Master's Training for Medical Students (M.D.-M.Sc.) / 2022-2023

• completed or intend to complete an undergraduate university degree OR completed a diploma of college studies and a minimum of 90 credits in a university program (individuals with a diploma of college studies who have not completed 90 credits in a university program must have their application validated in a letter of recommendation from the dean of the faculty of medicine);

• enrolled in a regular undergraduate program in medicine in a Québec university AND concurrently enrolled or intend to concurrently enroll (before January 15, 2023) in a regular master’s research program (MSc) as part of a structured MD-MSc program recognized by the FRQS at the same university. To be considered research-based, the master’s degree program must consist of at least 18 credits related to research and lead to a thesis;

• submit a research project with a direct bearing on human health that may be completed in up to two (2) years. The research project may be undertaken in periods of two (2) to four (4) months (non-consecutive) or integrated into the MD program. Awardees are not required to interrupt their medical studies.
• were enrolled in a Québec university for at least two (2) full-time semesters (or the equivalent) in the three (3) semesters prior to the competition deadline OR have a health insurance card from the Régie d’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) that is valid at the competition deadline or proof that an application for a health insurance card was filed with the RAMQ and that the card will be valid at the competition deadline (see Section 2.1 of the Common General Rules);

• will have completed no more than three (3) semesters of their master’s degree program on April 30, 2022 (the number of registered sessions is calculated from the first date of enrolment in a research-based master’s degree program in human health). The summer semester is calculated as a matter of course, even if the student is not registered.

These requirements shall remain in effect for the tenure of the award.

• Individuals who discontinued their master’s degree studies due to parental leave or special leave for serious illness or major family obligations may seek to defer the eligibility period for up to one (1) year.
• When an individual has a disability within the meaning of the Act to secure handicapped persons in the exercise of their rights with a view to achieving social, school and workplace integration (CQLR c E-20.1), the eligibility period shall not apply.

• be university researchers or clinical university researchers (see definitions section of the Common General Rules). *

*When an applicant’s research supervisor is located outside Québec, the supervisor must still meet the requirements of the university researcher or clinical university researcher status in terms of university affiliation and autonomy (see definitions section of the Common General Rules).

• individuals enrolled in a professional master’s or doctoral program;
• individuals who have already completed a master’s research program in human health;
• individuals who received funding from a recognized agency (e.g. SSHCR, NSERC, CIRH, FRQNT, FRQS, FRQSC, etc.) over a total period of six (6) years (or 18 semesters) (see section 6.1 of the Common General Rules).

Basic research ethics training is mandatory for all FRQS awardees whose project or research program involves humans.

Research involving humans implies:

• the participation of humans;
• the use of human biological material (parts, products, tissues, cells, human genetic material from a living or deceased person);
• assisted human reproduction activities and/or the use of resulting embryos within the meaning of the Act respecting clinical and research activities relating to assisted procreation (CQLR c A-5.01);
• the use of administrative, scientific or descriptive data from humans.

Developed by the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS), the program includes levels 1 and 3 of the Tutorial in research ethics.

Awardees must complete the training program to receive the first payment of the second year of their FRQS funding (see Required documents section).

Applicants

• Canadian Common CV (funding CV for the FRQS) updated in the 12 months prior to the competition deadline (awards and grants must be listed in the research funding section and awards and recognition in the recognition section);
• Detailed contributions updated in the 12 months prior to the competition deadline (attach document in the FRQS ePortfolio on the Canadian Common CV page).

IMPORTANT NOTE: read the Instructions for the detailed contributions and the common canadian CV – FRQS document;

• Master’s Training for Medical Students (M.D.-M.Sc.) application e-form (PDF version – for information)

• Copy of a health insurance card from the Régie d’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) that is valid at the competition deadline or proof that an application for a health insurance card was filed with the RAMQ and that the card will be valid at the competition deadline. The name and expiry date must be legible. Proof of private insurance shall not be ac­­cepted OR proof of full-time (or equivalent) enrolment in a Québec university for two (2) of the three (3) semesters prior to the competition deadline. The semester of the competition shall not be used to calculate the two full-time semesters of the three prior to the deadline;

• Copies of official transcripts (unofficial transcripts in electronic format not accepted) for all years of study (completed and incomplete)
  • For an ongoing study program, the transcripts must be the most recent.
  • The transcripts must be complete and include the rating scales (back of the transcript), for both Quebec and foreign applicants.
  • Transcripts obtained outside of North America must be accompanied by a letter explaining the grading system in effect at the institution concerned.
  • Transcripts issued in a language other than French or English must be accompanied by a professional translation certified as true to the original.
• Attestation from the registrar confirming enrolment in each full-time semester that does not appear on the transcript, as well as for each part-time and/or unregistered semester;
• Acknowledgements of submitted articles and notifications from editors for accepted articles;
• A letter of recommendation from the dean of the faculty of medicine (only applicants who did not complete 90 course credits in a university program);
• Required documents for exceptions, as the case may be (e.g. medical certificate).

Research supervisors (and co- supervisors)

• Supervisor’s (or co- supervisor’s) e-form, as the case may be (PDF version – for information)
• Canadian Common CV (funding CV for the FRQS) updated in the 12 months prior to the competition deadline (awards and grants must be listed in the research funding section and awards and recognition in the recognition section);
• Detailed contributions updated in the 12 months prior to the competition deadline (attach document in the FRQS ePortfolio on the Canadian Common CV page).

IMPORTANT NOTE: read the Instructions for the detailed contributions and the common canadian CV – FRQS document;

Applicants shall be notified of their eligibility by December 15^th, 2021.

The elements that make up an official transcript vary from one academic institution to another. However, to be deemed official by the Fonds, the requirements are as follows:

• Transcript is issued by the university;
• Transcript includes elements indicating it is an official document issued by the university (e.g. university seal AND/OR signature of the registrar AND/OR the official transcript reference, etc.);
• A watermark does not make a transcript non-official, providing the requirements listed here are met;
• The transcript may be a scan of a transcript delivered by the registrar in a sealed envelope. Opening the envelope to scan the transcript does not make the document non-official for the Fonds.

A transcript that does not meet the requirements listed here or does not include official elements shall be considered NON-OFFICIAL, and the application shall therefore be deemed ineligible.

If the university does not issue transcripts:

• Supporting letter from the university (office of the registrar or equivalent administrative authority) specifying the reasons for which a transcript is not available;

If no transcript is issued and the applicant cannot obtain a letter from the university:

• Supporting letter from the applicant endorsed by the director of the department with which the host institution is affiliated explaining why a transcript is not issued.

AT THE START DATE OF THE AWARD AND IN EVERY FOLLOWING SEMESTER

• Proof of official university enrollment from the Registrar’s Office in Masters and Medicine programs.

AT THE START OF THE SECOND YEAR OF THE AWARD

• confirmation of supervision form from the supervisor – master’s and doctoral degrees
• Ethics training certifications (levels 1 and 3), as the case may be

Read the awardee’s guide (document menu, ePortfolio blue banner) to learn where to find the required documents and attach them to the ePortfolio.

• If all the required documents are not received in the two (2) months following the start of the semester or should the applicant fail to meet the eligibility requirements and not request a deferral, the FRQS shall cancel the payment for the semester.
• When the payments for two consecutive sessions are cancelled because required documents are missing or the applicant has failed to meet eligibility requirements, the FRQS shall terminate the award.

The award may begin in May 2022 (summer semester), September 2022 (fall semester) or January 2023 (winter semester) depending on the start date of the study program.

However, if a master’s program is already underway in May 2022, the award must begin in May 2022 (exceptions apply).

The award covers a period of two (2) years or until the master’s degree program is completed (final submission of thesis), whichever the earlier. The award is non-renewable.

Parental leave

Awardees may defer an award payment during a parental leave (maternity, paternity or adoption) for a period of up to twelve (12) months. An awardee who has already received payments for an FRQS award and requests parental leave may receive an amount equal to six (6) months of the FRQS funding.

In such cases, awardees must complete and attach the award deferral form and supporting documents to their ePortfolio to inform the FRQS of their plan to request a supplement for a parental leave.

Sick leave and other types of leave

Awardees may defer an award during sick leave or for other reasons stipulated in the Act respecting labour standards under the terms set out in Section 6.14 of the Common General Rules. In such cases, awardees must complete and attach the award deferral form to their ePortfolio.

Relevant experience

For every full year of FRQS funding, an awardee may suspend the award payments for the equivalent of one semester (four months) to gain relevant experience (work with a research team, teaching experience in her/his field of study, language stay, etc.). The payments are then deferred to the end of the tenure of the award.

Deferrals to gain relevant experience may be consecutive when approved by the research supervisor.

For a deferral to gain experience, the awardee must first submit a request to the FRQS by completing the award payment deferral form. In addition, the research supervisor must provide a letter confirming her/his approval and the relevance of the awardee’s activities to gain experience.

Any changes to an awardee’s status must be reported in the Manage my funding module of the ePortfolio, as specified in Section 6.5 of the Common General Rules. Read the awardee’s guide (Document menu, ePortfolio blue banner) to learn where to find the required documents and attach them to the ePortfolio.

The FRQS reserves the right to reject any irrelevant or incomplete request. 

Only family caregivers, parents and persons with a disability may be part-time students.

Family caregivers

This measure applies only to awardees who are family caregivers for a member of their close family or who are the primary caregivers of a young child.

During part-time semesters, the awardee will receive 50% of the value of the regular award payments.

The awardee must complete the part-time studies form and attach it to her/his ePortfolio along with these documents:

• an attestation of part-time studies from the university
• a letter of support from the research supervisor
• a copy of a medical certificate (family caregiver), birth certificate or adoption order (parent)

This measure may be cumulated with parental insurance plan benefits, as the case may be.

Person with a disability

This measure only applies to awardees who have a disability within the meaning of the Act to secure handicapped persons in the exercise of their rights with a view to achieving social, school and workplace integration (CQLR c E-20.1).

During their part-time studies, awardees will receive full award payments, provided the university authorizes part-time studies.

The awardee must complete the part-time studies form and attach it to her/his ePortfolio with the following documents:

• attestation of part-time studies from the university
• letter of support from the research supervisor
• medical certificate attesting to the condition

Any changes to an awardee’s status must be reported in the Manage my funding module of the ePortfolio, as specified in Section 6.5 of the Common General Rules.

The FRQS reserves the right to reject any incomplete request.

Up to $17 500 per year* , during 2 years of full-time research enrollment

*Exceptions apply (see Partnership awards section) 

• The award is paid to the awardee in three payments per year.
• The payments are made on May 30, September 30 and January 30.
• The payments are conditional upon the submission of all required documents through the ePortfolio and compliance with eligibility requirements.
• When an application remains incomplete and/or does not meet eligibility requirements in the two (2) months following the start of the payment period and a deferral is not requested, the FRQS will cancel the payment.
• The FRQS will terminate the award if two consecutive payments are cancelled due to missing documents and/or failure to meet eligibility requirements.

Read the awardee’s guide for more information on the requirements to receive award payments and the payment schedule.

The awardee is responsible for paying income tax on the amounts received from the FRQS. The FRQS does not make any deductions at the source on the amounts paid in a taxation year.

The payment date determines the year in which the awardee must file income tax returns for the amounts paid as income.

The T4A slip issued by Revenue Canada and Relevé 1 issued by Revenu Québec are available in the award Manage my funding section of the FRQS ePortfolio in late February following the tax year.

The information provided in the program rules is for information purposes only. The FRQS shall not be held responsible for the validity of any information pertaining to income tax.

This program does not provide FRQS funding to cover institutions’ indirect research costs.

The institution or research supervisor may grant an award supplement, which should not be reported in the ePortfolio.

It is the FRQS awardee’s responsibility to determine if the award supplement is allowed by the institution or research supervisor.

Awardees may not hold concurrent awards.

• FRQS awardees who sought and received an award from another public funding agency or foundation recognized by the FRQS must inform the FRQS and decline the Fonds’ award when it is offered, except in the case of a supplement from the Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et sécurité du travail (IRSST). However, if the other award has a lesser value or shorter funding period, the recipient is eligible to receive an amount to cover the difference.
• FRQS awardees who sought and received a graduate award from one of the three Fonds de recherche du Québec may choose the start date of the graduate award (for holders who are fast-tracked to a doctoral program without completing a master’s).

However, if the value or duration of the organization’s scholarship is less than that of the FRQS, the grant holder is eligible to receive the amount to make up the difference between the two scholarships.