University of Toronto Excellence Award (UTEA)
The purpose of the UTEA program is to provide opportunities for research experience at the undergraduate level in the Natural Sciences & Engineering (NSE), Social Sciences & Humanities (SSH), or Health & Life Sciences (HLS); to augment the formal research courses offered by the University of Toronto; to provide undergraduate students opportunities to gain direct research experience on a faculty-led project; to help students learn and appreciate the investigative methodologies of areas of particular interest; and to foster interest in and knowledge of careers in research.
Award Value and Duration
Award Value: Each UTEA award is valued at a minimum of $7,500. $5,250 is provided by the University and must be matched by a minimum of $2,250 from the student’s supervisor or the academic unit. Any supplement above this level may be set at the supervisor’s or unit’s discretion.
Duration: 14 full weeks during the summer term, beginning no earlier than May 1, 2025 and ending no later than September 30, 2025.
Eligibility
- Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada, or international student with valid visa (e.g. study permit or PGWP) for the full summer award term;
- Registered in a bachelor’s degree program at the University of Toronto either as: a) a full-time student, or b) as a part-time student only if it is the student’s final session and part-time classes are all that are required to complete the degree.
- Students must be registered either at the time of application, or in the term immediately before holding the award. Graduating students may hold an award in the term immediately following the completion of their undergraduate program, as long as they have not started a graduate program.
- Must have obtained a cumulative average of “B+” or higher. For students in higher years, this average can be applied to the best two years of study.
- May already hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline and be studying towards a second bachelor’s degree in NSE, SSH, or HLS.
- Currently enrolled in an undergraduate professional degree program (e.g., M.D., D.D.S., B.Sc.N.).
- Holds higher degrees above Bachelor’s.
- Enrolled in graduate studies.
- A faculty member can hold a maximum of two UTEA awards per year.
- A supervisor must:
- be a full-time faculty member whose primary employer is the University of Toronto
- be a principal investigator (PI) on an active tri-agency (NSERC / SSHRC / CIHR) grant or have a pending tri-agency application at the time of application to the division (mid-late March)
- A student may only apply for one UTEA opportunity per year.
- A student may not concurrently hold a UTEA and an NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA) or other equivalent summer research award.
- Preference will be given to second- and third-year students.
- A student may hold a maximum of three UTEAs throughout their university career with priority given to first-time applicants.
How to Apply
- Develop an excellent, feasible research project that you can conduct with a faculty supervisor over the summer.
- Read through the Program Guidelines.
- UTEA applications are jointly submitted by: 1) the student and 2) the faculty member who will supervise and oversee the research project
- Submit your Application Form; student completes Part I, faculty member completes Part II. Forms should be submitted to your respective division (Faculty/Department) UTEA program contact.
- An MRA must be submitted by the PI at the time of application to the division. Here is a tip sheet to guide applicants on how to properly complete an MRA for the UTEA program.
- Each Faculty will set its own application deadline – for late March/early April.
After Applying
- Your application will be reviewed both for eligibility and by a divisional expert committee. Evaluative criteria include: the quality of the research project, the student’s academic excellence, clear learning outcomes, and the degree of supervisor engagement.
- Award decisions will be sent in April, with expected May 1st award start dates.
Research Environment and Fieldwork
Any additional research costs beyond the $7,500 stipendiary payment to the student, e.g. supplies, services, fieldwork (travel expenses) are the responsibility of the supervisor or the division.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
The University of Toronto embraces diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities.
All divisions will ensure that opportunities are posted widely to attract a board and diverse pool of applicants, and review committees will consistently incorporate EDI principles into their processes.
Contact
UTEA applications and nominations are coordinated by each divisional research and/or undergraduate office.
If you require additional information about the program, please contact undergraduate.research@utoronto.ca.
Faculty or Campus 6262_bd45b6-cb> |
Divisional Deadline 6262_3a1b19-c5> |
Name & Title 6262_381bef-7c> |
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Applied Science and Engineering 6262_0dbf1f-02> |
March 3, 2025 6262_512ad2-a8> |
Samantha Clarizio, Experiential Learning Coordinator, Undergraduate Research & Global Opportunities 6262_221966-d5> | 6262_169474-87> |
Architecture, Landscape, and Design 6262_ba1f40-ca> |
March 14, 2025 by 4:00pm 6262_f033b2-6c> |
Shirley Chan, Research Services Officer 6262_166612-60> | 6262_b467e4-9e> |
6262_e6b8c4-2d> |
March 21, 2025 by 4:00pm 6262_6d83da-dd> |
Megan Tate, Research Operations Coordinator 6262_8b6e54-ff> | 6262_cc8aff-93> |
Dentistry 6262_4d37b1-13> |
February 28, 2025 6262_80dfa3-ed> |
Leah Raz, Administrative Assistant 6262_9abb48-35> | 6262_50e652-6c> |
Information 6262_aaf98d-bd> |
March 21, 2025 by 9:00am 6262_36e0c4-3f> |
Steve Marchment, Advisor and Program Administrator 6262_6a031a-e1> | 6262_2b1eab-c6> |
Kinesiology & Physical Education 6262_dbc288-4a> |
March 24, 2025 6262_dafccd-3f> |
Jason Small, Research Services Officer 6262_88fac4-c8> | 6262_4c1c62-92> |
Management 6262_eb79ed-f5> | 6262_472547-7d> |
Joanne Pereira, Manager, Research Services 6262_10beed-11> | 6262_cd3402-5b> |
Medicine 6262_33c5a8-9e> |
February 28, 2025 6262_58203d-1f> |
Kristina Kolonko, Administrative Assistant 6262_219eec-9b> | 6262_58d9e9-e4> |
Mississauga (UTM) 6262_bbef2d-e1> |
March 19, 2025 6262_c2acff-1d> |
Rong Wu, Internal Competitions & Events Coordinator 6262_076c33-49> | 6262_4e52dc-0c> |
Music 6262_e4c3d5-48> |
March 10, 2025 6262_623491-bb> |
Ely Lyonblum, Strategic Research Development Officer 6262_a705a9-25> | 6262_8f4147-c0> |
Nursing 6262_f8c4f6-09> |
March 10, 2025 6262_208e03-56> |
Shefali Ram, Research Manager 6262_2f2d23-9c> | 6262_cdc064-56> |
OISE 6262_cd8482-7e> |
March 4, 2025 6262_057eac-48> |
Madeleine Taylor, Strategic Research Development Officer 6262_9d4ed8-41> | 6262_a6a30a-25> |
Pharmacy 6262_7d8d9a-45> |
Competition is Closed 6262_e91e0e-85> |
Mike Folinas, Director, Research Administration | 6262_ad5b9e-95> |
Public Health 6262_a2bdfd-0d> |
March 18, 2025 by 4:00pm 6262_db8199-dc> |
Anya Archer, Strategic Research Development Officer 6262_2b3c06-c2> | 6262_9837c7-8f> |
Scarborough (UTSC) 6262_20040c-5d> |
March 14, 2025 6262_22696e-1a> |
Ailén Cruz, Research Administration Officer 6262_6a7d13-5b> | 6262_7e308c-64> |
Social Work 6262_e70302-4b> |
March 21, 2025 6262_1e4a5a-71> |
Vesna Bajic, Research Services Officer 6262_f33ed9-22> | 6262_354b8c-15> |