By the very nature of a lab environment, you’ll be constantly learning. Often during research, you’ll be asked to read and summarize scientific papers, or improve your understanding of a subject. This is unique, as typical student summer jobs don’t include as much active learning. You’ll also become an expert in one specific topic: the subject of your research.

Although research and industry are presented as two distinct paths after graduation, they’re not. Both give you highly transferable skills that are valued broadly. Those with industry experience are valuable in a research setting because they understand how innovation in a lab could be brought to market. In industry, those with research experience are perceived to be at the forefront of development in their field, and often as creatives or innovators; people with research experience are in high demand in many companies. Research will distinguish you as a curious, passionate, or ambitious student who is excited about advancing your knowledge and abilities. EngSci is all about being multidisciplinary. It’s worth working in industry before you decide to pursue a career in research, and it’s worth trying research before pursuing a career in industry. You can easily get experience in both areas during your time at U of T.

In EngSci’s specialized majors and coursework you’ll learn advanced, discipline-specific concepts that give you a foundation for graduate studies and research. The multidisciplinary curriculum exposes you to many different research fields, giving you a broad perspective and skillset.

All fourth-year EngScis are required to complete an undergraduate thesis. This is an independent engineering research project in which you conduct a deep investigation into a particular advanced field of interest. Your thesis will give you an excellent foundation for research.

From ESC180/190 and CIV102, all the way to your 500-level upper-year courses, you’ll have plenty of project-based courses throughout your EngSci journey. These projects will provide you with invaluable practical experience that can strengthen your grad school/research applications.

• Details: Support first years in their engineering research
• Eligibility: Must be a first-year engineering student and a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or visa student with valid student visa for the duration of the fellowship
• Logistics: Applicant must first find a potential faculty supervisor for their research activities
• Award: $7000, with further funding at the discretion of the supervisor
• Application Components: ACORN academic history, resume, statement of personal research interests, project description (to be completed by supervisor)
• Dates: Application closes around early March; applicants will be notified in April, research will occur between May and August

• Details: Support undergrads in research projects that are co-supervised between two U of T faculty members, where at least one faculty member is from the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
• Eligibility: All undergrad students both domestic and international. International students must hold a valid student visa for the duration of the fellowship
• Logistics: Applicant must first find two potential faculty supervisors for their research activities with at least one supervisor being from FASE
• Award: $6000, with supervisors contributing an additional $2000, for a total of $8000
• Application Components: ACORN academic history, CV, application form with project description (to be completed by supervisor)
• Dates: Application closes around early March, applicants will be notified in April, research will occur between May and August

• Details: Support undergrads in research projects related to natural sciences and engineering
• Eligibility: Second-year students (and above) with a cumulative average of at least B- who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada
• Logistics: Students must find a faculty supervisor from an eligible Canadian university, and then complete the NSERC application
• Award: $6000, with the supervisor contributing at least $1500, for a total of $7500
• Application Components: ACORN academic history (if applying with a U of T faculty member) or official transcript (if applying with a non-U of T faculty member) and applicant’s basic personal information. The supervisor will then be contacted to complete the rest of the application
• Dates: Deadlines will vary based on the home department of the faculty member with which you are applying. Deadlines can range from January to March. Research will occur for at least 16 weeks between May and August

• Details: Provide undergrads with research experience in the natural sciences and engineering, social sciences and humanities, and health and life sciences
• Eligibility: Students with a cumulative average of at least B+ who are Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or visa students with a valid student visa for the duration of the fellowship
• Logistics: Students must find an eligible U of T faculty member
• Award: $5250, with the supervisor contributing at least $2250, for a total of $7500
• Application Components: ACORN academic history, applicant’s basic personal information, and supervisor-completed form including details of the research project
• Dates: Application closes around early March. Research will occur for 14 weeks between May and September

• You might be interested in research opportunities offered at other institutions. Such opportunities may include other discipline-specific U of T Engineering research programs such as the TRANSFORM HF Undergraduate Summer Research Program, Acceleration Consortium Summer Undergraduate Research Program in Accelerated Discovery, machine learning research internships at the Vector Institute, or even programs at other universities such as a summer undergraduate Research Fellowship at Caltech
• Some of these opportunities may be posted in the EngSci Info Hub on Quercus, but you may need to look for some of them yourself. Regardless, there are tons of other research opportunities tailored to various interests, and we strongly recommend you do your own searching!
• Pathways to Science has an incredible search portal for finding opportunities in any discipline (especially STEM) across the United States

ESROP – U of T and ESROP – ExOp (Exceptional Opportunities) are student-driven programs designed to support research opportunities for EngScis. To qualify for the programs, students in first and second year independently reach out to professors and researchers. Once students have found a research group that is keen to take them on for the summer (and willing to match the financial stipend from ESROP), they can apply to ESROP – U of T or ESROP – ExOp, depending on whether the research group is at U of T or elsewhere. Successful applicants will qualify for funding from EngSci in addition to compensation provided by the lab throughout the summer.

ESROP – U of T students work at some of the university’s finest research labs at the Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS), Institute for Biomedical Engineering (BME), Department of Computer Science, Robotics Institute, and much more. ESROP – ExOp students have worked at labs in Caltech, Harvard, University of Tokyo, University of Waterloo, and more. Note that there are many ESROP – U of T awards given out each year, but very few ExOp awards.

In ESROP – Global, students apply for research positions at specific host institutions partnered with U of T EngSci (information about the specific institutions, available research projects, and eligibility requirements will be posted on the EngSci Info Hub in November/December). Successful applicants are sent to their preferred research institution along with funding for their summer research. Destinations include top universities in Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, and more! Through ESROP – Global, students participate in cutting-edge research while getting the chance to exit their comfort zones and explore a new country and culture; international perspectives are very valuable as an engineer. Past students have had fantastic travel and research experiences. Here’s one ESROP – Global story from an EngSci!

E4TW channels the global nature of the EngSci program and allows students to participate in research projects related to the social, ethical, political, and human rights impacts of technology. Research projects are generally led by The Citizen Lab based at the U of T Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy.

As a first-year EngSci, you probably haven’t yet narrowed down what specific research you want to do. This is completely okay, since undergraduate research is your opportunity to explore different research areas and identify topics which most excite you. The best thing you can do is to keep an open mind to various opportunities and gain some sense of your interests. Maybe there are some specific concepts into which you’d like to dive deeper, such as genomics or fluid dynamics, or some fields/industries that you’d like to explore, such as autonomous vehicles or material science. While it’s important to know your own interests and articulate them well, it’s also valuable to have an open mind and be willing to explore a field you’d not previously thought of. You never know what surprising interests you might develop!

Much like with finding internships, you cannot expect the opportunities to magically appear on a golden platter; you need to do your own searching. The EngSci Info Hub will be an excellent place to start for U of T-related placements. If you’re looking for opportunities at another institution, the best method is to check that institution’s website. If you have a specific type of opportunity in mind but don’t know where to find it, look at the websites of some top research universities and see if their programs match what you’re looking for. Most importantly, talk to your professors to learn about their research! They all have connections to researchers and companies around the world, so ask them whom they would recommend for work in an area that interests you. Note that some universities will limit their program offerings strictly to students enrolled at that university, and programs in the United States might restrict programs to American citizens or permanent residents.

Reaching out to professors can seem intimidating but learning how to do this will greatly increase your chances of landing a summer research position.

University departments list all their professors in faculty directories, often grouped by research focus. Once you’ve found research areas that interest you, read more about the work of each faculty member on their personal or lab website. Read a couple of their publications to gain a stronger understanding of the type of work that they do, so you can potentially identify specific research interests related to their work. You can also view a list of past lab members, which may or may not include undergrad researchers; feel free to reach out to them on LinkedIn or U of T Engineering CONNECT to enhance your understanding of the type of work you might do.

Remember that professors may have specific instructions that you must follow if you want to contact them for research (that could be as subtle as writing a specific email subject line), and always practice professionalism when reaching out to professors.

Emails to professors are like mini cover letters. They will typically include a brief introduction of yourself along with some of your research interests, and how your past experiences enhance your interests and make you an excellent candidate for the lab. You should also attach your résumé and academic history. If they don’t respond to your email after at least one week, send a follow-up; professors are busy and it’s not uncommon to receive no reply at first.

Sometimes when reaching out to professors or applying for research internships, you’ll have to write a research statement; these differ from traditional cover letters in that they’re more academically focused as opposed to explaining how your past experiences make you a good fit for a job. When you reach out to professors, you might write a mix of a research statement and cover letter; other research internship programs may require a more formal document. There are tons of online resources to help craft your perfect research statement.

Although it seems like a fancy term, networking can be extremely simple. Fundamentally, it’s just meeting people and getting to know each other a bit. It can be nothing more than just having a conversation at a professional event, in the common room, or a anywhere else.

Networking with your peers is invaluable. In addition to forming long-lasting friendships, you can learn about the cool things that your peers are up to. In the future, if one of your peers needs a teammate for a school project, or a co-founder for a startup, they’ll remember to ask you.

Upper-years (like your Blog Admins!) went through your experiences very recently. They can provide detailed and personalized advice. They’ll almost always be available for a quick text message or chat, so do not hesitate to reach out to them. 

Any upper-year can answer general questions about courses, careers, etc. If you’re looking for someone who went through a particular experience, LinkedIn will be your best friend for finding them. In addition, keep in mind that U of T Engineering CONNECT serves to help you reach out to alumni. If you’re on a design team or club, your team leads are knowledgeable people who can offer tons of great advice.

GEARS are student-led drop-in sessions where you can get help with course concepts, career advice, and more. EngSci has its own version of GEARS, that’s separate from the Core 8’s. To learn more about EngSci GEARS and this year’s mentors, check out this blog post.

Your friends and family might have more experience than upper-year peers, and they’ll probably know you on a more personal level. Perhaps you’re at a crossroads with your interests and need help selecting a major. Maybe you just need some ideas for cheap and convenient meals. Never discredit the value of speaking with them. Plus, this allows you to not only receive valuable mentorship but also catch up with your loved ones!

ESEC is an annual EngSci-exclusive conference. You’ll hear from and speak with many accomplished individuals from a diverse range of careers paths, while interacting with your peers in a professional setting. For more information, check out our ESEC blog post.

Founded over ten years ago, YNCN is U of T’s largest student-run career network. Run by over 50 volunteers, they provide student career opportunities through workshops, blog posts, podcasts, and career fairs. YNCN can help with résumé-writing, interview prep, PEY advice, and more. They’re partnered with various top companies, such as Accenture, Intel, Qualcomm, and Scotiabank, and host career fairs in September and February that are amongst the largest in Canada, attracting over 3000 students!

Once you arrive in September, you’ll be able to join U of T Engineering CONNECT – an online community exclusively for U of T Engineering students and alumni. You’ll have direct access to thousands of engineering grads working in a huge range of jobs and companies around the world. In the EngSci Group you can search the member list to find mentors from different EngSci disciplines who are willing to provide career/research advice and job conenctions.

CUBE is a student-run club that promotes biomedical engineering (BME) at the undergrad level. CUBE hosts career fairs, research info sessions, fireside chats, and more. They also have a mentorship program that pairs undergraduates with BME alumni, so you can learn about the field and get valuable advice on topics including resumes and job-hunting.

The U of T Chapter of NSBE is dedicated to the academic growth and professional development, as well as the personal growth, of its club members. This club focuses on marginalized groups within the U of T space and continually partners with different companies in STEM to provide students with the opportunity to connect and network with them. NSBE invites students into a strong, friendly, and professional network.

The U of T Women’s Association “seeks to unite self-identifying women across all programs by offering equal opportunities.” They organize Q&A panels with research and industry professionals from different fields and have also held a LeadHERship conference in the past.

WISE U of T is a community of advocates for gender equality in STEM, helping provide networking and mentorship opportunities. The club holds tons of networking events (e.g. WISE & Cheese), organizes an industry mentorship program, and a career fair. WISE also has an annual National Conference; last years conference included talks by prominent individuals, workshops from companies like Intel and Qualcomm, and Q&A panels. You can check out previous years speakers and workshops here.

NSight is a mentorship program run by EngScis, for EngScis. You’ll get paired with an upper-year mentor for the year, who can provide social, academic, and personal support. NSight also organizes seminars and fun get-togethers where you can interact with other EngScis while learning about how to succeed. It’s a learning and networking opportunity, all rolled into one!

From the Alumni Mentorship Program website:  

“Since 2005, the Alumni Mentorship Program has fostered valuable relationships between Skule™ alumni and students. Alumni Mentors share their knowledge and experience and provide students with the encouragement and insights they need to get a great start to their careers and begin to set a course for the future. They enhance students’ educational experience and give back to their alma mater in a unique and rewarding way. Mentors often also learn from their bright young student mentees as they help them navigate important decisions at a critical time in their lives. 

The program is open to undergraduates (including Professional Experience Year internship participants), graduate students (MASc, MEng and PhD) and alumni who graduated more than one year ago. Matches meet at the program’s kick-off event held at the beginning of the fall semester. From October through March, mentors and mentees connect informally as they wish, and all matches gather at several program events planned throughout the year.”

U of T’s Centre for International Experience (CIE) provides many opportunities for international exchanges, including the CIE’s Summer Research Exchange Program (SREP). Visit the Learning Abroad website to find information on available exchanges.

Internship opportunities can be found all over the world. Different countries specialize in different industries, so getting jobs abroad can help introduce you to career paths in diverse fields, while interacting with globally significant companies. During long-term internships, you’ll spend months abroad, which will allow you to immerse yourself deeply in other cultures and even become fluent in a new language! 

Your four month-long summer breaks are a perfect time to seek out internships, as many companies have summer internship programs. Through company websites, platforms such as LinkedIn, and networking events such as career fairs or design team competitions, you can identify and apply for tons of internships across the world. 

Your 12-16 month Professional Experience Year (PEY Co-op) is also an excellent time for an international opportunity. Many non-Canadian companies consider U of T PEY students when hiring for internships, so as a U of T engineer, you have the potential to take your year of co-op almost anywhere in the world. From big tech in the United States, to aerodynamics in the United Kingdom, to space robotics in Germany, and beyond, EngScis complete amazing PEYs all over the world.

Joining design teams is an excellent way to gain not only practical engineering experience, but global experience as well. Design teams compete against universities from around the world at competitions hosted worldwide. For example, U of T Robotics for Space Exploration (RSX) competes in the University Rover Challenge (URC). In 2024, they were one of 38 teams to qualify for finals at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in Utah out of 102 teams. In Utah, they competed against teams from Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Colombia, India, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Turkey, and USA.

For design team competitions, you can travel to different places and interact with diverse teams from around the world. As a result, you can learn a lot about engineering from a global perspective, while spending time in some cool places. 

These competitions often attract large international companies as sponsors. Students who network effectively can sometimes earn themselves interviews for these top companies. 

Note that while design teams try to take as many members to competition as possible (including first years), there is often a limit due to budget or other constraints. To maximize your chances of attending, make sure you invest time and effort into your design teamwork, and demonstrate your engineering and collaborative competencies through your interactions with your team leads. While at the competitions, be outgoing and interact with different teams and sponsors.

EWB is a Canadian non-profit organization focused on improving life in Sub-Saharan African countries. They tackle a wide variety of problems, from social injustices and business development to improving water and sanitation access for communities. As an undergraduate engineer, you can apply for a Junior Fellowship in EWB, which can mean helping with EWB work locally or traveling with the organization to Africa to help cultivate development.

Even though you’ll still be in Toronto during this course, Praxis III is an engineering design course in which you will apply your learnings from Praxis I and II in a global context based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. You and your team will develop mechatronics projects to address global engineering opportunities. Last year, teams developed projects to improve quality of life in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. In 2021, teams collaborated with business students from Georgia State University to develop solutions for organizations in Nigeria, Ghana, Thailand, Uganda, and South Africa.

Again, although you probably won’t leave Toronto for this opportunity, this Minor will teach you how engineers can interact with global issues. The required courses focus on topics such as sustainability, social sciences, globalization, and policy. This Minor requires an application which opens in March with multiple information sessions during this time.