Contents
1. Student Eligibility
2. ROP Course Pre-requisite & Exclusions
3. ROP Course Registration
4. Project Requirements
5. Recommended Hours
6. FAQs and Helpful Tips
1. Student Eligibility
All registered University of Toronto undergraduate students in a degree program are eligible to apply to the ROP. However, priority will be given to UTM students.
2. ROP Course Pre-requisite & Exclusions
In order to participate in the Research Opportunity Program, students are required to meet the ROP Course Prerequisites established by their academic unit.
Students are encouraged to review the individual project requirements to ensure their suitability for the research opportunity.
3. ROP Course Registration
Students are not permitted to enrol in more than one ROP course per academic term. We encourage students to check with their academic department when using ROP courses for program/degree completion requirements.
Students are not able to enrol in ROP courses through ACORN. Students must apply through the ROPAPP and the Experiential Education Unit staff will enrol approved students in their respective ROP courses at the beginning of the term.
ROP Contract and Responsibilities
Students admitted to the Research Opportunity Program (ROP) must fulfill all requirements and sign a contract prior to starting the project.
The ROP contract clarifies the responsibilities and duties of the supervisor and the student, as well as the assisting team (TAs/RAs, etc.).
4. Project Requirements
- Students must keep a journal* to record meetings, progress of their work, what was learned in the project, and the nature of the research in general. This is to provide the supervisor with an ongoing record of the students’ progress in the project and aid in evaluation at the end of the project.
- At minimum, students are to meet with their supervisor bi-monthly and are to keep record of these meetings in their journal.
- Students are required to attend all demonstrations, orientations, and training sessions that the supervisor may require.
- In addition to the student’s journal, it is recommended that students submit a two page interim report detailing and outlining their research experience before mid-terms marks are assigned. Equally, the supervisor will complete a written assessment of the student’s progress and discuss with the student BEFORE THE DEADLINE TO DROP COURSES WITHOUT PENALTY.
- Additional work in some form, including the journal*, should constitute at least 50% of the final grade. Final grades will be numeric and there is to be no final exam.
*A journal may be optional for 399 and 499 projects; however, some form of record keeping as assessment is required in order to adequately provide the student with mid-term and final evaluation. For examples of different types of reflection practices (if looking for something other than journaling) click here to visit the EEU's Resources for Students page.
5. Recommended Hours
- Summer (May-August): it is advised that students complete a minimum of 15-20 hours per week
- Full year (September-April): it is advised that students complete a minimum of 8-10 hours per week.
- Fall (September-December): it is advised that students complete a minimum of 15-20 hours per week for Y courses; 8-10 hours per week for H courses.
- Winter (January – April): it is advised that students complete a minimum of 15-20 hours per week for Y courses; 8-10 hours per week for H courses.
6. FAQs and Helpful Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
| Sample ROP Project Offerings | |
| 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 |
A: Yes, students may submit applications to ROP courses that do not correspond with their 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.
A: No, students are selected based on a number of criteria such as the application, resume, cover letter, grades, completion of specific courses, how you interview, 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.
A: Fill out your online application carefully and include a CV/resume. It is also recommended that students speak to the instructor between now and the application deadline to find out more about the research project, ask questions, and inquire about what the faculty instructor is looking for in a suitable candidate.
A: 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.
A: Students may accept more than one 299, 399, or 499 courses in any discipline over their academic career. However, remember that only ONE ROP can be accepted per semester.
A: 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.
A: 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 an idea of what your experience is, but is not a method for you to go into further detail. These sections provide you with that opportunity.
A: 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.
A: Yes, the course fee for the ROP is the standard half- or full-year course rate.
A: The deadline for submission of applications through the ROPAPP is determined annually, be sure to check the ROP Timetable in advance. Instructors will have two to three weeks to choose who they want for their projects. They might do this by interviews or phone calls as it is up to each instructor to choose as they see fit.
A: The instructor will issue an offer to participate in their course. This will come 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.
A: 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.
A: 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, they are required to write to the ELO overseeing the Research Opportunity Program requesting to be removed from their ROP course with an explanation. Students are required to copy their ROP supervisor/instructor on this message as well.
A: Non-degree students are ineligible 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.
A: Non-degree students are ineligible 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.
Helpful Tips
- Participation in the Research Opportunity Program is voluntary and students will not be paid for their participation.
- There is a course fee for the ROP which is the standard fee for a half or full-year course.
- Students are required to submit a cover letter and resume with their application(s).
- There is no final exam in this course. However, for most courses, students are expected to keep a journal to record meetings, progress of the project and what was learned.
- Students are expected to meet regularly with their supervisor and can be evaluated in other ways deemed suitable by their supervisor.
- Departments participating in this program will have a "_99H" or “_99Y” designation after their department code for this course (i.e. CHM299Y; BIO399H).
- Students will be notified via email regarding the status of their submitted applications.
- Students will not be permitted to accept more than one ROP course per academic session.
- The Experiential Education Unit will register successful students in their ROP course during the normal registration period for the Summer, Fall, Winter and Fall/Winter.