Paid student research opportunities

Category: Innovation and Research

Smiling woman sitting in an innovative workspace, focused on her laptop as she works.

Health procedures, climate change predictions and improving or creating new products all have one thing in common – research, development and testing. No matter what you’re studying at NSCC, there are opportunities to get involved in research.

Thanks to several funding opportunities, NSCC students can get paid to do research, offering a chance to gain experience and opening doors to innovative careers.

Explore student research opportunities

SPRINT Fund

The SPRINT - Supporting Practical Research and Innovation through NSCC Talent - Fund provides 2 applied research opportunities for students:

SPRINT Microgrants – 20 awards of $500 each support short-term projects with industry or community partners.
SPRINT Scholars Awards –3 awards of $6,000 each fund in-depth research advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nova Scotia.

Projects may count as capstone work or work terms with Academic Chair approval. Deadline to apply is Jan 23, 2026. Learn more and apply

Mitacs Mitacs offers research internships for students and new graduates from any program, providing funding, placements and hands-on experience with industry and non-profits. Through the Mitacs Accelerate Umbrella Program, NSCC has funding for 200 student projects in oceans and forestry, supporting environmental revitalization. Interns earn up to $10,000 per 4-month term and may complete up to 3 terms, depending on the project.

NSCC research assistant Year-round opportunities are available for roles on NSCC-led industry research projects in fields like geomatics, energy, engineering technology, environmental and agricultural technology, IT and social sciences. These positions allow you to apply classroom knowledge to real-world challenges, collaborate with researchers and industry partners and build skills. Part-time roles are available during the school year, while full-time summer positions often qualify as work terms.

Questions?

If you have questions, need help with your application or have an idea for a research project that you’d like to discuss, contact , NSCC Student Innovation Coordinator.