ACUNS Online Application Site

Welcome to the Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies (ACUNS) Online Application Site. This website will allow you to review guidelines and submit applications for ACUNS' Student Awards. In order to view the application/nomination form, you must create an account. Award guidelines may be previewed here, without creating an account.

The annual deadline for the ACUNS Awards is January 31.

Welcome to the Association of Canadian Universities of Northern Studies (ACUNS) Online Application Site. This website will allow you to review guidelines and submit applications for ACUNS' student awards, In order to view the application/nomination form, you must create an account. Award guidelines may be previewed here, without creating an account.

The deadline for the ACUNS Awards is January 31.
 

ACUNS Student Awards Program
General Application Information and Instructions

CNST Background
The Canadian Northern Studies Trust (CNST) is the awards program of the Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies (ACUNS). It was established in 1982 to further ACUNS' mandate to advance knowledge and understanding of Canada’s North by offering student awards for exceptional, northern-based research. The purpose of the CNST is to foster scholars and scientists with northern experience and at the same time enhance educational opportunities available for northern residents to obtain post secondary education at Canadian colleges and universities.

Ethical Principles for the Conduct of Research in the North
ACUNS and the CNST adhere to the Ethical Principles for the Conduct of Research in the North. These principles are intended to encourage the development of co-operation and mutual respect between researchers and the people of the North. They are also intended to encourage partnership between northern peoples and researchers that, in turn, will promote and enhance northern scholarship. The Ethical Principles guide appears on our website in English, French, Russian, and Inuktitut at www.acuns.ca

General Criteria

You must:

  • be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident;
  • be enrolled full-time in college or university at the time of application AND over the tenure of the award;
  • not concurrently hold two ACUNS awards, but you may hold other awards and financial support while holding an ACUNS award;
  • include a northern fieldwork component in your research that is conducted between May (in the year you receive your award) and the following March or May (depending on specific award). Note: fieldwork is not required for the Gunther Abrahamson Research and Management Award; and
  • conduct your research project in the North as defined here 

Application Instructions

There are three parts to the CNST application, the application form, referee’s reports and transcripts. All three parts must be submitted before January 31.

a. Application 

Please read award guidelines and instructions carefully before completing the form. In order to apply, you will be required to create an ACUNS account by clicking the signup button at www.acuns.ca. Once you have registered, you will receive an email to confirm. Your ACUNS account will allow you to save your application and track the progress of your application(s), referee reports and transcripts. 

b. Referee Reports 

For this award, applicants are asked to have two referees complete the online Referee’s Report. One of the referees must be the supervisor of the research project. During the application process, you will be asked to enter the names and email addresses of the individuals you will ask to serve as referees in support of your application. Referees will receive an email directly which will include the report to be completed. If you are applying to more than one ACUNS Award, your referee is required to complete a separate form for each application. Upon submission of the Referee Reports, your ACUNS Account will be updated to reflect its completion.

c. Transcripts

Please upload digital copies of official transcripts to the application website.

Please note that it can take several weeks to have official transcripts ordered and delivered. It is highly recommended that you order these well in advance of the application deadline. 

Application Review, Award Decisions & Payment

  • For projects including field research outside of Canada, the relevance and benefit of the circumpolar (Finland, Greenland (Denmark), Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the USA-Alaska) fieldwork to Canadian northern scholarship must be clearly indicated.
  • Applications are reviewed by a multi-disciplinary committee; technical jargon should be kept to a minimum.
  • Applications to more than one ACUNS Award require each referee to complete a separate report for each application.
  • Award recipients are identified in May and only successful candidates will be notified.
  • Payment will be issued in instalments and is to be used as a stipend.


 

Programs

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