The Research Excursions Program (REP) provides faculty members with funding to involve third-year undergraduate students in a faculty-led research project that takes place off-campus during the summer term. Research projects can take place in domestic or international locations. REPs are supervised on-site by an Arts & Science faculty member and participating students receive academic credit.

The application period for summer 2026 REP proposals is now open and deadline to apply is January 12, 2026.

Program Details

  • All REPs must take place in the summer term, between May and August.
  • All REP courses require approval by the department chair (or designate).
  • Faculty members offering REP courses receive $1,500 in research support.
  • REPs are academic courses designed for two or more students in a research experience off campus. Students will be registered for the summer term in the appropriate REP (398 H/Y) course. Tuition fees apply and final course grades must be submitted by late August, before the beginning of the fall term.
  • The research experience can take a variety of forms, such as research in archives, laboratories, libraries, field sites, etc., but cannot be a credit-bearing course at another university. Additionally, the REP cannot be combined with a research project for which a student is also being paid.
  • The Office of the Dean funds all student travel, accommodation and meals for the REP.
  • 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 (when required).
  • Faculty members are encouraged to read the REP student-facing website for examples of past projects, student eligibility and resources provided to students.

REP Application Process

Faculty members who hold a continuing undergraduate appointment to the Faculty of Arts & Science (St. George) are eligible to participate and will receive $1,500 in research support funding. Funds are transferred into the research accounts of participating faculty members.

  • Approved REP courses are posted on CSM system (launching in January 2026) to solicit student applications. Units and individual faculty are also encouraged to promote REP courses to their students directly.
  • Faculty members are responsible for interviewing and selecting students for their REP course.
  • The Experiential Learning and Outreach Support (ELOS) office will confirm student eligibility. Eligible students:
    • Are full-time undergraduate degree students in the Faculty of Arts & Science — St. George campus
    • Must have between 9.0 and 16.0 credits (including transferred credits) by the end of the April exam period in order to participate in REP.
  • Preference will be given to students who have not previously received funding for an Arts & Science experiential learning program, including REP, the International Course Module, and the Indigenous Course Module. 
  • Please fill out the REP Faculty application form,  adhering to the word limits.
    Faculty members are encouraged to review the REP student assessment examples for sample learning goals, activities and assessments that you may consider integrating into your REP courses. We recommend faculty members consider including journals and reflections in the assessment.
  • Please fill out the budget sheet, which is preformatted for you. REP projects are typically funded in the range of $5,000 – $15,000. Department contribution (when possible) is encouraged.
  • Send the completed application form and budget to your chair/program director for review and approval.
  • Once approved, you should submit the proposal and budget via email to experientialsupport.artsci@utoronto.ca by the deadline (January 12, 2026).
  • REP applications are adjudicated by the International Opportunities Committee.

If you have any difficulty accessing these forms, please contact experientialsupport.artsci@utoronto.ca.

Date Activity

November 12, 2025

REP call for proposals opens. Sign up and attend a REP information session.

January 12, 2026

Deadline to submit REP proposals.

January 12–15, 2026

Administrative review of REP proposals by Experiential Learning & Outreach Support (ELOS) and Woodsworth teams; faculty members may be contacted for additional information if required.

January 15–29, 2026

REP proposals are reviewed and adjudicated by the multi-disciplinary International Opportunities Committee, chaired by the vice-dean, undergraduate (or designate).

February 2, 2026

Faculty members informed of the status of their REP proposals.

February 6, 2026

Revisions due for REP proposals that received conditional approval.

February 11–March 1, 2026

REP courses posted to CSM system (launching in January 2026) to solicit student applications. Units and individual faculty are also encouraged to promote REP courses to their students directly.

March 2, 2026

Faculty members receive student application bundles via email.

March 3–21, 2026

Faculty members review applications and select students. Eligible students will need to submit the REP contract to be enrolled in the course. Students must complete Safety Abroad requirements in order to participate in the REP course that takes place in an international location.

March 24, 2026

Deadline for REP contracts to be submitted.

Mid-April 2026

Students enrolled in REP course.

Mid-April 2026

Students participate in pre-departure orientation sessions.

September 2026

REP students participate in Fall Research Fair.

 

For consultation and feedback on new REP ideas, faculty members are encouraged to reach out to the Experiential Learning & Outreach Support office at experientialsupport.artsci@utoronto.ca.

Arts & Science has partnered with Woodsworth College's Professional and International Programs (PIP) office. PIP will 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. Faculty members are encouraged to consult with the PIP office on their proposed budgets and travel plans via email at pip.international@utoronto.ca.

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