Internship scholarship program

Applicants must meet all the following conditions to be eligible for the program:

• Be registered full time in a Masters or Ph.D. program at Université Laval
• Propose an internship whose objectives are in line with the research program of Sentinel North as presented in its conceptual framework
• Propose an out-of-province internship lasting at least one month
• Propose an internship at a host institution eligible for the program (see the Host institutions and supervisors section for details)
• Have financial support in addition to the Sentinel North internship scholarship for remaining expenses (e.g., transportation and visa fees, training costs, etc.)
• Propose knowledge transfer activities with peers and/or the community

To remain eligible for funding during their research study period abroad, applicants must maintain full-time student status in their graduate studies program at Université Laval.

Host institutions and supervisors

Host institutions must be located outside Québec and may be universities, interuniversity research centers, international or national research institutes or laboratories, or other institutions that actively carry out research.

The host supervisor must be a professor, center director, or senior researcher affiliated with and employed full time by the eligible host institution. If the host supervisor's primary place of employment is outside academia, they must demonstrate that they have supervised graduate student researchers.

The following documents must be included with the application:

• The scholarship application form, duly completed
• The applicant's résumé (up to two pages)
• A copy of the applicant's university transcripts (completed studies and current program)
• A recommendation letter from UL supervisor or co-supervisor justifying the relevance and added value of the internship to the applicant's academic progress
• The résumé of the research supervisor in charge at the host institution
• A letter of invitation addressed to the applicant specifying the dates of the internship, the services to be provided, and the support to be offered by the host institution
• Proof of co-funding for the internship (letter from the supervisor, award letter for additional funding, applicant's own contribution, etc.)

Applications and all required documents must be sent in one email to formation@sn.ulaval.ca.

Applications are assessed and judged by the Sentinel North evaluation committee according to the evaluation criteria and weighting process. Only proposals consistent with Sentinel North's research program and supported by applicants' supervisors will be considered.

Indicators by evaluation criteria

Quality of applicant's academic record and aptitude for research (30 points)

• Academic grade point averages for bachelor's and Master's degrees
• The experience and achievements of the applicant

Overall quality of the internship proposal (35 points)

• Clarity of the scientific objectives set out in the internship proposal
• Justification of the choice of research supervisor at the host institution and/or of the host institution abroad
• Suitability of the methodology in relation to the internship objectives
• Feasibility of the proposed activities (budget, timelines, expected results)
• Relevance of the proposal to Sentinel North's research program
• Multidisciplinary nature of the internship or the contribution of more than one discipline to carry it out
• Expected support from the host institution
• Multidisciplinary nature of the supervising team

Added value of the proposed internship (20 points)

• Added value of the proposed internship in relation to the current graduate degree training of the applicant (link and expected benefits)
• Recommendation letter from the UL research supervisor

Proposed knowledge transfer activities (15 points)

• Relevance and quality of the proposed activities
• Intended audience

Announcement of the results

Applicants will receive an email informing them of the evaluation committee's decision within four weeks of receipt of their application.

Applicants must accept or decline the scholarship within ten (10) business days of receipt of the notice of award by sending an email to formation@sn.ulaval.ca. If acceptance is not received within this time limit, applicants will be deemed to have declined the scholarship.

Sentinel North's decisions are final and binding.

Scholarship validity period

• The research period abroad must start within one year of receipt of the notice of award.
• The start date of the granted funding may not be earlier than the date of submission of the application. Should you begin your stay before the evaluation committee announces its results, Sentinel North will not be responsible for expenses incurred if the application is deemed inadmissible or for any expenses incurred before the date of award.
• The funded internship must be completed before initial submission of the Masters or Ph.D. thesis.

Eligible expenses

• Eligible expenses include living allowances, health insurance coverage abroad, and a portion of the training costs (up to $500).
• The maximum eligible amount for monthly allowances is weighted based on the destination and cost of living. A table of maximum eligible allowances for primary destinations is available on the Sentinel North website. For information on the eligible amount for any other location, please contact formation@sn.ulaval.ca.
• Every applicant must obtain support from their research director and/or other sources to fund expenses not covered by the Sentinel North internship scholarship. Agreement to such support is acknowledged either by the letter of recommendation from the director attesting taking charge of cost or by an award letter for additional funding.
• The applicant's estimated budget will be reviewed when the application is evaluated by the committee. Sentinel North reserves the right to refuse a bursary application in the event that the funds secured for the completion of the student's internship are insufficient.
• Applicants must specify on their applications if they will be compensated for their internship.

Required documents

• A signed internship agreement between Université Laval, the student, and the institution hosting the internship is required before the student travels to the internship location. This agreement must, at a minimum, specify the dates of the internship, the responsibilities of the parties, and the student's main activities. Detailed instructions on the preparation of this agreement will be shared with the scholarship recipient in the award letter.
• It is the student's responsibility to ensure that he/she obtains health and hospitalization insurance coverage for the duration of the stay and to obtain any legal documents required for travel, if applicable (visa, work permit, etc.). The student is also required to register on the Université Laval's Cosmopolite portal before departure.

Payment of scholarships

• The funds will be transferred to a project managed by the administrative unit of the research supervisor. Scholarships will be paid in two installments : A payment of 85% of the amount granted by Sentinel North for allowances will be made at least 30 days before the student's departure date and upon receipt of the signed internship agreement ; At the end of the internship, the remaining 15% will be paid to the student upon presentation of a short internship report (see following section for details).
• Other eligible expenses will be reimbursed upon presentation of supporting documents in compliance with Université Laval regulations.
• In the event that an internship is interrupted prior to completion, the student must repay the unused portion of their budget, as described in the internship budget approved by Sentinel North.

Expected report

• At the end of an internship, the scholarship holder must also produce a maximum two-page report on their training experience describing the activities carried out during the internship and/or the training received, and how the internship has contributed to their research and career plan. The texts produced may be published in whole or in part on the Sentinel North website.
• Fellows are also encouraged to present the results of their experience both in the host environment and upon their return to Université Laval.

Restrictions

• Internships whose main objective is attending a conference or symposium are not eligible.
• The Sentinel North Internship Scholarship does not cover costs directly related to research. It cannot be used to fund the main research activities of the student's research project (e.g. field data collection, etc.). These costs must be covered by other sources of funding.
• Students are eligible to receive only one Sentinel North internship scholarship per degree program.
• Prior to departure, a student must have earned at least 12 credits in their study program, excluding equivalencies and exemptions.

Further details on the procedure for awarding scholarships

The selection criteria are subject to change. Such modifications will be duly posted on Sentinel North's website.