Research Excursions Program (REP 398H/Y Courses)

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 2024 REP proposals is now open and deadline to apply is January 15, 2024.

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 for two or more students in an off-campus setting. 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.

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.

  • REPs are posted on CLNx 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.
    • Students must have between 9.0 and 16.0 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 international opportunity including REP, International/Indigenous Course Module (IICM) or the Dean's International & Indigenous Initiatives Fund (DIIIF).
  • Please fill out the 2024 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.
  • 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 15, 2024).
  • 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 13, 2023 REP call for proposals opens.
November 21, 2023,
12–12:30 pm
November 27, 2023,
2–2:30 pm
January 8, 2024,
12–12:30 pm
Sign up and attend a REP information session.
January 15, 2024 Deadline to submit REP proposals.
January 16–19, 2024 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 22–February 2, 2024 REP proposals are reviewed and adjudicated by the multi-disciplinary International Opportunities Committee, chaired by the vice-dean, undergraduate (or designate).
February 5, 2024 Faculty members informed of the status of their REP.
February 9, 2024 Revisions due for REP proposals that received conditional approval.
February 9–March 6, 2024 REP courses posted to CLNx to solicit student applications. Units and individual faculty are also encouraged to promote REP courses to their students directly.
March 7, 2024 Student applications are sent to faculty members.
March 6–26, 2024 Faculty members review applications and select students. Eligible students will need to submit the REP contract to be enrolled in the course. All students must complete Safety Abroad requirements in order to participate in the REP course.
March 27, 2024 Deadline for REP contracts to be submitted.
Mid-April 2024
(date TBD)
Students enrolled in REP course.
Mid-April 2023
(date TBD)
Pre-departure orientation session via Safety Abroad.
September 2024
(date TBD)
REP students participate in Fall Research Fair.

For consultation and feedback on new REP ideas, faculty 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.