Scholarship Program for the Next Generation of Women in Aerospace – 2025 edition

In case of any discrepancy between the French and English versions of the rules, the French version shall prevail

Program Rules

CRIAQ and the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature and Technologies sector (FRQ) aim to stimulate diversity, creativity, talent development, and the emergence of innovative and technological entrepreneurs. For the 5th edition, the annual scholarship program is dedicated to encouraging the next generation of women to choose university studies in aerospace. This program will award a total of 10 scholarships, with a cumulative value of $125,000.

Details of the funders and the scholarship

CRIAQ’s mission is to enhance the competitiveness of the aerospace industry by stimulating business innovation through collaborative R&D. This mission is accomplished through an ecosystem that brings together diverse talents and fosters entrepreneurship in technology. Equity, diversity, and inclusion principles are pillars of such an ecosystem. The FRQ’s mission is to support and promote research and the next generation of researchers in their excellence, diversity, and openness, to stimulate discovery and innovation. This scholarship program aims to encourage the next generation of women to choose or pursue aerospace-related university studies. This program will award 10 scholarships:

• 5 scholarships of $10,000 to encourage five master’s candidates pursuing a master’s program, of an average duration of two (2) years, in Quebec.
• 5 scholarships of $15,000 to encourage five doctoral candidates pursuing a doctoral program, of an average duration of three (3) years, in Quebec.

Eligibility

At the time of applying for the scholarship program, the candidate must be enrolled or in the process of admission to a study program, at a Quebec university. This study program must fit those criteria:

1. At least one session has to take place in Quebec in the summer of 2025, fall of 2025, or winter of 2026.
2. The program has to lead to a research-type master’s degree (with thesis) for master’s scholarship candidates or a research-type doctoral degree (with thesis) for doctoral scholarship candidates.
3. The program has to be in the field of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics and has to relate to aerospace.
4. The program has to be offered by a university located in Quebec.

Evaluation criteria

• Quality of the file and potential to pursue studies (25%);
• Candidate’s motivation (25%);
• Quality of the letter of recommendation (25%);
• Social involvement, leadership, communication skills (25%).

Application submission and additional informations

Candidates must complete the application form and provide the documentation below no later than April 28, 2025, at 4:00 PM Eastern Time. They must be sent to bourses@criaq.aero in Word or PDF format:

1. The completed application form
2. A cover letter of up to 1,000 words, including a description of the planned path and the link of the studies to the aerospace sector.
3. A curriculum vitae of maximum two-page in letter format. Applications submitting curricula vitae in other formats, such as legal or A4, will be deemed ineligible.
4. Tanscripts of the last 2 sessions, including the current one if applicable, dated no more than 1 year from the date of submission of the application.
5. Proof of application or enrollment for the study program described in the “Eligibility” section.
6. A recommendation letter from an official representative (researcher, professor, department head) supporting the application. Applications submitting more than one letter may see their 2^nd letter and subsequent ones rejected, or their application could become ineligible.

Documents can be submitted in French or English. Candidates can submit unofficial documents at the time of application (not signed by the registrar or without the institution’s seal). However, the granting of scholarships is conditional upon the submission of official documents, as well as an official proof of enrollment for the session for which the scholarship will be used (see point 1 of the eligibility criteria). Missing information, a missing document, or a document not meeting the required format above may result in the ineligibility of the application. No scholarship can be retroactive. It cannot be used to support a past or nearly completed session.

Selection process and additional information

Each application will be analyzed by a selection committee composed of individuals involved in collaborations at the CRIAQ. The results will be communicated in early June 2025 by the CRIAQ. Recipients must be available by videoconference or in person on June 12, 2025 (details to come), to attend CRIAQ’s General Assembly, during which the scholarships winner will be announced. By accepting a scholarship, the student agrees that CRIAQ and the FRQ may use their name and photo to promote the program.