How to Apply to SiR 2026

The student application period for Scholars-in-Residence 2026 is now closed.

Thank you for your interest in Scholars-in-Residence! Please check in again next January for information about Scholars-in-Residence 2027. For further questions, contact scholars.in.residence@utoronto.ca.

Jackman Scholars-in-Residence (SiR) is an intensive, 4-week paid research opportunity in humanities and social sciences for upper-year undergraduates. SiR provides students with an opportunity to acquire advanced research skills and experience while collaborating with an interdisciplinary and intellectually vibrant community of peers, professors, and research professionals. Students selected for SiR work as Research Assistants in small teams on projects led by professors. Students also share group activities including multidisciplinary workshops on research methodologies, standards, protocol, and professional communication; cultural events; and talks featuring professionals such as lawyers, policymakers, and documentary filmmakers that highlight research-intensive career trajectories. 

JACKMAN SCHOLAR AWARD

If you are selected for SiR 2027 and complete the program requirements you will receive a $1000 Jackman Scholar Award. You will have the opportunity to contribute to original faculty research projects, develop skills, and build supportive relationships with peers and professors. You will also receive free residence accommodation and partial board on the campus where your project is located.

LOCATION AND MODALITY OF PROJECTS

SiR offers in-person projects hosted at all three UofT campuses. 

Students selected will live in residence on the campus where their project takes place for the length of the program. Free accommodation and a free partial dining plan will be provided for all students who are accepted for in-person projects. Residence will be assigned according to the campus location of your project (e.g., students accepted to a UT-Scarborough-based project will stay in residence on that campus). Students will participate in 20 hours/week of scheduled research work and attend 5 hours/week of in-person program activities. 

You are encouraged to apply for projects on any of the three campus locations, regardless of your current affiliation.

TIME COMMITMENT

Scholars-in-Residence is a very intensive program, and students are normally expected to devote full time and energy to it during the program period without pursuing other studies or employment.

In exceptional circumstances, students who are accepted into the program may request permission to take one course or accept up to 15 hours of other employment per week (not both, and not more) alongside participation in SiR, as long as the course or work schedule does not conflict with scheduled SiR research and other program activities. Even in exceptional cases where permission is granted, you must be available for all SiR working sessions as scheduled by your supervisor and for the mandatory group activities scheduled for your session (i.e., St George, UTM, or UTSC).

HOW TO APPLY

Eligibility

Eligible undergraduate students are those currently in second year or higher (i.e., 9.0 credits completed by May 2027) in any program in the Faculty of Arts & Science, the Faculty of Music, the Faculty of Information, or the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design at St. George, or at UTM or UTSC. You must have a minimum CGPA of 3.0 in order to apply.

In order to give as many students as possible the opportunity to participate in SiR, you may participate only once. If you have taken part in Scholars-in-Residence in a previous year, you are not eligible to apply for SiR 2027.

Selection criteria include academic achievement, commitment to and qualifications for the research project, and suitability for team-based research as shown by the application material and references.

The Application

The student application period for Scholars-in-Residence 2026 is now CLOSED. Please check in again mid-January for information about Scholars-in-Residence 2027.

Applications consist of:

• Indication of two preferred projects, in order of preference.
• Names and email addresses of 2 academic referees whom we may contact if you are short-listed. Please inform referees that they will not be required to write letters of recommendation, and that they will only be contacted if you are short-listed.

Upload a SINGLE APPLICATION DOCUMENT IN PDF FORMAT that contains the following:

1. One-page letter of interest outlining how SiR furthers your educational or career aspirations. Speak directly about your preferred project(s), and feel free to mention any relevant skills, qualifications, and background.
2. Transcripts (screenshots from ACORN are acceptable, but you must show all academic activity beginning from your first year of university, so that we will be able to verify your current year of study).
3. Short, up-to-date resume that outlines your academic and professional skills and includes names and email addresses for your two referees.

Submission

• Please compile all application documents in the order listed above as a SINGLE PDF FILE.
• Applications must be submitted online at:
  Click on Apply Now! at the bottom of the page starting mid-January 2027.
• Please check your application document carefully to ensure that all components are included BEFORE YOU UPLOAD IT. 
  

2027 projects will be listed here when available in January 2027.

For information about the Scholars-in-Residence program or website assistance, contact scholars.in.residence@utoronto.ca