NSERC eSubmission Procedures (On-Line System)

The application must be prepared using NSERC's on-line system. In the case of Research Partnership Programs (e.g. Collaborative Research and Development (CRD), Strategic Partnership Grants for Projects (SPG), etc), NSERC will match the direct costs of research charged by industry sponsors. As indirect costs of research (ICR) is charged to the industry partner in addition to the direct costs, the amount requested in the NSERC application is unaffected by the ICR being introduced. The University will collect ICR on the NSERC portion of the direct costs separately through the Indirect Costs Program. 

On Form 101, select “University of British Columbia” as the Institution administering the grant (do not select “Technical University of British Columbia”).   For co-applicants,  electronic acceptance of PI’s invitation to participate in application meets NSERC signature requirements hence no sign-off is required.   However the UBC co-apps will need to determine with their Head/Faculty whether or not they need to review the application and sign. If co-applicants are outside of UBC, external authorized institution official signature is required. In the case of a partnership program, if the applicant is filling out the Form 183A on behalf of the participating organization use the LINK MANAGER function. If the applicant allows the supporting organization the ability to link Form 183A to the application, use the ACCESS MANAGER function.

Use the Research Project Information Form (RPIF) to obtain signatures from your Head and Dean. Note that the Dean’s signature is not required for Faculty of Applied Science, Faculty of Science and the School of Kinesiology. If you are a co-applicant on a grant application initiated by a PI at another institution, you must submit a paper copy of the application with required UBC signatures for review, even though the application is being submitted to the agency by another institution. ORS does not need to approve the application online but must still review a copy of the application.

The ORS internal deadline two working days prior to the agency deadline. You can fax, drop off or e-mail the pages to the appropriate ORS location (LINK). Ensure you have collected ALL required internal signatures prior to submitting to ORS, and that the documents submitted to ORS are identical to your NSERC on-line submission.

• Page 1 of the application
• Page 2 listing all co-applicants (If co-applicants are outside of UBC, external authorized institutional official signature is required)
• Summary of Proposal page
• Proposed Expenditures and budget justification pages
• In the case of Research partnership programs e.g. Collaborative Research and Development (CRD), Strategic Project Grants (SPG) etc. signed letters of support and Form 183A – Information Required from Organizations Participating in Research Partnerships Programs
• In the case of cooperative projects, letters of support or commitment from collaborating companies or institutions
• A signed RPIF.

To do this, Applicant must complete and link all the forms as described in the program instruction.  First “Verify” to ensure the application is complete. Then click “Submit” to submit your application to ORS. 

If all requirements are met, ORS will approve your application on the NSERC on-line system. ORS has read-only access to your application and cannot make changes. If the application is not approved, ORS will return it to you for changes. ORS is no longer required to physically sign the application submitted through NSERC on-line system because the institution is abiding by  “What do the electronic or original signatures on the application mean.”

Once ORS has approved and submitted your application, the status of the application on the NSERC on-line system will change to “Approved.”  See Definition of Application Status.  Material or updates received under separate cover (before or after the deadline date) will not be accepted by NSERC.Accordion contents happen in here