The Bieler Undergraduate Research Award (BURA)

What is a BURA?

• $8700 in student stipend for either full-time research (preferred) over the 16-week period of summer; or part time (after discussion with your supervisor)
• Only for BSE Majors; BSE Jointly Appointed Faculty and Faculty Lecturers eligible as supervisors
• You must be a returning student for the following term
• Only one BURA per calendar year, lower priority for subsequent years
• Choice of either one full time BURA, or two part time (either Winter-Summer, Winter-Fall, or Fall-Summer).

Current Model

• Professors and students jointly propose projects for the BURA
• If they do not have a student in mind, their project is announced to BSE majors

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• I encourage you to consider emailing a supervisor whose research interests you

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Advantages of a full-time BURA

• BURA gives you a summer’s worth of research experience with a professor
• The primary goal is to give a solid research experience to students. And to do so while being entirely focused on the task for 4 months.
• Coursework is actively discouraged. Maximum of 1 course permitted with approval of your supervisor.
• In such a context, the value of ½ an experience (i.e., part-time option) is uncertain. 

Advantages of part-time BURA

• Shannon is unable to process awards for students who are not returning to McGill – so this limits opportunities for U3 students. This would allow students to get a BURA in Winter term even if graduating in August.
• Students often don’t decide on research till late in U2/early U3. So this would give flexibility of a part-time Winter option.

Proposed Deadlines�(results declared <2 weeks)

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• For a Summer and/or Fall BURA:
• Faculty and student portion completed: Feb 14^th
• Open positions advertised: Feb 18^th
• Last round of applications (faculty/student portions) due: Mar 3^rd

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• For a winter BURA:
• Both Supervisor & Student section must be completed by Dec 16^th

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Other similar awards

• ARIA, SURA, USRA

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• Faculty of Arts: Arts Research Internship Awards (ARIA): $5000
• BA or BASc students
• Faculty Supervisor must provide matching funds of C$2500.

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• Faculty of Science: Science Undergraduate Research Award (SURA): $8950
• BSc or BASc students in Fac. of Science with declared majors (note: BSc Ag. and Env. Science is not eligible)
• Proper work authorization for International students
• Faculty supervisors must provide matching funds of C$3950

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Other similar awards

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• NSERC: Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA): $8950
• Must be Canadian Citizens/Permanent Residents/Protected persons
• Faculty Supervisor must hold NSERC grants; must provide a matching fund of C$2950.

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Beyond the BURAs (BELFs etc.)

• Bieler Experiential Learning Fund (BELF) in Mar/Oct & O’Connor McCourt Family Experiential Learning Award (Sept 30)
• Real-world experience
• Example: Internship with an NGO doing a project overseas
• Not meant for field study semester support
• Unless additional project/internship is done as part of the field studies

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• Vivian Lewin Award (Apr 5)
• Supports Field Study Semesters/other study abroad programs