The Canadian Northern Studies Trust (CNST) is the scholarship program administered by ACUNS.  It includes several awards that support various disciplines that engage in northern studies at colleges and universities at the undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral levels.

COVID-19 Information

The ACUNS Awards Program does not expect applicants and recipients to carry out fieldwork and/or community outreach activities during a global pandemic. Public health advice across Canada varies widely due to local situations which are rapidly changing. This impacts travel and social restrictions. Therefore, we will waive the fieldwork/community outreach criterion when adjudicating and administering the ACUNS award.

I am not a Canadian citizen but the subject of my research project takes place above the Northern Boundary. Am I eligible for a CNST award?

No. Only Canadian citizens are eligible for a CNST award.

What is the deadline for the ACUNS awards program?

Each year, the application deadline for ALL of our awards is January 31st, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time, unless extended otherwise.

I’m applying for more than on award. Do I have need to send a set of transcripts for each award I’m applying for?

No. Only one set of transcripts is required regardless of how many awards you are applying for. Digital copies of official post-secondary transcripts will be accepted.

Do I need to send all of my post-secondary transcripts?

Yes, all post-secondary transcripts are required or your application will not be considered.

Can I send my transcripts one at a time?

No. You must send all post-secondary transcripts in one package.

Where do I send my transcripts?

Please send a complete set of post-secondary transcripts in one single package to:

ACUNS
c/o CNST Award Program
P.O. Box 30017
Ottawa, ON K2H 1A3

Digital copies of official post-secondary transcripts will be accepted.

My application requires a northern reference. What is a northern reference?

A northern reference must be submitted by a full-time resident of the North (above the Northern Boundary line) capable of judging the methods and objectives of the research project. The ACUNS Awards Committee requires that the northern reference will have a meaningful geographic and relevant research engagement in the jurisdiction where the project will take place. If possible the northern reference should have a direct connection to the research and/or be able to comment on the proposed research plan.

My northern reference has been doing research in the North for many years but is not a northern resident. Does this count as a northern reference?

No. Your northern reference must live full-time in the North.

My northern reference lives and works in a different region of the North than the location of my research project. Does this count as a northern reference?

No. Your northern reference is required to have a meaningful geographic and relevant research engagement in the jurisdiction where the research project will take place.

What is the Northern Boundary line?

At this time, all projects eligible for CNST funding must fall above the Northern Boundary line. See where this line falls here. (Note: The Interactive Northern Boundary Map requires Adobe Flash.)

I’ve just begun my Master’s program. Am I eligible for an ACUNS award?

In order to be eligible for a Master’s-level award through the CNST, you must be in the first 13 months of your program.

I’ve just begun my doctoral program. Am I eligible for an ACUNS award?

In order to be eligible for a doctoral-level award through the CNST, you must be in the second or third year of your program.

I am a northern resident. Are any ACUNS awards tailored for me?

Yes! Please see guidelines for the Kay and Peter McGeer Scholarship for Northern Research (graduate-level). Special consideration will be given to:

  • students from the North (Northwest Territories, Yukon, Nunavut and the provincial north)
  • projects that offer opportunities for Indigenous community members, particularly youth, to participate in research.

Do you fund research projects within the social sciences, humanities and health sciences?

Yes, the following awards are available for interdisciplinary and comparative studies that may include social sciences, humanities and health sciences projects:

For the Dr. Weston Blake Jr Memorial Doctoral Scholarship ($10,000), proposals are invited from candidates at the doctoral level studying the physical sciences including interdisciplinary and comparative studies.