Application Process & Form

Your first step is to find a supervisor and a second reader. The supervisor and the second reader should be tenure-stream (or equivalent) faculty members of the University of Toronto. The supervisor and second reader must be approved by the Program Director before the term in which you begin your independent study project.

The second reader is not responsible for guidance or consultation. The role of the second reader is to grade your work. (Your supervisor will also grade your work.)

Whether the credit you receive will be allowed to count towards your major or specialist program will depend on your primary Department. Trinity College does not get involved in that process. Please check with your Department and your College Registrar before submitting the required enrollment materials (listed below). Since the task of finding a supervisor can be time-consuming, you should start the process early.

You might wish to contact the Independent Studies Director about your eligibility for the program, and for more information.

In order to be considered for enrollment, you must submit the following items to the Office of the Dean of Arts at Trinity College (Room 300, Gerald Larkin Building, 15 Devonshire Place) or by email (preferred) to artsdean@trinity.utoronto.ca.

  1. Your academic transcript
  2. An outline (normally one single spaced page) of your proposed topic, including the title, signed by the supervisor with an additional short bibliography
  3. The suggested evaluation scheme showing the weight of each item of work, signed by the supervisor; at least one item of work (worth at least 20% of the total course mark) must be submitted, graded and returned to you by the last date for dropping the course without academic penalty.
  4. The completed Independent Studies Registration Form (PDF)

Students in the Sciences

It is typical for students doing independent studies in the sciences that a significant amount of time be spent in a laboratory environment. Laboratory performance will therefore form part of the evaluation process.

Students are expected to provide a progress report to their supervisor at least two weeks in advance of the last date for dropping the course without academic penalty (for H courses), or by the last day of classes in the first semester (for Y courses). Students will receive their evaluations of the progress report before the course drop date.

Students are expected to submit their final reports, which should be in the form of a research paper in the format of the relevant field, by the last day of class (for both H and Y courses).
A typical evaluation scheme for students in the sciences can be found here (fillable PDF). This can be modified but must include the elements listed in the form.

Students in Humanities and Social Sciences

An Independent Studies student must formulate a research question or problem and indicate a portion of the relevant literature in the attached short bibliography. The initial problem or question may be revamped or altered in the process of reading or other research. To fulfill the course essay requirement, the student is expected to show the process by which information is accessed, conclusions drawn and, where appropriate, deployed in formulating new questions or paths of enquiry.

Students are expected to provide a progress report to their supervisor at least two weeks in advance of the last date for dropping the course without academic penalty (for H courses), or by the last day of classes in the first semester (for Y courses). Students will receive their evaluations of the progress report before the course drop date.

Students are expected to submit their final reports, which should be in the form of a research paper in the format of the relevant field, by the last day of class (for both H and Y courses). The length and format of the final report must be specified in advance of the course as part of the evaluation scheme.

A typical evaluation scheme for students in the humanities and social sciences can be found here (PDF). This can be modified but must include the elements listed in the form.

Questions?

Feel free to contact the Office of the Dean of Arts (artsdean@trinity.utoronto.ca) or the Program Director (Leslie Boehm at leslie.boehm@utoronto.ca) for information and help. If you move during the academic year, please inform the Director of your new address/phone number.

 

Contact Us – Independent Studies:

Leslie Boehm
Director, Independent Studies and Comprehensive Paper
leslie.boehm@utoronto.ca

Contact Us – General Inquiries:

Office of the Dean of Arts at Trinity College
artsdean@trinity.utoronto.ca
416-978-8454

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