Université Laval
Faculty of Pharmacy

Teaching and Research Fund (FER)

The goal of the Teaching and Research Fund (FER) is to promote teaching and research at the Faculty of Pharmacy through financial support for activities and projects that align with its academic mission. The FER supports research and development projects undertaken within the faculty and offers substantial scholarships to attract students to pharmacy

It provides financial support for:

  • Graduate students who work with our professors
  • A vast assortment of academic projects
  • Our young researchers through the purchase of cutting-edge laboratory equipment

Thanks to the FER, the faculty can create innovative teaching projects and provide a competitive research environment. The FER is funded through donations from graduates, corporate partners, and faculty employees and through fundraising events.

FER in action

Since the fund was created more than $1,000,000 has been paid out to support teaching and research in the faculty.

We thank our valued donors and partners for supporting pharmacy students and researchers.

Help the faculty thrive

When you support the FER, you’re doing much more than simply making a donation. You’re helping the Faculty of Pharmacy thrive and contributing to the advancement of knowledge in healthcare sciences. But most importantly, you’re investing in your health and your future. Visit the Foundation website to learn how you can contribute to the fund (in French only).

Apply for FER funding

Scholarships for master’s and PhD programs in research are for students who want to start or continue a full-time research program at the graduate level in the Faculty of Pharmacy, under the supervision or joint supervision of a  faculty professor.

International students are eligible but must provide the information needed for an assessment of their academic record.

There are two application rounds each year, in April and October.

Full, partial, or top-up scholarships are awarded depending on the available budget for each round.

Among equally qualified applicants, preference will be given to holders of a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy who are members of Ordre des pharmaciens du Québec.

Similarly, postdoctoral research scholarships are earmarked for pharmacists who belong to Ordre des pharmaciens du Québec.

General information

FER scholarship applicants must fill out the scholarship form, with help from their research supervisor, and submit it electronically as a PDF to etudessuperieures@pha.ulaval.ca . The form and supporting documents must be merged into a single PDF, signed by the student’s supervisor. An email from the supervisor is also acceptable in place of a signature. 

Deadlines:

  • April 30 for students seeking financial support for the upcoming summer or fall semester
  • October 31 for students seeking financial support for the upcoming winter or summer semester

Eligibility criteria and terms and conditions for master’s and PhD scholarship applications

Applicants must meet all the criteria below:

  • Be under the supervision or joint supervision of a professor in the Faculty of Pharmacy
     
  • Hold a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or a professional doctorate
     
  • Pharmacists: Belong to Ordre des pharmaciens du Québec (OPQ) and provide proof of a licence to practise in Québec in order to obtain the full scholarship amount

At the time the scholarship is awarded, applicants:

  • Must be enrolled in the first year of a full-time research master’s program in the Faculty of Pharmacy, for a maximum of three semesters

    or

    Be enrolled in the first year of a full-time research PhD in pharmaceutical sciences, for a maximum of three semesters (also applies to students under co-supervision)
     
  • Must not be the recipient of a research grant from an external organization. Applicants must declare the source and value of any such scholarships. In such cases, the committee reserves the right to adjust the amount of the FER scholarship or not to award a FER scholarship.
  • Applicants must be full-time graduate students for the duration of the scholarship period.
  • Academic record: The applicant’s academic record must be competitive enough to qualify for a scholarship from a recognized granting agency in subsequent years.
  • Scholarships are to be used exclusively as salary support for the student.
  • Applicants will no longer be eligible for an FER scholarship to pursue higher education if they have previously been awarded an FER scholarship (full or partial) for the same program.
  • Accelerated-progression students who have received an FER scholarship at the master’s level can keep the scholarship for their doctoral studies.

Waiting list

Depending on their academic record, applicants may be placed on the waiting list. The Scientific Committee will then suggest amounts to the FER Committee based on each student’s record (minimum of $5,000). If funds become available, students on the waiting list will receive a scholarship based on their ranking as determined by the Scientific Committee.

Scholarship start date

Payments must start no later than the last day of the semester (based on the registrar’s calendar) of the applicant’s first year in their program.

Scholarship duration

  • Maximum duration: One year (maximum of three consecutive semesters)
  • Non-renewable

Maximum scholarship amounts

  • Master’s:
    $12,500
    $17,500 (for pharmacists)
  • PhD:
    $17,500
    $25,000 (for pharmacists)

Eligibility criteria and terms and conditions for postdoctoral fellowship scholarships (for pharmacists)

Applicants must meet all the criteria below:

  • Hold a professional pharmacy diploma and a doctorate (PhD)
     
  • Be a member of Ordre des pharmaciens du Québec (OPQ) and provide proof of a valid licence to practise in Québec
     
  • Be under the direct supervision of a professor at a recognized university and provide proof (signature on the scholarship application and official letter) that the professor has agreed to supervise the applicant for a postdoctoral fellowship lasting at least one year
     
  • At the start of the scholarship period, be enrolled in the first year of a full-time postdoctoral fellowship (research) for a maximum of two semesters. Applications must provide proof of status as a postdoctoral fellow for each semester since the start of the fellowship
     
  • Apply for competitive postdoctoral scholarships from granting agencies and provide proof of application
     
  • Must not be the recipient of a research grant from an external organization. Applicants must declare the source and value of any such scholarships. In such cases, the committee reserves the right to adjust the amount of the FER scholarship or not to award an FER scholarship because the applicant’s record is strong enough to qualify for a scholarship from a recognized granting agency in subsequent years
     
  • Scholarships are to be used exclusively as salary support for the student

Scholarship duration

  • Maximum duration: One year (maximum of three consecutive semesters)
  • Non-renewable

Scholarship amount

  • Maximum of $30,000

Evaluation criteria (for all scholarship categories)

Among equally qualified applicants, preference will be given to holders of a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy who are members of Ordre des pharmaciens du Québec.

Excellence of the applicant’s academic record (35 points)

  • Score for their academic record (taking progression into account)
  • Scholarships, distinctions

Applicant’s aptitude and experience (35 points)

  • Poster presentations and oral communications
  • Publications
  • Research experience (a relevant program or internship)

Quality and merit of the project (20 points)

  • Clarity of the objectives
  • Ability to execute the project
  • Relevance to the field of pharmacy

Quality of the supervision arrangement (10 points)

  • Quality of the supervisor’s record as an educator
  • Suitability of the research environment

FER Steering Committee

The FER was created in 1993 and is diligently administered by a 13-member steering committee. Chaired by the faculty dean, the committee includes 12 other managers including 4 graduates appointed by the faculty council, 2 professors appointed by their peers in the faculty, 1 representative appointed by the Vice Rectorate of Research and Innovation (VRRC), and 2 representatives from pharmacy student associations.

 

Composition of the Steering Committee
Members 2020 (PDF, 114 Ko - in French only)

Testimonials

Isabelle Gendreau, BSc, MSc, graduate of Master’s in Pharmaceutical Sciences

Support from the FER helped me become a part of the world of research even as an undergraduate by providing the opportunity to intern with Dr. Roxane Pouliot’s team. After that, I developed a true passion for research, and thanks to an FER scholarship, I continued on to the master’s level with the same group.

As students in the Faculty of Pharmacy, we’re privileged to have access to FER funding for our graduate studies. Landing an FER scholarship motivates us and helps us stay focused on our research projects. On top of that, it’s a feather in our academic cap. Thanks to the FER, I’ve been able to present my research at a number of conferences, including two international ones. Studying at the Faculty of Pharmacy is an empowering and enriching experience for many reasons, not the least of which is the quality of the instruction and scientific research.

Sarah Paris-Robidas, BSc, MSc, graduate of PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences

We’re lucky to have support from the Faculty of Pharmacy through FER merit scholarships. Graduates often say that the hardest part of the journey is clinching that first scholarship. I’m one of the many students who have been given that opportunity by the FER. I started my master’s program under the supervision of Dr. Frédéric Calon in May 2008, and in 2010 I decided to continue on to a PhD. That’s when I was lucky enough to land the scholarship. I’ve also had the opportunity to get involved in faculty life through the association for student researchers, ACCEP (Association des chercheuses et chercheurs étudiants de la Faculté de pharmacie).

For me and so many others, support from the FER was a huge factor in our success at the graduate level, and I feel privileged to be part of a faculty that provides so much encouragement for students to excel in the scientific community.