Summer Research Stipends

QPIRG -McGill’s summer research stipends are intended to provide individuals or groups with a budget/honoraria to work over the summer (June-August), doing research leading towards action and change within the Montreal community. We typically offer two $3000 stipends. We encourage all interested groups or individuals to apply!

Applications are now closed. Keep an eye out for our annual call for applications, typically publicized in May of each year, by signing up for our listserv or following us on Instagram and Facebook.

How to Apply

Application instructions

The application should include:
1) A letter of introduction that outlines the objectives of the project, the needs it addresses, and how it fulfills the above criteria. (MAX: 2 pages, ideally in PDF format)

2) A CV of the main coordinators, or group, including the contact information of two references

3) A timeline of your project, with clear goals for each month as well as any follow-up work to occur throughout the Fall and Winter

4) A budget of estimated expenses for the project (i.e. long distance calls, material purchases, travel, printing, etc.). Your budget is meant to cover both project expenses and a honorarium for the researchers. Applicants may use the entire amount of the stipend as a honorarium should they not foresee other ancillary costs. Your budget can be formatted like this sample.

Please note: QPIRG-McGill will be funding two research projects this summer, and will allocate one $3,000 stipend for each project. Please ensure that your budget is within this range.

Successful applicants will convince the selection committee that:

  • Their project fits into QPIRG mandate to promote social and environmental justice, and operates on principles of anti-oppression;
  • Their project takes direction from communities directly impacted by the subject being researched;
  • Their project is local in scope and fits into a grassroots model;
  • Their project addresses a gap in the community and has long-term viability;
  • The applicant(s) has appropriate experience and background to undertake the project, and can reasonably be expected to finish the project within the allotted time frame (by the end of August)
Examples of past summer research stipends:
  • Building a blog about sexuality and disability in Quebec, including articles, interviews, sex-ed information and resources
  • Creating a radio art project documenting the stories of black people who have been incarcerated in Canada
  • Developing a resource guide designed to provide accessible, anti-oppressive mental health skills training for youth aged 16-25
  • Producing a documentary film on the Live-In Caregiver Program (LCP).
  • Organizing a bilingual walking tour of Montreal’s southwest neighbourhood that aimed to draw out the history of struggle and present day battles against gentrification.

Responsibilities and Deliverables

  • Complete the research project as outlined in your initial application, with major changes to the project to be approved by QPIRG-McGill Board or staff
  • Outline with the QPIRG Finance Coordinator the method and payment plan for the stipend (NOTE: funding is allotted by project, so if applying as a group, it is your responsibility to divide the stipend among group members);
  • Meet with a staff liaison and/or QPIRG board member to give updates on the progress of the project/get support at least once per month through the duration of the summer;
  • Give at least two reports to the QPIRG Board through the summer;
  • Produce a final written report of the project giving a summary of the organizing that was done;
  • Provide QPIRG with final results of the summer research project;
  • Consider presenting the research at a QPIRG-McGill event in the future (such as: Rad Frosh, Social Justice Days, Culture Shock, or otherwise!);
  • Present the project at QPIRG’s Annual General Meeting in spring of 2024;
  • Acknowledge QPIRG-McGill’s contribution to the project on all publicity material.

Note: Projects with long-term action and/or campaign-oriented goals and/or applicability to other projects and campaigns will be prioritized