Merit Scholarship Programs

1. Can I apply if I don’t have a research supervisor at Université Laval?
No. To be eligible for the Merit Scholarship Program for Foreign Students (PBEEE), you must first find a Université Laval supervisor who will agree to supervise your work. Visit the Université Laval website to begin your search.

2. How do I create a Canadian Common CV and save it as a PDF?
See the document here for more information. (French only)

3. Can I add a bibliography to my research project?
A bibliography is not required. However, you may add a short bibliography of up to half a page to the one page allowed for the description of the research project. The bibliography must include three to five publications related to your research project.

4. If I receive a scholarship, when will the payments start?
For the 2025–2026 competition, payments will start in May 2025 at the earliest and January 2026 at the latest.

5. I would like to apply for permanent residency soon. Can I still apply for the scholarship?
To be eligible for this program you must not have submitted an application for permanent residency under Canadian immigration law as of the closing date of FRQNT’s final selection, November 1, 2024.

6. What fields of research are eligible for the Merit Scholarship Program for Foreign Students?
Even though the program is administered by Fonds de recherche Nature et technologies (FRQNT), all fields are eligible.

1. Are course-based master’s degrees eligible for this scholarship?

No, only research-based master’s degrees are eligible.

2. Do we need publications to apply?

No, publications are not required for the master’s degree competition.

3. Do I need an offer of admission to apply?

No, you do not need to have received an offer of admission. However, you must have submitted a complete application for admission to Université Laval.

4. I have submitted an application for admission, but I do not have access to the system yet. How do I apply for a scholarship?

It is normal for there to be a delay of approximately 48 to 72 hours before you can access the form. It is your responsibility to submit your application well in advance to allow time for the competition.

5. My average is below 4/4.33. Can I apply?

Given the large number of applications received and the quota available, no applications below the minimum average will be considered.

6. Do I need a research supervisor to apply?

Yes, you must already have found your research supervisor when you apply. You can find advice here.

7. Am I eligible if I completed the equivalent of a master’s degree outside Canada?

To be eligible, you must have completed a maximum of three semesters in a master’s program, in any master’s program or country, on May 1, 2025.

1. I come from another university and I have never studied at Université Laval. Can I apply?
To be eligible you must have accepted an offer of admission in a doctoral program at Université Laval or already be registered at Université Laval.

2. What is the minimum GPA?
You must have had a minimum GPA of 4/4.33 in your last master’s program (completed or not) to be eligible. See here for equivalencies. (French only)

3. I have already started my PhD program at Université Laval. Am I eligible?
You do not have to be newly admitted to your program to be eligible for V1 (PhD). However, the eligibility period covers the first nine semesters of doctoral studies. All semesters you completed in your program before the scholarship’s effective date are subtracted from the eligibility period, whether you received funding for them or not. For more information, read the FRQNT rules (Section 3).

4. I have already completed one PhD. Do the semesters completed as part of my first doctorate count toward the nine-semester eligibility period?
Yes. All doctoral studies count, even if you are doing a second PhD.

5. I am doing my program in cotutelle. Am I eligible?
No. Cotutelle students are not eligible.

6. Should I be first author for the two (2) scientific articles?
It is not mandatory to be first author. Articles as co-author are accepted.

1. How soon after receiving my PhD am I eligible for V2?
V2 scholarships are intended for researchers in training who received their doctorate two years ago or less as of the competition closing date, or who will have submitted their dissertation no later than January 15, 2026.

2. How soon after receiving my PhD am I eligible for V3?
You must have received your PhD within five years of the final closing date of the FRQNT competition, November 1, 2024.

3. Should I use the FRQNT PDF form for my letters of recommendation and my supervisor’s letter of acceptance?
No. For the Université Laval preselection competition, standard letters on letterhead signed by your referee are fine. The FRQNT form will be required only if your application is preselected by Université Laval.

4. Should my letters of recommendation be sent by my referees in a sealed envelope?
No. Your letters may be included with the rest of your application. If your referee wishes the contents of their letter to remain confidential, it may be sent by email to the following address: pbeee@bbaf.ulaval.ca.