Northern Scientific Training Program (NSTP)

The Northern Scientific Training Program (NSTP) is administered by Polar Knowledge
Canada (POLAR). It was established in 1961 to encourage Canadian universities to
participate in training northern specialists to meet national needs.

The purpose of the Northern Scientific Training Program (NSTP) is to encourage and support
Canadian university and Northern post-secondary students with an interest in northern studies
and conducting thesis research in Northern regions, by assisting them to gain northern
professional experience and training, through the issuance of supplementary funds.

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Value
Awards vary between $2,500 and $3,000 with a maximum of $6,000.
Eligibility
  • The applicant must be enrolled in a degree program at a Canadian university and must be a Canadian Citizen or a Permanent Resident.
  • NSTP Guidelines for Location Eligibility for Canadian research, see page 4; for other northern countries, see page 10). For further information, please refer to the NSTP Manual.
Definition of the North
For the purposes of the grants program, the term `North` is understood to include that part of Canada that lies north of the southern limit of the discontinuous permafrost zone in Canada (arctic and subarctic). The 'Circumpolar North" refers to the eight countries of the Arctic Council (Canada, Finland, Greenland [Denmark], Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the United States [Alaska]). Please refer to the NSTP guidelines for changes in eligible areas for each of the Countries listed.
Application Procedures

The University of Alberta  COMMON APPLICATION form must be used to apply for both the UANRA and NSTP grants.  If you are eligible to apply for NSTP you must also apply for UANRA funds.

Submit both the UofA Common Application & NSTP Online Application.

NSTP online application - The date for UAlberta Students is November 3rd (deadline extended) by 5 pm, this gives the adjudication committee time to review before the November 10th deadline listed by NSTP. 

NSTP Fluid Review Application Portal

Grants are meant to help offset the higher or additional cost of conducting research in northern and/or remote areas; the budget should reflect this.

Collaboration is encouraged for cost-efficiencies; members of research teams working on individual projects attached to a research program should coordinate multiple applications. Applicants must obtain all necessary signatures and provide ethics statements, apply for research licenses and permits, and undertake all consultations with all relevant communities and organizations for the project.

Supervisors should assist students in completing their applications.

Submitting the Application:
Send an electronic copy of the Common Application Form and attachments, as well as PDF of the NSTP online application to: grad.awards@ualberta.ca by November 3rd (deadline extended) by 5 pm

* Make sure you have submitted the online portion of the application to NSTP as well as the common application to GPS grad awards

Common Application

The GPS adjudication committee requires a common application to be filled out for the NSTP and UANRA grants application.  This allows them to review the funding request together.