There are a number of funding opportunities available to BCIT students who are interested in research and innovation opportunities beyond their studies.
BCIT’s Student Innovation Challenge is an annual contest aimed at providing support, encouragement and funding up to $5,000 to BCIT students who have “bright ideas”. Since its founding, the Student Innovation Challenge has inspired interesting and innovative students and projects.
The Challenge has 3 Categories:
- Entrepreneurship (Innovative ideas, entrepreneurship, and commercial products)
- Applied Research (Innovative project solving a real world problem)
- Sustainability (Innovative idea or project contributing to sustainability)
Learn more about the categories and how to apply.
We are happy to help. If you have any questions, please send a note to research@bcit.ca.
BCIT has a quota of CGS M – Canada Graduate Scholarships – Master’s Program to award each year. Students submit their application to the institution at which they intend to hold their award using the NSERC Research Portal.
Members of the BCIT CGS-M Selection Committee independently review the CGS-M applications and use the guidelines for Eligibility screening and for the Selection process to evaluate each of the applications received. They also agreed to respect the relevant BCIT and federal government privacy, confidentiality and conflict of interest rules, including:
- BCIT Policy 1500 – Code of Conduct
- BCIT Policy 6700 – Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy
- Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Policy of the Federal Research Funding Organizations
- Access to Information Act
- Privacy Act
The results are entered into the CGS-M Research Portal.
Innovate BC Innovator Skills Initiative (ISI)
The Innovator Skills Initiative provides up to $10,000 to help employers hire a new employee. The program helps under-represented people get their first job in B.C.’s tech sector and supports companies facing skills shortages to grow and expand.
The Mitacs Accelerate program supports collaborative research projects with colleges and polytechnics (students and faculty) and the organizations, usually companies, that benefit from their expertise. Funding starts at $15,000, and your partner organization’s financial contribution starts at $7,500. For more information, explore the Accelerate website or contact accelerate@mitacs.ca.
Put your skills to work through a paid internship and help Canadian businesses on the road to innovation! The Mitacs Business Strategy Internship (BSI) provides $10,000 or $15,000 to students who develop innovative projects designed to help an organization thrive.
The NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) program is a great fit for researchers hiring Bachelor students to carry out ~16-weeks research projects under their supervision: If all program requirements are met, researchers may be able to be reimbursed for some of the funds paid to the student.
BCIT’s allocation of NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) for the 2023/2024 competition is five (5), plus an unlimited number of awards for self-identified Indigenous or Black student researchers. To be eligible, all applicants must be Bachelor students. The amount of funding per award is $6,000. It remains the Supervisor’s responsibility to secure any additional funds required to comply with provincial and/or federal employment standards, and BCIT will also be responsible for supplements to the weekly value and fringe benefits (if applicable).
If you have a student interested in applying, please
- complete the BCIT USRA Confirmation Form and submit it to Stefan Joseph before February 15, 2024, and
- follow the NSERC application guidelines and procedures:
- Resource Videos
- Undergraduate Student Research Awards program description
- Form 202 (must be logged in to NSERC On-Line system)
- Instructions for Completing an Application – Form 202
(Please note that information related to the student’s supervision can be included in the “Outline of the student’s role” section in Part II of the form.)
NSERC decisions on USRAs are made close to summer time, so this is the best way to tap into the USRA opportunity:
- Secure the required funds (not necessarily from other research funds you already hold: NSERC does not require the supervisors to hold an active grant) and hire a bachelor student for 16 weeks, or more (minimum 12 weeks).
- Have the bachelor student ensure their personal eligibility and follow instructions to apply for an USRA by completing Form 202, Part I – Application for an Undergraduate Student Research Award and attaching all required documents. The On-line System generates a reference number for Form 202, Part I, which the student can then provide to you.
- Create Form 202 Part II, again following the on-line instructions. By entering the reference number on Form 202 Part II, the NSERC system will link the two parts to form the complete application. Form 202 – Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA) Part II will remain in your Researcher’s Portfolio.