International & Indigenous Course Module Program (IICM)

International & Indigenous Course Modules (IICMs) provide an opportunity for faculty to take a group of undergraduate students on a Reading Week trip as part of a course. IICMs are designed to enhance students’ classroom learning by applying course content to relevant settings and communities around the globe.

The deadline for submitting an IICM for the 2023–24 academic year is 12 pm (noon) on April 14, 2023.

Program Details

  • IICMs provide an opportunity to incorporate an intensive international or Indigenous experiential module into the framework of an existing undergraduate course.
  • IICMs take place over the November or February Reading Week, but under special circumstances, IICMs can also take place in early May for non-graduating students.
  • It is the expectation of the IICM Program that the faculty member listed on the proposal will both lead the IICM and be the course instructor.
  • The Office of the Dean funds all student travel, accommodation and meals for the IICM, and covers the cost of one faculty member. For details, please review the Financial Responsibilities section.
  • Woodsworth College’s Professional and International Programs (PIP) office can provide support to faculty members with arranging logistical bookings and payments in advance (where possible), as well as ensuring that U of T Safety Abroad requirements are met.
  • Upon completion of the IICM, the faculty member will submit a brief report describing the successes and challenges of IICM. 
  • Faculty may choose to propose parallel IICMs, in which two separate courses with different course instructors participate in a joint IICM that enriches both courses. For example, an Earth Sciences course and an Anthropology course might elect to go to the same destination and share some common events in support of an interdisciplinary Arts & Science experience.
  • Departments are encouraged to promote multiple-year IICMs proposed by multiple faculty.

IICM Application Process

This section provides a general overview of the IICM application process. For specific dates and deadlines for 2023–24, please refer to Key Dates for 2023–24 IICMs.

Mid-March – Mid-April: 

Late April – Early May:

  • Projects are adjudicated by the multi-disciplinary International Opportunities Committee.
  • Faculty members are informed of the status of their IICM application.

Faculty members who hold a continuing undergraduate appointment to the Faculty of Arts & Science (St. George) are eligible to participate and will receive $1500 in research support funding. Funds are transferred into the research accounts of participating faculty members. 

For consultation and feedback on new IICM ideas, faculty are encouraged to reach out to the Vice-Dean, Undergraduate at vicedeanundergrad.artsci@utoronto.ca and ELOS office at experientialsupport.artsci@utoronto.ca.

Prior to submitting an application, faculty are encouraged to consult with Woodsworth College’s Professional and International Programs (PIP) office on proposed budgets and travel plans at pip.international@utoronto.ca.

Faculty interested in proposing a project involving Indigenous communities are encouraged to consult with Emma Stromberg, Indigenous Partnership Adviser at e.stromberg@utoronto.ca.

Student Recruitment

Please make clear in publicizing this opportunity to your students that IICMs are an ideal way to provide international experiences for students who might not otherwise be able to participate in one due to financial, time or other constraints.

IICMs normally take place over the Fall or Winter Reading Week. In recruiting students and planning your module, please take into consideration that IICM participants may be studying for mid-term exams or assignments for their other courses. IICM participation should not impact students' progress or ability to meet deadlines in their other courses.

Due to limited funding, priority should be given to students who have not received funding from the Faculty for an international experience (this includes IICMs, 398 Research Excursions and the Dean's International/Indigenous Initiatives Fund). You will be notified if there are any such students identified in your IICM. For this reason, students who have received previous funding and play an active role in the development of a proposal cannot be guaranteed a place in an IICM.

All student participants must be current Arts & Science (St. George) degree undergraduate students in good standing and be enrolled in an academic program at the time the proposed activity takes place. All participants must also be enrolled in the course in which the IICM is embedded. Student eligibility will be verified by the Experiential Learning Coordinator (Research & International). Please note that student numbers and other confidential information should be treated as such and shared only with authorized individuals.

Depending on the destination, certain vaccinations may be recommended or required in order to enter the country. Participants can check whether there are required and/or recommended vaccinations for a destination on the Government of Canada’s Travel Vaccinations page. We also recommend that participants check with their health care provider as soon as possible regarding vaccinations or other health concerns. Studying abroad is a personal choice, therefore, vaccinations that are required or recommended for travel cannot be funded by the University.

Participants with disabilities can contact Accessibility Services to identify and develop any necessary accommodations in advance of the trip.

Financial Responsibilities

IICM budgets normally cover the balance of travel, accommodation and meal expenses for the accepted number of students and one faculty member, taking into account any contributions from other sources outlined in the proposal and recommendations made by the review committee. IICM funding may also include additional funding to cover support for planning and logistics for the IICM prior to and during the module for such things as planning, on-site arrangements and hosting, travel for an additional instructor or other administrative needs.

We ask that participating students contribute $200.00 each toward the IICM. These contributions can come from group fundraising initiatives.

Some colleges may be able to provide support for IICM participants for incidental or out-of-pocket expenses, based on need. After proposals are accepted, colleges can only support individual students, not program costs. If students need additional support for incidental expenses, please ask them to contact their College Registrar’s Office directly.

Date Activity
March 15, 2023 IICM Call for Proposals opens
April 14, 2023 Deadline to submit IICM proposals
April 10–21, 2023 Administrative review of IICM proposals by Experiential Learning & Outreach Support (ELOS) and Woodsworth teams; faculty members may be contacted for additional information if required.
April 17–28, 2022 IICM proposals are reviewed and adjudicated by the multi-disciplinary International Opportunities Committee, chaired by the Vice-Dean, Undergraduate (or designate).
Early May 2023 Faculty members informed of the status of their IICM.
Early May 2023 Revisions due for IICM proposals that received conditional approval.

Additional dates for processes relevant to the Fall and Winter IICMs will be updated in summer.

If you have any questions, please email experientialsupport.artsci@utoronto.ca.