Sponsor
Polar Knowledge Canada - Northern Scientific Training Program (NSTP)
Description
The Northern Scientific Training Program is administered by Polar Knowledge Canada (POLAR). It was established in 1961 to encourage Canadian universities to participate in training Northern specialists to meet national needs. Today, it is the Northern Scientific Training Program (NSTP) and provides supplementary funding to over 350 students annually at over 35 universities across Canada. The program is administered by POLAR as part of its mandate to foster science and technology in Canada’s North.
The NSTP supports Canadian universities and Northern post-secondaries in providing scientific training that gives advanced undergraduate and graduate students professional experience in the Canadian North and encourages them to develop a commitment to Northern work.
The objective of the NSTP is to increase the number of students who have specialized in some aspect of Northern studies and who have Northern research experience. This objective is attained by encouraging the formation of multi-disciplinary focal points for Northern studies within Canadian universities and Northern post-secondaries (i.e., Northern Studies Committees) and by providing supplementary financial assistance for eligible students to offset the high cost of Northern research (i.e., transportation costs, living costs, shipping costs and interpreter fees).
Eligibility
- Be enrolled in a degree program at a Canadian university.
- NSTP will provide one year of funding for thesis-based research at the undergraduate level, up to two years of funding for thesis-based research at the Masters level and up to three years of funding for thesis-based research at the doctoral level.
- Students supported by training funds must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
- Summer and winter projects are eligible.
- Post-doctoral studies are not supported.
Supported Fields of Research
The program funds projects on northern topics from all disciplines and in multi-disciplinary fields.
Geographical Focus
The Northern Scientific Training Program supports projects that lie north of the southern limit of the discontinuous permafrost zone (see map); and the other seven circumpolar countries [Finland, Greenland (Denmark), Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States (Alaska)].
Use of Northern Scientific Training Program Funds
The program’s funds are restricted. They are a supplement meant to offset the additional costs of northern research (e.g., transportation and living costs). The Northern Scientific Training Program is not intended to be a source of primary support for students pursuing northern research.
Maximum Project Value
NSTP allocations may be up to $6,000 per student for one year.
NSTP will provide one year of funding for thesis-based research at the undergraduate level, up to two years of funding for thesis-based research at the Master’s level and up to three years of funding for thesis-based research at the Doctoral level. Students may apply and be granted funding in any year of their programs. Applications for funding must be submitted on a yearly basis.
Indirect Costs
0%
Deadlines
If College-level review is required, your College will communicate its earlier internal deadlines.
| Type | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Internal Deadline | Students are required to complete an application and, upon completion of their research, a research report, using the web-based forms available at Online Forms. As part of the application the student invites their supervisor within the system to review, provide comments and supervisory letter. Applicants are asked to complete, but NOT submit their application in the portal at this time. Applications that have been fully submitted in the portal cannot be edited or returned to the applicant. Once the online forms have been completed, a copy of the application should be sent by your faculty supervisor to the universities' Northern Studies Committee for review (see below). The committee will provide feedback to applicants. | |
Internal Deadline | Faculty supervisor:
Supervisors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of each application before it is sent to the University/Institution. An incomplete application may result in funding rejection. Oct 16-23: The Northern Studies Committee reviews and decides which applicants are suitable to be forwarded. The committee will provide application feedback where relevant to applicants. Previously Awarded Projects: Faculty supervisors who supervised students funded in the previous NSTP competition must submit the faculty portion of the report to the Chair, Dr. Goordial, by this date. | |
Internal Deadline | Deadline for students to make final edits to their application and submit in the application portal. Applications must be submitted in the portal in order for the institution to forward them to Polar Knowledge as part of the final institutional application package. | |
External Deadline | NSTP Chairperson submits the application package to the NSTP Secretariat. |