NEW: French abstract translation service offered to all doctoral applicants

Provincial Agency - FRQ - Awards

What's new in the Fall 2024 competition:

  • No citizenship restrictions
  • Fellowship amounts: $20,000 for Master’s and $25,000 for PhD
  • Mobility periods outside Quebec are allowed for FRQ fellowship holders under certain conditions (travel deemed necessary for their program of study, approved by the University)
  • GPS will offer a French abstract translation review service for doctoral applicants

Students interested in these awards must apply online directly on the FRQ portal (FRQnet). Once an application has been submitted, applicants must notify their Academic Unit.

Consult the following agency websites for most accurate information and application instructions:

Fonds de recherche du Québec – Secteur nature et technologies (Natural Science and Technology sector)

Fonds de recherche du Québec – Secteur société et culture (Society and Culture sector)

Fonds de recherche du Québec – Secteur santé (Health sector)

Recommendations for FRQNT and FRQS doctoral applicants:

  • Based on past experience, the strongest applicants have a good publication record and previous awards to demonstrate academic achievement
  • If you have just entered your doctoral program and have not yet published or submitted any articles, it may be advisable to focus on strengthening your CV to improve your chances for next year’s competition

Eligibility to apply and hold an FRQ award

To search for open competitions, consult the FRQ directory (French, English). Alternatively, click on the links below for competition-specific guidelines. Note that not all English language pages may be complete so it please follow the French language guidelines when needed.

  • FRQ – Secteur NT (B1X) master’s guidelines (French, English)
  • FRQ – Secteur NT (B2X) doctoral guidelines (French, English)
  • FRQ – Secteur SC (B1Z) master’s guidelines (French, English)
  • FRQ – Secteur SC (B2Z) doctoral guidelines (French, English)
  • FRQ – Secteur S (BF1) master’s guidelines (French, English)
  • FRQ – Secteur S (BF2) doctoral guidelines (French, English)
    *note: Direct entry and Fast-tracked students to PhD programs must apply to the Masters level award if eligible.

Citizenship Considerations

International and out-of-province student are eligible to apply as of Fall of their first year in their eligible research program. All current students must fall within the eligibility window indicated in the Award Program Rules.

See below for detailed Eligibility excerpts from the FRQ Common General Rules, Section 2 (English translation, French Official Document). Note that in case of discrepancy, the official FRQ program rules and Common General Rules will apply. It is the responsibility of the applicant to verify the applicable FRQ webpages.

Applicants are eligible to apply for a master’s, doctoral or postdoctoral training award if they:

  • are a Canadian citizen or Canadian permanent resident
    AND
  • have a Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) card that is valid at the competition deadline or proof of application for a RAMQ card and that the card will be valid at the competition deadline.

If one or both of the above two conditions is not met, applicants must submit one of the following documents in order to be eligible:

  • In the case of an application for a master’s or doctoral training award:
    • proof of admission to a master’s or doctoral program at a Québec university
      OR
    • an acceptance of supervision form from the person directing the research at a Québec university
  • In the case of an application for a postdoctoral training award:
    • an acceptance form from the fellowship (postdoctoral) supervisor at a Québec university.

FRQ funding and travelling for research outside Québec

As per the FRQ Common General Rules:

To use a training award outside Québec, the applicant must:

  • Be a Canadian citizen or Canadian permanent resident
    AND
  • Have a RAMQ card that is valid at the competition deadline or proof of application for a RAMQ card and that the card will be valid at the competition deadline.

If either or both of the above conditions is not met, the applicant must pursue their studies in Québec. Their continuous physical presence in Québec is required throughout the duration of funding, apart from break periods listed in the university calendar, unless the institution of affiliation approves, in accordance with the terms of the program rules, travel outside Québec deemed necessary for the proper implementation of activities related to the program of study. 

Value & Duration

  • Masters $20,000 / year (up to 6 semesters) During the first 6 semesters of Masters
  • Doctoral $25,000/ year (up to 12 semesters) During the first 15 semesters of PhD

Application deadlines

  • FRQ-SC – October 1, 2024 at 4:00 PM
  • FRQ-NT – October 2, 2024 at 4:00 PM
  • FRQ-S – October 3, 2024 at 4:00 PM

Resources for applicants

Tips & Tricks for successful Fellowship applications

Fall 2024 Doctoral FRQ Information Webinar presentation slides (coming soon)

Fall 2024 Masters FRQ Information Webinar presentation slides (coming soon)

Downloadable McGill Transcript Key

Evaluation Criteria

Recommendations for doctoral applicants (including instructions for French translation support)

Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial 4.0 International LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial 4.0 International License.
Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, McGill University.

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