Student Research in Music

Faculty members sometimes hire undergraduate students as paid Research Assistants through externally funded research grants, the Faculty of Music Endowment Fund, and other research funding.

Research assistantships vary depending on the project and may involve:

• archival or library research
• literature reviews
• creative research support
• editing and transcription
• digital humanities projects
• concert or event support
• recording and production
• website or resource development
• other scholarly and research-creation activities

Because many opportunities are arranged directly between faculty members and students, interested students are encouraged to speak with faculty members whose research or creative activities align with their interests.

Interested? Contact research faculty members early to discuss potential opportunities

Western's Work Study program provides eligible students with paid, part-time employment on campus while balancing their academic studies. Within the Faculty of Music, Work Study positions may support:

• faculty research projects
• creative activities
• academic initiatives
• administrative projects

Students interested in research experience who have been approved for Work Study are encouraged to monitor Work Study postings and connect with faculty members whose research interests align with their own.

Learn more about Western's Work Study Program

Visit the USRI information page here. 

The Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) program provides undergraduate students with an opportunity to gain hands-on research experience while working closely with a faculty supervisor on a summer research project. The program is designed to encourage students to pursue graduate studies and research careers by providing meaningful research training in an academic setting.

USRAs are funded through Canada's federal granting agencies—the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). Award recipients work full-time on a faculty member's research project during the summer term. Students receive financial support through the USRA program, with award values established annually by the granting agencies and Western University.

Student Eligibility

Eligibility requirements vary depending on the funding agency.

SSHRC and CIHR USRAs (Black Student Scholars)

At present, SSHRC and CIHR Undergraduate Student Research Awards are available exclusively to undergraduate students who self-identify as Black. Applicants must:

• self-identify as Black;
• be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or Protected Person;
• be enrolled in a bachelor's degree program and not have completed all degree requirements;
• have completed at least one year of undergraduate study by the time the award begins; and
• hold no more than one USRA at a time and no more than three throughout their undergraduate career.

NSERC USRAs

Applicants must:

• be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or Protected Person;
• be enrolled in a bachelor's degree program and not have completed all degree requirements;
• have completed at least one year of undergraduate study by the time the award begins;
• satisfy the NSERC registration requirements for the academic year preceding the award; and
• hold no more than one USRA at a time and no more than three throughout their undergraduate career.

Students who self-identify as Indigenous or Black are encouraged to discuss this with their faculty supervisor during the application process. NSERC provides additional opportunities for Indigenous and Black student scholars, which may increase the number of awards available.

How the Faculty of Music Competition Works

Students interested in applying are encouraged to begin conversations with faculty members early, as faculty and students apply together. For general information about the USRA program at Western University, please contact usra_info@groups.uwo.ca.

Detailed competition information is circulated annually by email.

Undergraduate students in Music run and edit Canada’s Undergraduate Journal of Musicology, Nota Bene. This journal accepts article submissions from undergraduate students around the world.

Many graduate students gain valuable research experience by working as paid Research Assistants (RAs) on faculty-led research and creative projects. Research assistantships may be supported through external research grants, the Faculty of Music Endowment Fund, or other university funding programs. Responsibilities vary depending on the project and may include archival or library research, literature reviews, data collection and analysis, creative research support, event coordination, digital resource development, editing, transcription, and other scholarly or research-creation activities.

Many research assistant opportunities are arranged directly between faculty members and graduate students rather than through a formal posting process. Graduate students who are interested in research experience are encouraged to speak with faculty members whose research or creative activities align with their interests to learn about current and future opportunities. Building relationships with faculty members early in your graduate program is often the best way to become involved in research projects.

Research assistantships are only one component of graduate student funding. For information about graduate fellowships, scholarships, teaching assistantships, and other funding opportunities available at Western, please visit the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies’ Graduate Funding webpage.

Each year, the Society of Graduate Students in Music (SOMGSIM) organizes a Graduate Symposium which brings students from around the world to Western.

Access a list of recently completed Doctoral and Master's theses in Music.

The Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) program provides undergraduate students with an opportunity to gain hands-on research experience while working closely with a faculty supervisor on a summer research project. The program is designed to encourage students to pursue graduate studies and research careers by providing meaningful research training in an academic setting.

USRAs are funded through Canada's federal granting agencies—the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). Award recipients work full-time on a faculty member's research project during the summer term. Students receive financial support through the USRA program, with award values established annually by the granting agencies and Western University.

Student Eligibility

Eligibility requirements vary depending on the funding agency.

SSHRC and CIHR USRAs (Black Student Scholars)

At present, SSHRC and CIHR Undergraduate Student Research Awards are available exclusively to undergraduate students who self-identify as Black. Applicants must:

• self-identify as Black;
• be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or Protected Person;
• be enrolled in a bachelor's degree program and not have completed all degree requirements;
• have completed at least one year of undergraduate study by the time the award begins; and
• hold no more than one USRA at a time and no more than three throughout their undergraduate career.

NSERC USRAs

Applicants must:

• be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or Protected Person;
• be enrolled in a bachelor's degree program and not have completed all degree requirements;
• have completed at least one year of undergraduate study by the time the award begins;
• satisfy the NSERC registration requirements for the academic year preceding the award; and
• hold no more than one USRA at a time and no more than three throughout their undergraduate career.

Students who self-identify as Indigenous or Black are encouraged to discuss this with their faculty supervisor during the application process. NSERC provides additional opportunities for Indigenous and Black student scholars, which may increase the number of awards available.

How the Faculty of Music Competition Works

Students interested in applying are encouraged to begin conversations with faculty members early, as faculty and students apply together. For general information about the USRA program at Western University, please contact usra_info@groups.uwo.ca.

Detailed competition information is circulated annually by email.

Undergraduate students in Music run and edit Canada’s Undergraduate Journal of Musicology, Nota Bene. This journal accepts article submissions from undergraduate students around the world.