The Work Learn International Undergraduate Research Awards are designed for international undergraduate students who are interested in research.
These awards subsidize professors to hire students to work on their research projects. International students who receive the awards gain workplace experience through an undergraduate research opportunity.
International exchange or visiting students are not eligible for this award.
To be eligible to apply for an award, you must meet all the following requirements:
If you are an international undergraduate student that is graduating, you are eligible only for the academic term directly after you complete your program requirements, regardless of your graduation date.
Students who finish their courses in Winter Term 2 (April) and graduate in the spring (May) will be eligible to hold a Work Learn International Undergraduate Research Award in the summer term.
UBC students who have completed their program requirements and whose program completion letter is not yet available are considered “full time for immigration purposes” by UBC.
If your letter of completion is available, you must have applied for a post-graduation work permit or have some other form of authorization to work in Canada. If you have questions about your work eligibility, please speak with an International Student Advisor.
It is your responsibility to ensure you have the necessary work authorization documents to work after completing your studies.
Undergraduate international students who are planning to work full-time during the summer (as is the case for Work Learn International Undergraduate Research Award recipients) must be on a scheduled break to meet the full-time definition for immigration purposes.
These awards have a value of $6,000 each. This amount will be reimbursed to your project supervisor's account.
Faculty supervisors are required to supplement the amount of the award using other sources such as university funds or other funds from research grants to meet BC’s minimum wage requirements.
The minimum pay for the tenure of your award of 16 weeks is $8,654.46 (inclusive of 4% vacation pay). If the award is longer than 16 weeks, your pay should increase by a minimum of $553.28 for each additional week (inclusive of 4% vacation pay) or $110.66 for each additional day (inclusive of 4% vacation pay).
Supervisors are also required to fund benefits (Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Employment Insurance (EI), Workers Compensation Board (WCB)) amounting to approximately 7.48% of the salary.
You will receive your payment from the university in accordance with its pay procedures. You will also receive a T4 or T4A slip (Statement of Income) for tax purposes from UBC Payroll. Learn about taxes in Canada.
We will not reimburse your supervisor for any period during which you worked part-time. No payment will be approved for any vacation leave you take during the work period of the award.
Create your own research opportunity by contacting eligible professors you would like to work with and tell them about this program. Many professors will be happy to talk to you about the opportunity to hire you at a subsidized wage.
If you find a professor who is interested, ask them to contact worklearn.iura@ubc.ca for more information, or submit a proposal on UBC CareersOnline, the online job board for UBC students. For detailed information on the application process, see the “How to apply” section below.
Know what you are going to say. Be prepared to talk about your interests, knowledge areas, and lab or volunteer experience.
Familiarize yourself with the professor's research subject so you can ask informed questions. This will show that you are genuinely interested in helping with their research.
Bring a copy of your resume.
Regardless of whether you get the opportunity or not, thank the professor for their time after you meet with them.
You have two options for applying to the Work Learn International Undergraduate Research Awards:
The deadlines differ depending on the option you wish to take.
See the application timeline overview for more information on the overall application process.
Create your own research opportunity by contacting a UBC Vancouver faculty member and let them know about the program. The faculty member must submit the research project proposal on UBC CareersOnline through an employer account by February 17, 2021.
You may choose to work with your faculty member to complete the online proposal form. Please refer your faculty member to the Faculty and Staff webpage for additional information on how to submit a research project proposal.
The call for research proposals open from January 4 - February 17, 2021.
The faculty member will be notified whether or not they have received the award in early March.
All research opportunities within the Work Learn International Undergraduate Research Awards will be posted on UBC CareersOnline, visible through your student account. You will apply directly to the faculty member by the method they have indicated in the posting on UBC CareersOnline.
Research opportunities in the Summer 2021 term will be posted from March 8 - 28, 2021.
Tips for Students
1. Ensure you have a valid study permit and a SIN number. A social insurance number (SIN) is necessary for working in Canada. Visit the Government of Canada website for information on how to obtain a SIN if you do not already have one. If you have any questions about working while you are a student, visit International Student Advising as soon as possible.
2. Have a specific resume and cover letter for each application you apply to. Generic cover letters rarely get looked at. Find opportunities you are interested in and highlight what excites you about the opportunity as well as the skills and experience that would help you be successful. Find more tips on how to write your resume and cover letter.
3. Prepare for your interview. A little preparation goes a long way. Read the position description carefully and be prepared to speak to why you are interested and what you hope to learn from the experience. Anticipating what questions you might get asked will help make you feel more confident for your interview.
Learn more about interview preparation.
Please email the Senior Program Assistant at worklearn.iura@ubc.ca or call 604 827 2937 from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday.
