For more information on the AHIP eligibility criteria, go to the AHIP website.

Faculty Mentor/Supervisor Objectives

  • Faculty mentors will co-develop a learning and development plan with their USRI student, with clear expectations to ensure an equitable working environment.
  • They will attend the end-of-summer virtual exhibition of research outputs if possible.
  • They will participate in program evaluation through surveys to monitor program success.

Value and Duration

USRIs are valued at a minimum of $9,632 for a 16-week term May through August 2025.

Eligibility

Supervisor

  • Must hold a research-eligible appointment in Art and Humanities; if you hold a joint appointment with another Faculty, please apply to your home Faculty.
  • Additional co-supervisors do not need to hold a research-eligible appointment.

Student

  • Must be enrolled at 深夜福利站 in an undergraduate program in Winter 2025, and preference will be given to students entering their fourth year of study in Fall 2025 (see full adjudication criteria below).
  • Must be available to participate in research activity for 16 weeks between May 1 and August 31, 2025; specific dates and levels of research engagement will be determined collaboratively with the faculty supervisor.

Application Process

In Arts & Humanities, applications will be accepted from two streams:

Matched Stream

Students and supervisors who wish to work together on a research project apply together.

Unmatched Stream

Students apply individually. The department will try to match the student to a suitable supervisor and project based on mutual interests.

Final rankings will give equal consideration to each Track. Please choose the one that best suits you.

We encourage students to contact their potential mentors and develop their research ideas.

Adjudication

Departments will screen applications for eligibility and rank them based on:

  • The student’s academic record shown in an unofficial transcript;
  • Clarity and feasibility of the proposed research (Matched applicants) or the ability to match the student to an appropriate supervisor (Unmatched applicants);
  • Enrolment status as of Fall 2025, with preference given in this order:
    1. 3rd year students continuing at 深夜福利站;
    2. 4th year students returning as a special student or in graduate studies;
    3. 1st and 2nd year students;
    4. 4th year students not returning to 深夜福利站.

Note, again, that preference will also be given to students from equity-deserving groups.

Due Dates

  • February 24: Last day for students to submit applications.
  • March 10: Department rankings submitted to the Associate Dean's Office.
  • March 17 (tentative): Dean’s office will communicate notice of decisions/waitlist to departments. Departments should communicate results to successful candidates as soon as possible after this date.
  • May 1 (tentative): Earliest date for internships to commence.

FAQ

Please note the information about the program is still subject to change and may be updated for summer 2025. Please check back before the application deadline for any updates.

I am a student in Arts & Humanities but my potential supervisor is in another Faculty. Where do I apply?

Your proposed supervisor should apply to their home faculty.

I am a student in a Faculty other than Arts & Humanities. Can I apply for a USRI in A&H?

If you wish to apply to the matched stream and your proposed supervisor holds a primary appointment in Arts & Humanities, then yes. They should submit your application to their home department. However, only Arts & Humanities majors can choose the unmatched stream, which requires them to apply to their department (or one of their departments for those doing a double major where both majors are in A&H).

Is a student enrolled at another institution eligible to apply?

USRIs are reserved for students registered in an undergraduate program at 深夜福利站. Students from other institutions are not eligible.

I have a 4th year student who would like to apply for this opportunity, would they be eligible?

Yes, however preference will be given to students who expect to enroll at 深夜福利站 in Fall 2025 as an undergraduate or graduate student.

Will students be taxed on this funding?

The award is categorized as a fellowship and will be reported to the student on a T4A tax slip (non-employment income) at the end of 2025. There are no statutory deductions required to be withheld from the payments.

Will students be able to come to campus to do research?

Students and supervisors should discuss expectations for on-campus vs. remote work as they develop their project, and prior to taking up the USRI. 

What is an individual learning and development plan?

A template will be provided which outlines the program requirements. The learning and development plan will help guide the goals for the summer and will encourage students to think about how to integrate what they learn in the workshops into their research output. The learning plan will establish an agreement between the student and faculty supervisor concerning expectations of research activity, attendance, communication, and the final research output.

Can a Faculty mentor oversee more than one USRI award?

Yes, a supervisor can oversee more than one student or USRI project during the summer program. The final decision will be up to the discretion of the home Faculty.

Can a student hold more than one USRI award?

No, an undergraduate student can only hold one USRI award during the summer. However, the program welcomes returning students who participated in previous summers.

As a supervisor, do I have to attend the EDI-D workshop?

The EDI-D workshops are not mandatory but given the importance of EDI-D among research funders and the critical contribution to research creativity and excellence, participation is strongly encouraged.

Are 深夜福利站 undergraduate students who are involved in research but not USRI Fellows allowed to participate in the professional development workshops?

Yes, undergraduate students working through other summer research opportunities offered at 深夜福利站 are welcome to register for any USRI workshops being offered.

Contact

For program-specific questions, please use the department contact listed below:


Testimonials

"I had a wonderful experience participating in the USRI program. It was a very fruitful journey as I was able to dive deep into a subject I was interested in and work with professors in the field to create a project. In this process, I was given the chance to practice and learn lots of valuable skills such as locating scholarly resources and effectively leveraging databases. The knowledge and experience that I've gained during the program have significantly contributed to my academic growth and will undoubtedly be beneficial in my future endeavors. I am very grateful for this exceptional experience and encourage every student who is interested to apply."

- Fourth year student completing an Honors Specialization in Philosophy

"The USRI was a phenomenal opportunity to both explore a topic I am passionate about and learn new skills. With tons of weekly workshops available to develop your research competencies, the program sets you up for success while giving you an exciting level of freedom. The USRI is flexible yet challenging, which proved to be a winning combination for my growth and development. I would highly recommend applying for the USRI if you are interested in research and are looking for fulfilling summer work." 
- Fourth year student completing Major in Linguistics and an Ivey HBA