Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
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Research Security Update
Know Your Partner: If the research security requirements found in the Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC Policy) and/or the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships (NSGRP) apply to your Tri-Agency or Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) funding application, please contact the Safeguarding Research Office (SRO) as soon as possible to ensure that we can support you in meeting all applicable requirements and completing required forms and training. One way you can enhance and expedite the partner due diligence process is to provide SRO with complete partner information near the outset of the Risk Assessment Form development process. This information can be provided in your Form 101 (Tri-Agency) or the Private-sector Partner Identification Form (CFI). Please contact the Safeguarding Research Office at safegrd@ualberta.ca with any questions.
Please note: As of September 2025, the institution has introduced new research security training requirements. For all inquiries and support, or to register for training, please connect with the Safeguarding Research Office by submitting a Request for Support or emailing safegrd@ualberta.ca. We’re here to help!
The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) hosts a variety of funding competitions for both investigator-led and strategic, priority-driven research. NSERC funding competition deadlines occur throughout the year, usually in May or September. For more information on specific upcoming deadlines, please review the Important NSERC Deadlines at a Glance table below, or the competition-specific pages on the left side bar.
If you are including external co-applicants in your NSERC proposal, you must complete the NSERC External Participant Eligibility Confirmation Form and ensure it is signed accordingly. Please include it in your submission to the Researcher Homepage.
Please note that the NSERC is asking all applicants to complete a self-identification questionnaire concerning information on age, gender, Indigenous identity, and status as a visible minority group member or person with a disability.
- For more information on this questionnaire, please review these Frequently Asked Questions.
- For more information on applying to an NSERC grant competition, please review our how-to guide or contact your applicable Research Partner.
Important NSERC Competition Deadlines at a Glance
| Funding Program | **RAS Deadline - Submit to RAS via the Researcher Home Page |
Final Version Submission Deadline | NSERC Deadline | U of A Approvals Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Alliance Grant |
AT LEAST 5 business days before competition submission date. Also include time for dept/faculty approvals before it is received by RAS |
By 10:00 am MT the day before submission day Submit final application to the NSERC via their online system. |
Continuous intake | Yes |
| Alliance International | AT LEAST 5 business days before competition submission date. Also include time for dept/faculty approvals before it is received by RAS |
By 10:00 am MT the day before submission day Submit final application to the NSERC via their online system. |
Continuous intake | Yes |
| Alliance Quantum grants |
AT LEAST 5 business days before competition submission date. Also include time for dept/faculty approvals before it is received by RAS |
By 10:00 am MT the day before submission day Submit final application to the NSERC via their online system. |
Continuous intake |
Yes |
| CREATE Letter of Intent (LOI) |
Jan 10, 2024 12:00 pm MST |
May 1, 2024 10:00 am MST Submit final LOI to the NSERC via their online system. |
May 1, 2024 6:00 pm MST |
Yes |
| CREATE full application |
Sep 15, 2024 4:30 pm MST |
Sep 22, 2024 Submit final application to the NSERC via their online system. |
Sep 22, 2024 6:00 pm MST |
No |
| Discovery Horizon (pilot) Grant LOI | N/A |
Jun 14, 2024 Submit LOI directly to the NSERC via the Convergence Portal |
Jun 14, 2024 | No |
| Discovery Horizon (pilot) Grant full application | TBA |
Oct 18, 2024 Submit final application to the NSERC via the Convergence Portal |
Oct 18, 2024 6:00 pm MST |
Yes |
| Discovery Grants NOI | N/A |
Aug 1, 2024 Submit NOI directly to the NSERC via the Research Portal |
Aug 1, 2024 | No |
|
Discovery Grants full application Discovery Grants Northern Research Supplements DND-NSERC Discovery Grant Supplements |
Oct 22, 2024 |
Oct 31, 2024 Submit final application to the NSERC via the Research Portal |
Nov 1, 2024 | Yes |
| Idea to Innovation (I2I) Grant | 5 business days before the applicable NSERC deadline |
By 10:00 am MST on the application submission day Submit final application via the NSERC Online System |
Jan 8 6:00 pm MST |
Yes |
| NSERC Alliance – Mitacs Accelerate grants | 5 business days before application submission date |
By 10:00 am MST on the application submission day Submit final application to the NSERC via their online system. |
Continuous intake | Yes |
| Subatomic Physics RTI Category 1 | Oct 18, 2024 |
Oct 25, 2024 Submit final application to the NSERC via the Research Portal |
Oct 25, 2024 | Yes |
|
Subatomic Physics RTI Category 2 and 3 NOI Subatomic Physics MRS NOI Subatomic Physics Discovery Projects >$500,000/year NOI |
N/A |
Aug 1, 2024 |
Aug 1, 2024 | No |
|
Subatomic Physics RTI Category 2 and 3 full application Subatomic Physics MRS full application Subatomic Physics Discovery Projects >$500,000/year full application |
Sep 24, 2024 |
Oct 1, 2024 Submit final application to the NSERC via the Research Portal |
Oct 1, 2024 |
Yes |
|
RTI |
Oct 18, 2024 |
Oct 25, 2024 Submit final application to the NSERC via the Research Portal |
Oct 25, 2024 | Yes |
Who Can Help Me?
The U of A's Research Partner Network (RPNet) and your Faculty Associate or Vice Dean of Research offer proposal development assistance to U of A researchers interested in applying for NSERC grants.
For more information about the specific assistance programs available to you, please contact your Research Partner for more information or reach out to your Faculty Associate or Vice Dean of Research.
Quick links
- NSERC Website
- NSERC Contact Information
- NSERC Frequently Asked Questions
- NSERC Program Guide for Professors
- NSERC Summary of Changes to Programs
- NSERC Research Portal
- NSERC Canadian Common CV
- NSERC Deadlines
- NSERC News
- Agreement on the Administration of Agency Grants and Awards by Research Institutions
- RAS Review Requirements
- RPNet Contact Page
- Researcher Home Page Login