Application Process

Steps to completing an application

1. Review the student project proposal guidelines and important application details below
2. Complete the  Student Project Proposal Form - Winter 2024
3. Ask your supervisor to review your project proposal
4. Review the online Winter Bursary Application Form (login required) and confirm all project and supervisor related details with your professor
5. Complete/sign the Agreement Form - Winter 2024 along with your supervisor
6. Submit the online Winter Bursary Application Form
7. Submit the online Winter Bursary Application Form and attach both the student project proposal + the signed agreement form

Student project proposal guidelines

• On-site research work must be conducted at McGill University or one of its affiliated institutions. Remote (or hybrid) work is a possibility with appropriate justification
• Using the blank space provided in the Student Project Proposal Form above, give a brief outline of your plan to continue summer research
• Page 1 should be used for the lay summary + timeline only; the remaining 2.5 pages should be used for the project proposal (including references)
• Proposal file must not exceed a total of 4 pages; font/margins set in the form should not be changed (see details below)
• Write the project proposal yourself; only ask for guidance from your supervisor
• Where appropriate, write in the first person (e.g. when describing the role of student)
• Be sure to include all required information (see bulleted list on page 2 of form)
• Here are a few important points to consider when writing your proposal:
  • Your proposal should be concise and feasible within the given 12-week period of part-time research
  • Ensure that you will not only be performing the tasks of a technician or laboratory assistant; you should have an important role in the research project; it is expected that you be thoroughly involved in the scientific experimentation process and not mainly in data collection; your role should include a literature review, the formulation and understanding of the methodology involved, as well as the interpretation, writing and presentation of findings
  • Your research role should be clearly indicated; applications most often fail when the student's role is not emphasized
  • Projects more likely to be funded are clearly relevant to health and strong from a methodological and design point-of-view
  • Proposals should be hypothesis driven and touch on all aspects of the scientific process; please note that projects whose main purpose is to use the 12 weeks to conduct manuscript writing or literature reviews will not be prioritized for funding

Important application details

• Only 1 complete application per student will be considered
• Project proposal file must not exceed a total of 4 pages (including references); any additional pages will not be reviewed
• Allowable font size and margins have been set in the proposal form and should not be changed (11 pt Calibri font; margins = 0.5" top/bottom + 1.0" left/right)
• After pressing 'Submit' on the online winter bursary application form, information provided cannot be edited; an automated message will appear directly on screethe n confirming receipt of the submission
• Student project proposal form must be submitted as a single PDF file; the file must be saved as LastName_FirstName_W24proposal
• Signed agreement form must also be saved in PDF format and named LastName_FirstName_W24agreement; handwritten or electronic signatures from student/supervisor are permitted
• Project proposal + signed agreement must be submitted together as attachments in application form

Application Form