Program Description
The Department of Physics of the University of Toronto will be participating in the NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA) Program for the summer of 2025. If you are interested in pursuing graduate studies in physics at U of T, you should seriously consider making application. This program gives undergraduates the opportunity to work on a project with a clear research goal, under the supervision of a professor who is active at the forefront of his or her field of physics. It is an excellent introduction to research in physics, and gives undergraduates the opportunity to interact directly with professors, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows. This activity is supplemented by the summer student research seminar series, a weekly series of talks by faculty members about their latest research.
The Department of Physics will have approximately 15 of these positions available; each must be held for 14-16 weeks. NSERC provides part of the funding, but the research supervisors will provide a considerable supplement. Including this supplement, the student will receive $10,00 per 16-week period. In addition, the Chair of the Department of Physics will "top up" the awards to the top four students participating in the University of Toronto program by a total of $800 per student. These students will be designed "Chair's Scholars".
For students from outside Toronto, the University Housing Service provides up-to-date information on affordable accommodation.
Eligibility
Full eligibility criteria are listed at NSERC – Undergraduate Student Research Awards
In addition, at University of Toronto, first-year students are not eligible due to the challenges in confirming eligible cumulative averages before the awards are taken up (which start May 1st). Applicants MUST have completed a minimum of two semesters/terms at the time of application. Since the departments and the University process the applications between February and March, marks/CGPAs must be for at least two terms.
Application Procedures
Each applicant must submit to: grad@physics.utoronto.ca of the following documents by February 1, 2025:
- The completed NSERC Form 202 - Application for a USRA (Part 1 only) with an up-to-date (i.e. including Fall session grades) transcript of your university records (U Toronto students note: ACORN printouts are sufficient).
- A brief (one page) description of your interests and goals in physics.
Each application package must be submitted electronically as a single PDF, assembled in the above listed order. Reference letters are not required.
Students with offers of award will be asked to submit their official transcripts.
University of Toronto transcript exception: the most recent academic history report from ACORN is acceptable for NSERC.
Application Deadline
The deadline for applications is February 1, 2025.
Selection Process
Shortly after the application deadline, we will be in touch with the successful candidates to determine their priorities for research and the supervisor(s) with whom they would like to work, as listed on Job Description . Feel free to get in touch with individual professors to discuss their research in more detail! Once a supervisor is identified, the name of the student will be posted on the Job Description so that other students will know that a position has been filled. Since it takes a while to work through this process, which is ongoing, you may not hear from us again for some time until a vacancy occurs and you are next on the list for an offer. Keep checking the website for updates. If you are unsuccessful, some professors may be interested in hiring summer (non-NSERC) students. Students should follow up with specific supervisors.
For general information on the physics department at the University of Toronto, students are encouraged to consult our main departmental webpage .