The purpose of University of Toronto Excellence Award (UTEA) is to provide opportunities for research experience at the undergraduate level; to augment the formal research courses offered by the University of Toronto; to give undergraduate students opportunities to experience different approaches to research in various fields; to help students learn and appreciate the investigative methodology of areas of particular interest; and, to provide students with an experience that will allow them to make informed decisions about pursuing careers in research.

This is a competitive two-stage process that involves an initial nomination at the Departmental level, followed by a final decision by the Faculty of Arts & Science divisional expert committee. Evaluative criteria includes: the quality of the research project, the student’s academic excellence, clear learning outcomes, and the degree of supervisor engagement.

Students who have submitted an application for the NSERC USRA will also automatically be considered for the UTEA. Note that international students are eligible for UTEA and should submit the UTEA application only.