Compete for a place in the Full Outstanding Scholars program
Imagine completing six paid research placements before you graduate.
As a full Outstanding Scholar, you can move beyond coursework and into meaningful projects with faculty, researchers, and community partners. You are not just studying your field. You are contributing to it.
This is a chance to graduate with research experience, leadership development, strong professional networks, and a portfolio that helps you stand out for graduate school, professional programs, and competitive careers.
Step into real roles, not just coursework
As an Outstanding Scholar, your placements can help you think, create, communicate, and lead at a much higher level than a typical undergraduate experience.
- Work as a researcher
- Analyze complex problems
- Design and build solutions
- Create and communicate ideas
- Partner with communities
- Lead and mentor others
These are not just résumé phrases. These are the kinds of roles Outstanding Scholars students step into through paid placements across disciplines, research areas, and community-facing projects.
What kind of placement could you pursue?
Your Outstanding Scholars experience can take many forms depending on your interests. Explore the kinds of projects students may pursue across science, business, the humanities, the arts, leadership, and community-based work.
Science, Engineering, and Technology
- Laboratory research in biology, chemistry, neuroscience, and physics
- Engineering design, testing, and prototyping
- Data analysis, modelling, and simulation
- Artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, and cybersecurity
- Environmental monitoring and sustainability research
Social Sciences, Humanities, and Education
- Psychology, sociology, political science, philosophy, and history
- Equity, diversity, and social justice research
- Education research and curriculum development
- Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research
Business, Economics, and Innovation
- Market research and organizational analysis
- Finance, accounting, and data-driven decision making
- Entrepreneurship and social innovation
- Business case development and strategy
Community and Applied Research
- Health care and mental health research
- Community-based and participatory research
- Government and not-for-profit partnerships
- Knowledge mobilization and public engagement
Entrepreneurship and Sustainability
- Product development using recycled or waste materials
- Environmental innovation and sustainability initiatives
- Social enterprise and Enactus-style projects
Creative, Media, and Arts-Based Work
- Visual arts, theatre, music, and performance
- Creative research and installations
- Podcasting, media production, and storytelling
- Creative approaches to sharing knowledge
Leadership and Program Development
- Student leadership initiatives and curriculum design
- Mentorship and peer program coordination
- Conference planning and research dissemination
What could your Outstanding Scholars experience look like?
It might look like Jack Marcotte’s. As a Bachelor of Commerce Co-op student and Outstanding Scholar, Jack combined international exchange, co-op learning, and ongoing research experience into one ambitious undergraduate path.
His experience shows what becomes possible when you do more than choose one opportunity. You begin stacking them. Research. Global learning. Professional development. Leadership.
That is part of what makes Outstanding Scholars distinctive. It gives high-achieving students more ways to build an undergraduate experience that is not only impressive on paper, but genuinely transformative in practice.
Imagine what your version of that story could be.
Hear what students actually experience
These videos let you hear directly from Outstanding Scholars about their placements, projects, and the kinds of opportunities they have pursued.