Your questions, answered
The Research Opportunity Program (ROP) provides an unmatched opportunity to become involved in cutting-edge research and work directly with leading faculty members. Please see below for a list of common questions and answers.
Program details
Session | Credit Value | Recommended Hours per Week |
Summer (May-August) | 0.5 credit (H) | 8-10 hours |
1.0 credit (Y) | 15-20 hours | |
Fall (September – December) | 0.5 credit (H) | 8-10 hours |
1.0 credit (Y) | 15-20 hours | |
Winter (January – April) | 0.5 credit (H) | 8-10 hours |
1.0 credit (Y) | 15-20 hours | |
Year-long (September – April) | 1.0 credit (Y) | 8-10 hours |
- Anthropology (SSc): Dog-human cosleep: Does your pet improve your sleep?
- Chemistry (SCI): Can we create new protein drugs that regulate a gene involved in most human cancers?
- English (HUM): Staging an epic: A South Asian/Canadian retelling of the Mahabharata
- Management (SSc): Well-being and recovery at work
- Philosophy (HUM): Teaching students to think
- Psychology (SCI): The development of children's attention, physiology, and emotions
We ask you to limit your applications to a maximum of FIVE (5). Please remember, however, that you can only accept ONE (1) invitation per semester.
You may accept more than one 299, 399, or 499 courses in any discipline over your academic career. However, remember that only ONE ROP can be accepted per semester.
No, the Summer ROP courses take place during the entire Summer session from May-August. Additionally, year-long courses run the entire span of the Fall/Winter session from September-April.
A: Arrange to meet with an Undergraduate Advisor in your respective program to go over your program/degree requirements to ensure that the ROP is the right fit and meets all of the necessary program and degree requirements.
Am I eligible?
No, students are selected based on a number of criteria such as the application, resume, cover letter, grades, completion of specific courses, interview skills, etc. The instructor has full discretion for the selection of students into their ROP project. Be sure to review the course prerequisites along with the specific requirements from the instructor (this can be found in the project descriptions) prior to submitting your application.
Yes, you may submit applications to ROP courses that do not correspond with your program(s). It is recommended that you speak with the Department Undergraduate Advisor to discuss your program/degree requirements and whether the ROP is the right fit.
Fill out your online application carefully and include a CV/resume. It is also recommended that you speak to instructor before the application deadline to ask questions, learn more about the research project and learn what the faculty instructor is looking for in a suitable candidate.
Non-degree students are not eligible to participate in the ROP. Visiting students and exchange students from partner institutions may be eligible to participate with approval from the Experiential Education Unit, Office of the Vice-Principal Academic and Dean. Please send requests for approval to rop.utm@utoronto.ca.
Non-degree students are not eligible to participate in the ROP. Visiting students and exchange students from partner institutions may be eligible to participate with approval from the Experiential Education Unit, Office of the Vice-Principal Academic and Dean. Please send requests for approval to rop.utm@utoronto.ca.
Application process
Yes, all students are required to submit a cover letter and resume when applying to the various ROP projects. Get tips on how to write an effective cover letter and resume by visiting the Career Centre.
Approved students will be automatically registered in their ROP course during the normal registration periods for the Summer, Fall, Winter, and Fall/Winter by the ELO overseeing the Research Opportunity Program.
The deadline for submission of applications through the ROPAPP is determined annually, so be sure to check the ROP Timetable in advance. Instructors will have two to three weeks to choose who they want for their projects, and might require interviews or phone calls to help in their selection process.
The "Qualifications" and "Interests" sections in the online application form are a way for you to express in more detail what would set you apart from other candidates/applicants. Your resume is a concise tool for providing the reviewer (i.e. instructor) with a general idea of what your experience is, but these sections allow you to provide more details.
The instructor will issue an offer to participate in their course. The offer will be delivered via email with the approved online application signed by the instructor with the terms of the contract having been included. You will be required to sign the contract by entering an alpha-based code which will serve as your electronic signature. The signed contract will go back to the Department Chair for signature.
Fees and important dates
Yes, the course fee for the ROP is the standard half- or full-year course rate.
The dates to drop are the standard dates set by the Office of the Registrar for all courses. Students cannot remove ROP courses on their own. Instead, you are required to write to the ELO overseeing the Research Opportunity Program requesting to be removed from their ROP course with an explanation. You'll also need to copy your ROP supervisor/instructor on this message as well.