{"id":104304,"date":"2016-03-16T10:44:20","date_gmt":"2016-03-16T14:44:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bbaf.ulaval.ca\/en\/?page_id=104304"},"modified":"2026-05-04T11:12:51","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T15:12:51","slug":"merit-scholarship-programs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bbaf.ulaval.ca\/en\/scholarships-bursaries\/international-students\/merit-scholarship-programs\/","title":{"rendered":"Merit Scholarship Programs"},"content":{"rendered":"
[boite_bleue]\n

Next scholarship contest in May 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Information on this page\u00a0is subject\u00a0to change without notice and is for guidance\u00a0only.<\/p>\n[\/boite_bleue]<\/div>\n

\"Merit<\/h2>\n

Merit Scholarship Program for Foreign Students<\/h2>\n

Qu\u00e9bec\u2019s Minist\u00e8re de l’Enseignement sup\u00e9rieur (MES) offers scholarships for master’s studies, doctoral studies, a postdoctoral fellowship, or short-term research or professional development.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The scholarship program, designed to foster international research activities in Qu\u00e9bec universities by attracting top foreign students and researchers, is administered by Fonds qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois de la recherche sur la nature et les technologies (FQRNT). There are 4\u00a0scholarship categories:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

VM \u2013 Master’s Research Scholarships<\/a> (The 2026-2027 selection process is now closed<\/strong>.)<\/span>\n$20,000 per year<\/strong> for up to 2 years.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

V1 \u2013 Doctoral Research Scholarships<\/a> (The 2026-2027 selection process is now closed<\/strong>.)<\/span>\n$25,000 per year<\/strong> for up to 4\u00a0years.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

V2 \u2013 Postdoctoral Fellowships<\/a> (The 2026-2027 selection process is now closed<\/strong>.)<\/span>\n$35,000 per year<\/strong>, nonrenewable.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

V3 – Short-term Research or Professional Development<\/a> (The 2026-2027 selection process is now closed<\/strong>.)<\/span>\n$3,000 per month<\/strong> for a maximum period of 4\u00a0months, for students or researchers.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rules of the program<\/h3>\n

For more information on eligibility requirements refer to the rules of the program<\/a> or visit the FRQNT website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

2027-2028 preselection<\/h2>\n

Only candidates preselected by a Qu\u00e9bec university will be invited by FQRNT to submit for the final round of selection. The results of the internal selection process will be announced in late September.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Files submitted for preselection require the support of a professor who has agreed to work with the student and supervise his or her research.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/strong>Universit\u00e9 Laval\u2019s deadline to submit for preselection is June 17, 2026.<\/div><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\n

FAQ<\/h2>\n[accordeon_titre]\n

All components<\/p>\n[\/accordeon_titre]\n[accordeon_contenu]\n

1. Can I apply if I don\u2019t have a research supervisor at Universit\u00e9 Laval?<\/strong>
\nNo. To be eligible for the Merit Scholarship Program for Foreign Students (PBEEE), you must first find a Universit\u00e9 Laval supervisor who will agree to supervise your work. Visit the Universit\u00e9 Laval website<\/a> to begin your search.<\/p>\n

2. How do I create a Canadian Common CV and save it as a PDF?<\/strong>
\nSee the document here<\/a> for more information. (French only)<\/p>\n

3. Can I add a bibliography to my research project?<\/strong>
\nA 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.<\/p>\n

4. If I receive a scholarship, when will the payments start?<\/strong>
\nFor the 2026\u20132027 competition, payments will start in May 2026 at the earliest and January\u00a02027 at the latest.<\/p>\n

5. I would like to apply for permanent residency soon. Can I still apply for the scholarship?
\n<\/strong>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\u2019s final selection, November\u00a01, 2025.<\/p>\n

6. What fields of research are eligible for the Merit Scholarship Program for Foreign Students?<\/strong>
\nEven though the program is administered by Fonds de recherche Nature et technologies (FRQNT), all fields are eligible.<\/p>\n[\/accordeon_contenu]\n[accordeon_titre]\n

VM<\/p>\n[\/accordeon_titre]\n[accordeon_contenu]\n

1. Are course-based master\u2019s degrees eligible for this scholarship? <\/strong><\/p>\n

No, only research-based master\u2019s degrees are eligible.<\/p>\n

2. Do we need publications to apply?<\/strong><\/p>\n

No, publications are not required for the master\u2019s degree competition.<\/p>\n

3. Do I need an offer of admission to apply?<\/strong><\/p>\n

No, you do not need to have received an offer of admission. However, you must have submitted a complete application for admission to Universit\u00e9 Laval.<\/p>\n

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?<\/strong><\/p>\n

It is normal for there to be a delay of approximately 48 to 72\u00a0hours before you can access the form. It is your responsibility to submit your application well in advance to allow time for the competition.<\/p>\n

5. My average is below 4\/4.33. Can I apply?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Given the large number of applications received and the quota available, no applications below the minimum average will be considered.<\/p>\n

6. Do I need a research supervisor to apply?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yes, you must already have found your research supervisor when you apply. You can find advice here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

7. Am I eligible if I completed the equivalent of a master\u2019s degree outside Canada?<\/strong><\/p>\n

To be eligible, you must have completed a maximum of three semesters in a master\u2019s program, in any master\u2019s program or country, on May 1, 2026.<\/p>\n[\/accordeon_contenu]\n[accordeon_titre]\n

V1<\/p>\n[\/accordeon_titre]\n[accordeon_contenu]\n

1. I come from another university and I have never studied at Universit\u00e9 Laval. Can I apply?<\/strong>
\nTo be eligible you must have\u00a0accepted an offer of admission<\/a> in a doctoral program at Universit\u00e9 Laval or already be registered at Universit\u00e9 Laval.<\/p>\n

2. What is the minimum GPA?<\/strong>
\nYou must have had a minimum GPA of 4\/4.33 in your last master\u2019s program (completed or not) to be eligible. See here<\/a> for equivalencies. (French only)<\/p>\n

3. I have already started my PhD program at Universit\u00e9 Laval. Am I eligible?<\/strong>
\nYou 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\u2019s 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)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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

5. I am doing my program in cotutelle. Am I eligible?<\/strong>
\nNo. Cotutelle students are not eligible.<\/p>\n

6. Should I be first author for the two (2) scientific articles?<\/strong>
\nIt is not mandatory to be first author. Articles as co-author are accepted.<\/p>\n[\/accordeon_contenu]\n[accordeon_titre]\n

V2 and V3<\/p>\n[\/accordeon_titre]\n[accordeon_contenu]\n

1. How soon after receiving my PhD am I eligible for V2?<\/strong>
\nV2 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\u00a015, 2027.<\/p>\n

2. How soon after receiving my PhD am I eligible for V3?<\/strong>
\nYou must have received your PhD within five years of the final closing date of the FRQNT competition, November\u00a01, 2025.<\/p>\n

3. Should I use the FRQNT PDF form for my letters of recommendation and my supervisor\u2019s letter of acceptance?<\/strong>
\nNo. For the Universit\u00e9 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 Universit\u00e9 Laval.<\/p>\n

4. Should my letters of recommendation be sent by my referees in a sealed envelope?<\/strong>
\nNo. 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n[\/accordeon_contenu]\n[boite_grise]The terms and conditions of this scholarship program are posted on this page for information purposes only and are subject to change without notice. The information on the\u00a0Fonds qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois de la recherche sur la nature et les technologies (FRQNT) website<\/a> prevails at all times.<\/strong>[\/boite_grise]\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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