Overview
WCVM initially developed the summer research program because of Western Canada's need for attracting more veterinarians to jobs in research, diagnostic laboratories, regulatory work or academia.
The program is designed to provide encouraging and positive research experiences to undergraduate students who are enrolled in veterinary medicine as well as in pre-health sciences courses at the University of Saskatchewan.
Research mentors — members of WCVM's faculty — must demonstrate that their students will have a positive experience with direct involvement in planning and developing a research study, conducting experiments, collecting and summarizing results, and writing and editing a research report.
Besides gaining valuable research experience, summer research students have access to leadership and communication skills workshops. The research program also gives students the opportunity to meet with veterinarians working in industry and government. Another addition is an annual research poster day that encourages undergraduate student to showcase their research work.
Interprovincial Program
The WCVM's longest-running undergraduate research program is financially supported by British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba — the college's three provincial funding partners. The program provides WCVM veterinary students with valuable research experiences and introduces them to the world of veterinary and biomedical research. Ultimately, the goal is to encourage more western Canadian students to pursue advanced training in veterinary medicine or biomedical sciences.
Once a research supervisor-mentor is identified, the student will work with the mentor to design and formulate a summer research project. After the research work has been completed, students must submit a project report that provides specific details about the student's work and findings. The student will also present a poster at the annual WCVM undergraduate research poster day in early September.
The WCVM Research and Graduate Studies Office annually accepts applications for the Interprovincial Undergraduate Summer Research program in January. Final decisions will be announced by the first week in February.
PLEASE NOTE: all applicants must meet the minimum 70 per cent GPA requirement.
Please complete the application form and append the following materials:
- Curriculum vitae for student
- Covering letter from supervisor indicating:
- their willingness to undertake the supervision of this research
- feasibility of the proposed research
- learning outcomes for the student
- data on the supervision of undergraduate students in the past five years:
- names of undergraduate students supervised
- peer-reviewed publications by the students
- conference presentations with undergraduate students as authors
- names of undergraduate students who continued on to graduate work
- Assurance of animal care form
Please submit the completed application and materials online by January 12, 2026.
Undergraduate students who are involved in the program receive a stipend of approx $3,100 per month for the summer months (May 1 to August 15). Selected students also receive $500 in support of their research projects.
NSERC USRA program
About
The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) provides Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRAs) to stimulate interest in research in the natural sciences and engineering, providing funding for 16 weeks of research-related employment.
Key date
- January 23, 2026 (11:59 p.m. CST): deadline for the NSERC USRA 2026 competition applications
USRAs are meant to stimulate your interest in research in the natural sciences and engineering. They are also meant to encourage students to undertake graduate studies and pursue a research career in these fields.
If you would like to gain research work experience that complements your studies in an academic setting, these awards can provide you with financial support through your host university. This program is managed institutionally through the university's Office of the Vice-President Research (OVPR). Click on the green button below to visit the OVPR website.
Undergraduate Student Poster Day
About
This annual event acknowledges exemplary research and learning activity taking place by undergraduate students at the WCVM. Any undergraduate students who were supervised by WCVM faculty can present a poster. The Poster Day is mandatory for students that received Interprovincial, Boehringer-Ingelheim or TEHRF funding.
Key dates
- Abstract Submissions Due August TBD, 2026
- Poster Day September TBD, 2026
Poster's will be displayed on the 2nd floor with student presentations from 12:00 - 1:00pm and awards will be announced at 4:00 pm in the 3rd floor Atrium.