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Western Undergraduate Summer Research Internships
Western Undergraduate Summer Research Internships
Western Undergraduate Summer Research Internships
USRI
The Western Undergraduate Summer Research Internships (USRIs) provide Western undergraduate students with engaged research experiences under the mentorship of a faculty member.
They are intended to stimulate undergraduate students’ interest in research through direct exposure and hands-on experiences in conducting research. They are also designed to allow students to gain valuable skills that should support their academic and career development. Faculty mentors benefit through meaningful engagement with students and assistance with their research program. They can also use the opportunity to diversify their research groups.
The USRI program is open to all eligible undergraduate students. To address Western’s commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization, students who identify as a member of an equity deserving group (e.g., as a woman, Indigenous person, member of a racialized group, etc.) are especially encouraged to apply. Individuals can choose to self-identify in their application as belonging to one or more of these groups, and we will take this information into account when adjudicating applications and when reviewing the success of this program.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE:
Tuesday, February 24th, 2026
Recent Projects
Poison books at Western Libraries? Don’t panic!
Middle Ages ‘trash’ Western research team’s treasure
Fourth-year Classical Studies student Stephanie Leith (left) spent her summer searching for medieval manuscript fragments used to support spines and reinforce bindings in the production of the world's first books. She worked under the guidance of special collections librarian Deborah Meert-Williston and her research supervisor, classics professor Kyle Gervais.
Student Objectives
- In consultation with their faculty supervisor, students will develop and produce a research project.
- At the end of the summer, they will produce a final research output that is oriented toward a lay audience (e.g., an infographic, research poster, blog, podcast, short video etc.) See examples of previous research.
- Students will also participate in at least four professional development workshops.
- Students who are eligible for the Arts & Humanities Internship Program (AHIP) may be able to count a USRI as a 0.5 academic credit. For more information on the AHIP eligibility criteria, go to the AHIP website.
Faculty Mentor/Supervisor Objectives
- Faculty mentors will co-develop a learning and development plan with their USRI student, with clear expectations to ensure an equitable working environment.
- They will attend the end-of-summer virtual exhibition of research outputs if possible.
- They will participate in program evaluation through surveys to monitor program success.
Value and Duration
USRIs are valued at a minimum of $9,856 for a 16-week term May through August 2026.
Eligibility
Supervisor
- Must hold a research-eligible appointment in Art and Humanities; if you hold a joint appointment with another Faculty, please apply to your home Faculty.
- Additional co-supervisors do not need to hold a research-eligible appointment.
Student
- Must be enrolled at Western in an undergraduate program in Winter 2025, and preference will be given to students entering their fourth year of study in Fall 2025 (see full adjudication criteria below).
- Must be available to participate in research activity for 16 weeks between May 1 and August 31, 2025; specific dates and levels of research engagement will be determined collaboratively with the faculty supervisor.
Application Process
In Arts & Humanities, applications will be accepted from two streams:- Matched Stream: Students and supervisors who wish to work together on a research project apply together.
- Unmatched Stream: Students apply individually. The department will try to match the student to a suitable supervisor and project based on mutual interests.
Please note:
- Final rankings will give equal consideration to each Track. Please choose the one that best suits you.
- We encourage students to contact their potential mentors and develop their research ideas.
Adjudication
Departments will screen applications for eligibility and rank them based on:- The student’s academic record shown in an unofficial transcript;
- Clarity and feasibility of the proposed research (Matched applicants) or the ability to match the student to an appropriate supervisor (Unmatched applicants);
- Enrolment status as of Fall 2025, with preference given in this order:
- 3rd year students continuing at Western;
- 4th year students returning as a special student or in graduate studies;
- 1st and 2nd year students;
- 4th year students not returning to Western.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please note the information about the program is still subject to change and may be updated for summer 2026. Please check back before the application deadline for any updates.
Your proposed supervisor should apply to their home faculty.
If you wish to apply to the matched stream and your proposed supervisor holds a primary appointment in Arts & Humanities, then yes. However, only Arts & Humanities majors can choose the unmatched stream, which requires them to apply to their department (or one of their departments for those doing a double major where both majors are in A&H).
USRIs are reserved for students registered in an undergraduate program at Western. Students from other institutions are not eligible.
Yes, however preference will be given to students who expect to enroll at Western in Fall 2026 as an undergraduate or graduate student.
The award is categorized as a fellowship and will be reported to the student on a T4A tax slip (non-employment income) at the end of 2026. There are no statutory deductions required to be withheld from the payments.
Students and supervisors should discuss expectations for on-campus vs. remote work as they develop their project, and prior to taking up the USRI.
A template will be provided which outlines the program requirements. The learning and development plan will help guide the goals for the summer and will encourage students to think about how to integrate what they learn in the workshops into their research output. The learning plan will establish an agreement between the student and faculty supervisor concerning expectations of research activity, attendance, communication, and the final research output.
Yes, a supervisor can oversee more than one student or USRI project during the summer program. The final decision will be up to the discretion of the home Faculty.
No, an undergraduate student can only hold one USRI award during the summer. However, the program welcomes returning students who participated in previous summers.
The EDI-D workshops are not mandatory but given the importance of EDI-D among research funders and the critical contribution to research creativity and excellence, participation is strongly encouraged.
Yes, undergraduate students working through other summer research opportunities offered at Western are welcome to register for any USRI workshops being offered.
Testimonials
"I had a wonderful experience participating in the USRI program. It was a very fruitful journey as I was able to dive deep into a subject I was interested in and work with professors in the field to create a project. In this process, I was given the chance to practice and learn lots of valuable skills such as locating scholarly resources and effectively leveraging databases. The knowledge and experience that I've gained during the program have significantly contributed to my academic growth and will undoubtedly be beneficial in my future endeavors. I am very grateful for this exceptional experience and encourage every student who is interested to apply."
- Fourth year student completing an Honors Specialization in Philosophy
"The USRI was a phenomenal opportunity to both explore a topic I am passionate about and learn new skills. With tons of weekly workshops available to develop your research competencies, the program sets you up for success while giving you an exciting level of freedom. The USRI is flexible yet challenging, which proved to be a winning combination for my growth and development. I would highly recommend applying for the USRI if you are interested in research and are looking for fulfilling summer work."