The U of T Scarborough Undergraduate Research & Creative Prize honours U of T Scarborough students who have excelled in research, scholarship and creative activities in the classroom and beyond. This prize recognizes the research and creative activities of undergraduate students, their overall contribution to the University of Toronto Scarborough, and illustrates the role of the library in their creative and research processes.
The project may take many forms such as a traditional paper, 2D or 3D works, a database, a website, digital project or creative project in its many manifestations, including projects that demonstrate a student's artistic expression such as painting, photography, poetry or a play.
The U of T Scarborough Undergraduate Research & Creative Prize is a financial prize sponsored jointly by the U of T Scarborough Library and U of T Scarborough Office of the Vice-Principal Research and Innovation. It is open to all students who are currently registered in a U of T Scarborough undergraduate degree program and have completed their first year of study.
Prize winning projects and/or recipients will be featured on the U of T Scarborough Library website and OVPRI website and invited to be archived on TSpace.
Eligibility | Criteria | How to apply | Prizes | Important Dates | More Information
Eligibility
The prize is open to all undergraduate students who meet the following criteria:
- currently enrolled at U of T Scarborough;
- completed their first year of study;
- student is principal investigator or primary creator;
- individual or group research projects completed within the previous year (Spring 2024/Summer 2024, Fall 2024 or Winter 2025)
- participated in meaningful engagement withU of T Scarborough library resources and/or librarians (see below for details about the library statement)
Students cannot submit the same project as last year unless there are significant changes or advancements in the final outcome.
Students may submit the same project to both the U of T Scarborough Undergraduate Research & Creative Forum and U of T Scarborough Undergraduate Research & Creative Prize, however, they cannot simply submit a poster or creative display created for the Forum.
Criteria
The prizes(s) will be awarded primarily on the basis of the quality of the research or creative project and the illustration of the use of scholarly resources in the research process.
The Judging Committee shall consist of U of T Scarborough faculty members and representatives from the Office of the Vice-Principal Research and Innovation.
How to Apply
Students who wish to apply for the prize are invited to upload their submissions online.
A complete application package must include the following elements:
1. Project description (750 words max). Using clear, non-specialist language such that a general scholarly audience can understand the research, provide the key details about your project:
- the research problem (what question did you set out to answer?)
- your methodology (how did you answer it?)
- the outcomes (what did you find?), and
- the wider implications or further questions that it raised.
- OPTIONAL: mention another project or projects you have completed, if relevant to the project being submitted.
2. Library statement (350 words max).
Address how you used library services, including print and/or electronic collections, consultations with liaison librarians, etc., and describe how your engagement with these resources contributed to an exceptional research project.
3. Research project. Upload a copy of your research project, or, in the case of a web-based project, provide a URL.
4. Faculty support letter (1 page max). A faculty member who supervises, oversees, or assigns research projects shall provide a letter of reference, to be uploaded online. The letter should include the following:
- a description of how the faculty member knows the student (e.g. as supervisor or instructor for this research project)
- a description of the student applicant's involvement in the research project, highlighting the student's contributions or independent work
- reference to the quality of the student's work in this project
Prizes
Up to 4 cash prizes of $1000 will be given out annually, one each for projects in the Humanities, Social Sciences, Sciences, and Creative categories. The judges evaluate the projects on their quality and reserve the right to award prizes in one, two, three, or all four of these categories.
Important Dates
- Application deadline: April 15, 2025 at 12:00pm EDT (noon)
- Winners announced and Prizes Awarded: Summer 2025
More information
Contact your liaison librarian or review our Frequently Asked Questions.