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Learning & Teaching Innovation

Valerie Kuehne Undergraduate Research Awards (VKURA)

The Valerie Kuehne Undergraduate Research Awards (VKURA) program encourages first and second-year undergraduate students to pursue research-enriched and applied experiences in their discipline or field of study. Award recipients undertake research with mentorship from a faculty supervisor. The Division of Learning and Teaching Innovation (LTI) administers the award process on behalf of Student Awards and Financial Aid. 

Nomination form

Coming January 2026

Timeline

Application
Materials and application form available by January 8, 2027.
Deadline
Please email the completed nomination form to your Faculty administrator(s) by their posted deadline, no later than February 19, 2027.
Adjudication
Faculties are responsible for adjudication. Ranked nominations are to be emailed to learningandteaching@uvic.ca by 4:30pm, March 5, 2027.
Notification
LTI will verify eligibility & notify successful applicants, supervisors and their Faculties by March 19, 2027.

Eligibility

  • In first or second year of an undergraduate program at the time of the nomination deadline
  • In good standing and enrolled in at least 8 courses (4 per term) in each of the first and second terms of (September – April) at UVic
  • Registered at UVic for the term following the internship
  • Able to undertake the research internship full-time for 12 weeks (between May 1 and August 31st)
  • Have a faculty member willing to supervise
  • Remote participation is allowed provided it works for the supervisor
  • Field work off-site is allowed* but cannot be used as a field school course credit
  • Students registered with the Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL) with an accommodation that includes a reduced load

  • A previous VKURA scholar
  • Those who have already completed an undergraduate degree
  • Self-directed studies

In order to participate, international students require the proper authorization to work, based on their immigration status. For advice on your eligibility, please contact an International Student Advisor.

Students have the option to use the VKURA internship for Co-op challenge if approved by the Co-op program. Please contact your Faculty Co-op Coordinator for more information.

Value and scope of internship

A value of $7,500 is given for 12 weeks of full-time internship (approximately 420 hours), which takes place from May 1 to July 31. A shorter internship, in exceptional circumstances, of 8 weeks may be considered on a prorated basis ($5,000). The internship cohort will be paid out in installments from May to August. 

Students, for the term of the internship, will be registered in VKURA (VKUR 201) [non-credit no-fee course]. This internship cannot be used for course credit.

All awardees will commit to participating in a series of in-person events and workshops over the time of the internship. All interns will present their work at an in-person symposium at the end of July. 

Information for Faculties

Students from under-represented groups will comprise 20% of internships (determined within Faculty). For those Faculties with under 5 total internships per year, distribution to under-represented groups must meet the 20% minimum over two years.

Faculty Number of seats
Education 1
Engineering & Computer Science 5
Fine Arts  2
Health 2
Humanities 2
Science 4
Social Sciences 8
Gustavson School of Business 2

Supervisor criteria

Each nominee will have a designated supervisor with a stated research project, detailing what the student will be doing during the course of the internship, including start and end date for the internship and the learning outcomes for the student.

  • Students may have a supervisor from another Faculty than their home Faculty
  • Each supervisor can only mentor one VKURA intern at a time
  • Supervisors must be regular faculty members at UVic, however a co-supervisor who is a sessional faculty may be appointed

Project guidelines

Supervisor initiated

In this case, a faculty member may have a research project in mind, or it may be something already underway which seems ideal for the student. In such a case the faculty member might approach the student to see if the student is interested in applying for the award.

Student initiated

In this case, a student may have an idea for a research project and approach a faculty member to see if they would be interested in working with the student should their application be successful.