NOTICE – The Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ) was established on June 1, 2024, in accordance with the Act to amend the Act respecting the Ministère de l’Économie et de l’Innovation with respect to research. The Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies (FRQNT), the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQS) and the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture (FRQSC) have since been regrouped into the new FRQ, which continues their existence. The rights and obligations of the FRQNT, FRQS and FRQSC have become those of the FRQ; activities continue as usual.

Please note that if you come across an old name or logo of one of the Fonds de recherche du Québec in the program rules or on the website, it should now read as follows:

  • The FRQNT becomes the Nature et technologies sector;
  • The FRQS becomes the Santé sector;
  • The FRQSC becomes the Société et culture sector.

Thank you for your understanding.

Competition year : 
2024-2025

Deadline (application) : 
Variable

Amount : 
Variable (depending on the training program)

Duration : 
Variable (depending on the training program)

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Notice

Please note that we are currently awaiting additional funding for this program. Applications will be considered again from mid-March 2025.

We thank you for your understanding and remain at your disposal should you have any questions at the following address Science.Exil@frq.gouv.qc.ca

Please note: The request must be made within 4 months of the scheduled end of the current award, i.e., at the time of the last scheduled payment request before the end of the award*.

*In the event that an emergency situation arises in the student’s home country during the last 4 months of the award the student may still apply.

Contexte 
Researchers in exile due to an emergency situation in their home country (see definitions in Section 1 – Objective) face considerable challenges when attempting to pursue their research in a new environment.
The population in their home country may be in situations that threaten their immediate safety, their lives, their property or their environment. These situations may even lead to death, irreversible damage, exile or displacement of these populations.

Table of contents

  1. Objectives
  2. Eligibility requirements
  3. Duration and amounts of the scholarship extension
  4. Submitting an application
  5. Application review by the FRQ
  6. Award administration
  7. Final report

1. Objectives

The Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ) proposes to perpetuate and expand the programs put in place after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in 2022. Indeed, the threats faced by the scientific and research communities in the world can be of several kinds and other crises will occur in the future. The FRQ intends to participate in global solidarity efforts with scientific communities affected by major and sudden crises.
Thus, the program aims to facilitate access to FRQ training grants for students from countries experiencing an emergency. The supports put in place can assist students in exile by providing scholarships, language training and networking opportunities through the collaboration of Quebec’s higher education institutions.

The rules of this program may evolve to better address the situations that arise over time.

What is an emergency? 

For the purposes of this program, we consider a country to be in an emergency situation when it is facing a crisis with the following aspects:

  • a situation that presents an immediate danger to life, health or the environment
  • a situation that causes death or serious effects on life, health or the environment
  • a situation with a high probability of endangering life, health or the environment
  • a situation that leads to the exile or displacement of a part of its population

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees lists here the countries or regions in emergency situations in which it intervenes.
Beyond this list, the FRQs will consider the particularities and challenges of each situation submitted when studying the application.

2. Eligibility requirements

To be eligible to apply for the scholarship extension the applicant must:

  • Hold a passport from the country of origin that is valid on the date the application is submitted;
  • Hold (or have applied for) a residence permit (refugee claim or visa or any emergency travel authorization issued by Immigration and Citizenship Canada allowing study at an institution of higher learning);
  • Hold a current graduate scholarship from the Funds that is expiring within 4 months of the time of application
  • Provide a letter of justification for the request that describes the reasons why the individual is seeking the award (e.g., without this extension, the validity of the visa or study permit could be difficult to extend which could result in a forced return, security reasons, impact on research, etc.)
  • Have a continuous physical presence in Quebec for the entire duration of the funding, excluding the break periods provided for in the school calendar. Candidates who are pursuing their training under a cotutelle arrangement are also subject to this rule. In their case, a study period in the country where the co-tutorship is taking place is not permitted
  • Have confirmation that the person in charge of the research agrees to extend the supervision of the candidate
  • (Master’s and PhD) Be registered as a full-time student at the university during the targeted period
  • (Postdoctoral) Be a full-time postdoctoral fellow
  • Send to the Fund, for each of the sessions covered by the extension, the form confirming that the person in charge of your research agrees to let you continue your training or internship within his or her team
IMPORTANT
  • Persons who have already been supported by another grant or other funds for a research project in Canada are not eligible
  • Persons who are permanent residents or spouses of permanent residents or Canadian citizens are not eligible
  • Persons who are permanent residents or citizens of a third country other than the one from which they are fleeing are not eligible

3. Duration and amounts of the scholarship extension

.BL

Level of training

M. Sc.

Duration

2 sessions maximum or until the extended scholarship is no longer required for the validity of the visa

Level of training

Ph. D.

Duration

12 months maximum or until the extended scholarship is no longer required for the validity of the visa

Level of training

Postdoctoral Fellowship

Duration

Up to 24 months (equivalent to a second postdoctoral fellowship)

The amounts of the payments will be of the same value as those received during the regular duration of the fellowship. 

4. Submitting an application

To submit an application for an award extension, you must contact the person responsible for the program for which you currently hold an award so that they can open a form for you in your ePortfolio ( you will find the form in the section Available Competitions/Scholarships and Training of your e Portfolio).

Required documents:

  • Electronic application form, duly completed 
  • Copy of passport 
  • Residence permit or proof that an application has been made (email, acknowledgment of receipt, etc.)
  • Letter of introduction/motivation, including the justification requested in the section 2. Eligibility conditions section
  • (Master’s and PhD) Proof of university registration during the period in question  
  • Electronic form from the person who will be directing or supervising the research 
  • Extension of supervision form confirming that the person in charge of your research accepts that you continue your training or internship within his/her team 

5. Application review by the FRQ

Once the electronic application has been sent to them, the FRQs will analyze the file and transmit the funding decision as soon as possible.

À noter

The decision as to whether or not to award a grant to an applicant will be made to the FRQ’s best knowledge at the time the file is reviewed. Unfortunately, once the program’s budget has been reached, we will no longer be able to award a grant for this program. 

6. Award administration

Students who receive an award extension through the Science in Exile program are subject to the Common General Rules (CGR) for the duration of the funding.

The administration rules that apply are those of the program in which the student is registered at the time of the extension request.

Payments are conditional upon confirmation of full-time registration by the institution for master and doctoral students. Confirmation is sent to the FRQ each session by the university. For post-doctoral students, payments are conditional upon confirmation of presence at the fellowhship site by the supervisor.

They are also conditional on the receipt, in the electronic portfolio, of the documents listed below:

  • Request for payment made by the grant holder, 3 times a year starting on May 30, September 30 and January 30 for master’s and doctoral level holders and according to the payment schedule established for postdoctoral and internship awardees
  • Supervisor’s Confirmation of Supervision
  • Ethics training certifications (levels 1 and 3), if applicable

7. Final report

A final report is required after the end of the session corresponding to the last payment. The grant holder is notified by e-mail of the availability of the form to be completed in his/her electronic portfolio. It is required to complete and submit this form by the deadline indicated. The granting of subsequent financial assistance in another FRQ program is conditional upon receipt of this report.