University of Toronto Excellence Award (UTEA)


Updated: March 2024


Purpose:

To provide opportunities for research experience at the undergraduate level in the natural sciences and engineering (NSE), social sciences and humanities (SSH), or health and 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: 

UTEA awards are valued at a minimum of $7,500. Of this minimum total, $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 department's discretion. 
 

Award Duration:

The award period is 14 full weeks during the summer term, beginning no earlier than May 1, 2024, and ending no later than September 30, 2024. 
 

Eligibility of Student: 

To be eligible to hold a UTEA, a student must:

  • be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada, or international student with valid student visa for the full summer work term; 
  • be registered in a Bachelor’s degree program at the University of Toronto either as 1) a full-time student, or 2) a part-time student only if the UTEA will be held during the student’s final session and the student requires only a part-time courseload to complete their degree; 
  • be registered either at the time of application or in the term immediately before the award start date. 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; and 
  • 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. 

Eligible students may already hold a Bachelor's degree in any discipline and be studying towards a second Bachelor's degree in NSE, SSH, or HLS.

A student is ineligible to hold a UTEA if they:

  • are currently enrolled in an undergraduate professional degree program in the health sciences (e.g., M.D., D.D.S., B.Sc.N.); 
  • hold a degree above a Bachelor’s in NSE, HLS, or SSH; or 
  • are currently enrolled in graduate studies 

Please also note:

  • 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 3 UTEAs throughout their university career, with priority given to first-time applicants. 
     

Eligibility of Faculty Supervisors: 

To be eligible as a UTEA supervisor, a faculty member must be: 

  • Campus-based at the University of Toronto, and 
  • As a principal investigator (PI), either hold an active NSERC, SSHRC, or CIHR grant, or have a pending application with one of those agencies at the start date of the UTEA (May 1st). Co-investigator is NOT eligible. 

A faculty member can be the supervisor on a maximum of 2 UTEA awards per year. 
 

Research Expenses and Fieldwork:

The entire UTEA funding is to be awarded to the student as a stipend. Any additional costs, e.g. supplies, services, fieldwork (travel expenses) are the responsibility of the supervisor or the department. 
 

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. 

Divisions are expected to post opportunities widely to attract a broad/diverse pool of students. Academic divisions/units must establish a peer review committee to make award decisions. Academic units make award decisions through their own competitive, peer-review process. In the absence of such a committee, academic divisions can rely on their executive committee or other existing committee of faculty members. 

Review committees are expected to demonstrate a strong commitment to the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion, and to adopt equitable and consistent peer review processes. Committees must develop and consistently apply predetermined selection criteria that align with information found in the posting and account for and not penalize academic interruptions/leaves/extenuating circumstances. 
 

Activity Report:

It is the responsibility of the student to submit a Research Report no later than October 1, 2024, to Cheryl Nash (cheryl.nash@utoronto.ca), Research Funding Officer. The report template will be distributed with the UTEA award letters. 
 

Application Process:

UTM internal deadline for department to submit completed applications is Wednesday, March 27, 2024.

  • Up to 5 UTEA-NSE, 5 UTEA-SSH, and/or 4 UTEA-HLS applications from each UTM academic department may be submitted. 

    Applications must be submitted through supervisors’ departments for departmental internal review first. Applications submitted by applicants and supervisors directly to the OVPR are not accepted.  
     
  • Departments should submit applications to funding.ovprutm@utoronto.ca by the deadline on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, one pdf document per application package. Please also submit the completed department ranking form. In the form, please rank the applications per UTEA category (NSE, SSH, HLS). 
     
  • The supervisor of a UTEA-SSH, UTEA-NSE or UTEA-HLS recipient must be a faculty member holding an active SSHRC, NSERC, or CIHR research grant administered through UTM, either as the principal investigator, or have a pending application. Co-investigator is not eligible. 

    The proposed project of UTEA-HLS should be a CIHR project, or a health & life science-related project that PI could propose to CIHR.  
     
  • Each application package should include:
    • Completed 2024 UTEA application form (click here to download)
    • Student unofficial transcript generated directly from ACORN and verified by department
       
  • Successful faculty supervisors from the UTM internal competition will be notified by Monday, April 8, 2024. Only successful faculty supervisors should complete an application using the My Research ­Applications (MRA) online system (http://www.research.utoronto.ca/my-research/) by Friday, April 12, 2024. Instructions on how to complete an MRA submission in support of the UTEA application is available here

    It is required to attach the following documents in the MRA application:
    1. Completed UTEA application form.
    2. Student unofficial transcript generated directly from ACORN and verified by department.


Competition Results:

Results of the UTM internal competition will be e-mailed to the proposed supervisors. Office of the Vice-Principal, Research will not communicate directly with the student applicants. Successful applications from the UTM internal competition will be put forward to downtown research office for further review. Final review results will be sent to the proposed supervisors around the end of April. 
 

Additional Information:

For more information about this year's UTEA, please visit Vice-President, Research & Innovation (VPRI) website.
 
Download 2024 UTEA guidelines
 

Frequently Asked Questions:

The FAQ will be updated throughout the competition. Please refer back here regularly to stay up-to-date if you are preparing a nomination.

  1. Can past UTEA recipient apply for UTEA again?
    Yes. A student may hold a maximum of 3 UTEAs throughout their university career, with priority given to first-time applicants. 
     
  2. Is SSHRC/NSERC/CIHR Co-PI eligible as a proposed supervisor?
    No. Only the principal investigator (PI) is eligible. 
     
  3. Is it ok to allocate part of the UTEA Award for student fieldwork (travel expenses)?
    No. The entire UTEA funding is to be awarded to the student as a stipend. Any additional costs, e.g. supplies, services, fieldwork (travel expenses) are the responsibility of the supervisor or the department. 
     
  4. I'm a UTM student. Can I submit an application to my UTM department if my proposed faculty member is from another campus?
    No. UTEA applications are usually submitted through proposed faculty supervisor's divisions. It is suggested to contact your proposed supervisor to find out the application process. Each division has limited UTEA allocations. UTM allocations only go to UTM faculty supervisors with their student applicants. 
     
  5. I'm graduating. Can I apply for UTEA?
    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.
     

Contact:

Please contact Rong Wu (rong.wu@utoronto.ca), if you have any questions about the 2024 UTEA.

 

Click here to view past recipients and projects.