Research Opportunities, Scholarships & Awards

Research Opportunities

Conducting your own research can be an incredibly rewarding experience, allowing you to gain deep insight into a topic you are passionate about. Develop valuable skills and discover new insights that contribute to the field of statistics, data science or actuarial science – and help solve real-world problems.

 

Applications for the research awards below are now closed. Deadlines for 2026 will be updated in early 2026.

 

Funded Research Opportunities

Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA)

Funded by: Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada (NSERC)

Duration: 16 weeks

Value: $7,500

Deadline: TBD for 2026

Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) help fund 16 weeks of research under the supervision of a faculty member. USRA are meant to stimulate undergraduate students' interest in natural sciences and engineering research, encourage students to undertake graduate studies and pursue a research career in one of the fields that fall under the natural sciences and engineering umbrella.

The following research projects were available in Summer 2025.

Student Eligibility:

  1. Must be an undergraduate student currently enrolled in a Department of Statistical Sciences Specialist or Major program.
  2. Currently registered full-time or part-time student at the time of application.
  3. Must have completed STA302 with at least a B+ grade.

How to submit your application:

Please fill out and submit the following application form: TBD for 2026.

If you have any questions regarding these awards, please contact ug.statistics@utoronto.ca

Funded by: Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada (NSERC)

Duration: 16 weeks

Value: $7,500

Deadline: TBD for 2026

The NSERC Black Student & Indigenous Student Undergraduate Student Research Awards program provides research experience that complements the degree program undergraduate students are pursuing. The program is meant stimulate undergraduate students' interest in natural sciences and engineering research and to encourage a research career in one of the fields that fall under the natural sciences and engineering umbrella. Students must self-identify as Black or Indigenous on the online application form.

The following research projects were available in Summer 2025.

Student Eligibility:

  1. Must be an undergraduate student currently enrolled in a Department of Statistical Sciences Specialist or Major program.
  2. Currently registered full-time or part-time student at the time of application.
  3. Must have completed STA302 with at least a B+ grade.

How to submit your application:

Please fill out and submit the following application form: TBD for 2026.

If you have any questions regarding these awards, please contact ug.statistics@utoronto.ca

Funded by: University of Toronto, Vice-President Research and Innovation

Duration: 14 weeks

Value: $7,500

Deadline: TBD for 2026

The University of Toronto Excellence Award (UTEA) program provides undergraduate students from both the Natural Sciences & Engineering (NSE) and the Social Sciences & Humanities (SSH) with funding to conduct summer research projects under the supervision of U of T faculty members. Research projects are 14 full weeks in the summer term, between May 1 and September 30, 2025.

The following research projects were available ub summer 2025:

Student Eligibility:

  1. Must be an undergraduate student currently enrolled in a Department of Statistical Sciences Specialist or Major program.
  2. Currently registered full-time or part-time student at the time of application.
  3. Must have completed STA302 with at least a B+ grade.

How to submit your application:

Please fill out and submit the following application form: TBD for 2026.

If you have any questions regarding these awards, please contact ug.statistics@utoronto.ca

Funded by: Department of Statistical Sciences

Value: $2,000

Deadline: TBD for 2026

Summer Undergraduate Research Award (SURA) will take place over the summer months. The award is open to all students who are currently enrolled in a Department of Statistical Sciences (DoSS) Specialist or Major program and who have completed STA302 with at least a B+ by the time of application.

The following research projects were available in Summer 2025:

Student Eligibility:

  1. Must be an undergraduate student currently enrolled in a Department of Statistical Sciences Specialist or Major program.
  2. Currently registered full-time or part-time student at the time of application.
  3. Must have completed STA302 with at least a B+ grade.

How to submit your application:

Please fill out and submit the following application form: TBD for 2026.

If you have any questions regarding these awards, please contact ug.statistics@utoronto.ca

Non-Funded Research, Seminar or Project Opportunities

If you would like to gain research experience while working one-on-one with our faculty, consider enrolling in one of our independent reading courses: STA496H1/STA497H1. It's a great opportunity to work independently, hone your research skills and benefit from mentorship.

Deadline: Apply here by July 31, 2025.

For information about our independent reading courses, check out the Faculty of Arts & Science Calendar STA courses page.

STA490Y1 – Statistical Consultation, Communication, and Collaboration

If you would like to develop skills in the collaborative practice of Statistics through case studies and collaboration with researchers in other disciplines, consider applying for STA490Y1. The application form will be posted in July 2025.

Deadline: TBD

STA492H1 – Seminar in Statistical Science

Consider applying for STA492H1 if you want to explore novel influential ideas and current research topics in statistics through readings and discussion. The application form will be posted in July 2025.

Deadline: TBD

 

For information on the courses above visit the Faculty of Arts & Science Calendar STA courses page.

 

Scholarships & Awards 

There's a wide range of scholarships and awards available to U of T undergrad students. Have a look at the Faculty of Arts & Science scholarship website to learn more. Below, please find a selection of scholarships and awards specifically for statistics and actuarial science undergrad students.

Statistics

Established by: SCiAN Services Inc.

Value: $2,500

This award will automatically be given to the third-year student with the best grade point average in the Applied Statistics Specialist or Statistics Specialist programs.

Actuarial Science

The following scholarships are available to U of T actuarial science undergrad students and do not require students to submit an application.

Established by: Hewitt Associates

This scholarship is awarded at the end of the second year with financial needs being considered. The same student will receive the awards for two years, providing he or she continues to demonstrate financial need and maintains an academic standing entering fourth year which is consistent with his or her academic performance when first awarded the scholarship.

Established by: gifts from the Associates of the University of Toronto Inc., family, friends and former colleagues of A.F. Williams; matched by OSOTF and EAF

Awarded to a student who has completed ACT240H and 247H combined (or equivalent courses). Financial need must be considered. Academic performance will also be considered.

Established by: Florence Maye Bryson in memory of her husband, Albert E. Bryson

An annual award to a fourth-year student who has completed at least five full course requirements from the third and fourth years of the Specialist Program in Actuarial Science. At least three full course equivalents must be in Actuarial Science.

This scholarship is awarded at the end of the third year to one full-time student enrolled in the Specialist Actuarial Science Program. The recipient will have demonstrated academic excellence in both second and third-year Actuarial Science courses. While academic merit is the primary consideration, preference may be given to students demonstrating financial need. For more information and to apply, please contact ug.actsci@utoronto.ca.

Established by: associates of the University of Toronto Inc. in honour of Dr. James T. Phillips and Marjorie Phillips

Awarded to an outstanding third-year student with the highest aggregate in two full course equivalents in Actuarial Science at the 300-level or higher.

Established by: Eckler Partners Ltd in honour of founding chairman, Samuel Eckler

Awarded in Established by: colleagues and friends of Professor P. L. J. Ryall, a former faculty member in the Department of Statistical Sciences

Awarded to an outstanding student who has completed the Specialist Program in Actuarial Science with the highest Cumulative GPA.

second year to an outstanding student in the Specialist Program in Actuarial Science who has an A-average overall and who has received a mark of an A in ACT 240F. The student will continue to hold the scholarship in third and fourth years provided that the student remains enrolled in the Specialist Program in Actuarial Science and maintains a B+ average overall and an A average in all required actuarial courses.

Established by: Eckler Partners Ltd in honour of founding chairman, Samuel Eckler

Awarded in second year to an outstanding student in the Specialist Program in Actuarial Science who has an A-average overall and who has received a mark of an A in ACT 240F. The student will continue to hold the scholarship in third and fourth years provided that the student remains enrolled in the Specialist Program in Actuarial Science and maintains a B+ average overall and an A average in all required actuarial courses.

 

The following scholarships are available to U of T actuarial science undergrad students and require students to submit an application.

Established by: Definity Insurance Foundation

Value: $5,000

The Definity Equity Scholarship program is designed to support students from equity-deserving groups, reflecting our commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable culture. This scholarship provides financial assistance to students enrolled in post-secondary institutions in Canada who are pursuing a diploma or degree in a field that contributes to our mission of improving the insurance industry.

Each year, 10 scholarships are awarded based on a committee review. Eligible students must have maintained a minimum GPA of 75% in their most recent academic year.

For more information and to apply, visit the SCHOLARSHIPS section of this page..

Established by: OCCA

Deadline: announced in class

This award is given to an Actuarial Science Specialist Program student who has completed third year and will be returning for fourth year. The recipient is chosen by the OCCA.

Find more information on the Ontario Conference of Casualty Actuaries (OCCA) Scholarship in Actuarial Science.

Established by: Samuel Beatty Fund and through donations from the family, friends and colleagues of Samuel Beatty

Deadline: announced in class

These scholarships are given to students in second, third or fourth year, taking a specialist program offered by the Departments of Mathematics, Physics, Statistics or Computer Science. Awards will be given based on academic performance during the previous year and based on need. Contact our Actuarial Science Undergraduate Administrator for more information and applications at ug.actsci@utoronto.ca.

 

The following scholarships are available to actuarial science students beyond the University of Toronto.

Established by: CAS

Value: $10,000 scholarship (first place); $5,000 (second and third place)

Deadline: typically March (see CAS Scholarship page for more details)

This scholarship furthers students’ interest in the property/casualty actuarial profession and encourages the pursuit of the CAS designations. Applicants must:

  • Be permanent residents of the U.S. or Canada or have a permanent resident visa
  • Admitted as full-time students to a U.S. or Canadian educational institution to be eligible
  • Have demonstrated high academic achievement and a strong interest in mathematics or a mathematics-related field.

This scholarship requires students to submit an application. Recommendations, transcripts, actuarial exam results, work experience, and written essays will all be considered in selecting the award recipients.

Additional details and applications are available on the CAS Scholarship page.

Established by: IABA

Value: $3,000 - $5,000/year

Deadline: please refer to the IABA website for deadlines

This program provides scholarships at the undergraduate and graduate level to qualified black students who are interested in pursuing an actuarial career. IABA’s mission is to contribute to an increase in the number of black actuaries and to influence the successful career development, civic growth and achievement of black actuaries.

For additional information, visit the IABA Scholarship page.

Established by: the Actuarial Foundation

Deadline: typically November (please refer to the Actuarial Foundation Scholarships website for deadlines)

The Actuarial Foundation supports the future of the actuarial profession and fosters the best and brightest students through four major scholarships. These scholarships not only offset the cost of education for students but are prestigious honours. Scholarship recipients are selected by representatives of the actuarial profession, who may one day be their peers.

Get more information about the Actuarial Foundation Scholarships