The first and least formal are research positions to help gain work experience within a research setting. These may be volunteer positions within a host laboratory, or a student stipend may be provided at the discretion of the supervisor.

Undergraduate research opportunities are offered through multiple formal courses of instruction. Within many degree programmes at the University of Calgary are embedded various research-centred courses. The most obvious of these are the final year honours projects that are run by many of the main degree programmes. These include:

Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc) – MDSC 508

Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Neuroscience (BSc) – NEUR 500

Biological Sciences – BIOL 530, CMMB 530

Students interested in these courses need to contact the relevant degree programmes for details. Furthermore, students wishing to participate in research-based courses are very strongly advised to contact possible supervisors early in their programme of studies. Some of the best student experiences will be gained where a student has engaged in research activities within host laboratories prior to the onset of the actual honours project. Advantages for this are multiple, but include acquisition of the relevant skills, understanding of the research area and assessment of “fit” between the student, supervisor, and the laboratory environment. Probably the best means of gaining this experience and knowledge is to actively participate in summer research (see above) prior to the start of formal projects.

Separately from the honours projects, various degree programmes offer the opportunity to carry out research courses to obtain course credits. These research courses, or “independent study courses”, need to be specifically arranged between the student, the supervisor, and the relevant degree programme. In each case, there are specific programme requirements that will need to be met. Examples include:

Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc) – MDSC 507 & 528

Biological Sciences – BIOL 507 & 528, CMMB 507 & 528

These are 3 - 4 month research internships that take place from May - August each year. There exist multiple funding opportunities available for these summer studentships. Available awards include the Program for Undergraduate Research Experience (PURE), O’Brien Centre Summer Studentships (OCSS), Alberta Innovates Summer Research Studentships and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC). Details of these awards and application process may be found at the links below.

Program for Undergraduate Research Experience (PURE)

O’Brien Centre Summer Studentships (OCSS)

Alberta Innovates Summer Research Studentships

For each of these three awards, the process for applications is merged with programmes by the Alberta Cancer Foundation, the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, the Libin Cardiovascular Institute, the McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, and others, under one common application portal. See: https://cumming.ucalgary.ca/bhsc/student-research/summer-studentships/ocss-studentships for links to each programme and the application portal.

In addition to the above, NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Awards are available via supervisors who hold current NSERC funding. At present, these submissions require a separate application and details can be found via the following link.

NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award

For all of the above, students need to be aware of the relevant eligibility criteria for each award. Prospective students also need to identify potential supervisors prior to applying for awards. Please search our list of faculty members to identify possible supervisors with relevant research interests. Typically, this process will require discussion between students and potential supervisors and needs to occur no later than December/January prior to the application deadlines which are usually at start of February for studentship awards that summer.