Directed Research - Graduate Students Only

Graduate students may apply to write a directed research project of 1 to 3 credits under the supervision of a graduate faculty member. Team research projects are not permitted.

The general guidelines for a directed research project are as follows:

• For 1 credit: 2,500-5,000 words, at least two meetings per term, and a penultimate draft
• For 2 credits: 5000-7,500 words, at least two meetings per term, and a penultimate draft
• For 3 credits: 7,500-10,000 words, at least three meetings per term, and a penultimate draft

Students may not complete more than two directed research projects in the LLM program and may not receive more than three directed research credits in one year.

Step 1: Preparing a Research Proposal

Interested students should approach full-time members of the faculty to discuss their project and seek supervision. Under the guidance of their proposed supervisors, students should prepare a one-page outline of their research project including:

• a description of the topic to be pursued,
• the research methods to be employed,
• a timeline for submission of the rough and final drafts, and
• a preliminary bibliography (beyond the one-page outline).

1.1 Research Topic: Both the supervisor and Committee will ensure that the proposed topic has sufficient academic content, and that the research methods are adequate. In particular they will satisfy themselves that the project can be done in the time allotted, and that the research material is available without any obstacles to its use, such as confidentiality.

1.2 Research Methods: Interdisciplinary and empirically-oriented research projects may be permitted. In the cases of empirical research, the final paper should reflect not merely the results of data gathering, but an analysis of the data and, where appropriate, of the methods used.

1.3 Research Involving Human Subjects: The University of Toronto requires that all graduate student and faculty research involving human subjects be reviewed and approved by a Research Ethics Board (REB) before work can begin. This includes interviews. The standards can be reviewed at https://ethics.gc.ca/eng/policy-politique_tcps2-eptc2_2018.html.

Step 2: Submitting your Application

Proposals must be approved by faculty supervisors before being submitted to the Assistant and Associate Dean, Graduate Programs. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure adequate time to discuss a proposal with their supervisor and obtain approval before the deadline for submission of the proposal to the Assistant Dean (add/drop deadline of the relevant term - See sessional dates). In addition to the proposal students must submit the Directed Research Form (signed by the Directed Research Supervisor).

Step 3: Meeting the Credit Requirements

Once the committee has approved the project, it is the responsibility of the students to make sure that the following requirements will be met. Students may not change the number of credits for their project once it has been approved by the Graduate Directed Research Committee.

3.1 Supervision: Students will meet with their faculty supervisors regularly and at least twice per term, to discuss the progress of the research.

3.2 Draft: Students must submit a substantially complete first draft by a date determined by their faculty supervisor(s), but at least two weeks prior to the final submission date of the Directed Research.

3.3 Deadline for Submission of Completed Research: Students are required to submit their completed work by the date determined by their faculty supervisors, but by no later than the final deadline for submission of written work during the term, as determined by the administration (See Sessional Dates).

Note: Use of AI generative tools

The conduct of this course is governed by rules applicable to students at the University of Toronto and its Faculty of Law, including the University’s Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters (found here).  Violations of these rules, especially with respect to academic integrity, are taken very seriously.

Please note that you are required to familiarize yourself with the policies by which you are bound as a student at this university, which includes seeking additional information on academic integrity from your Directed Research Supervisor or from other institutional resources (for example, the University of Toronto website on Academic Integrity), if you are unclear on what is required of you.  To that end, we encourage you to review the following, among other, resources:

• University’s Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters [the Code].
• How not to Plagiarize – Writing Advice
• The University’s Academic Integrity website, which addresses several behaviors or practices that constitute academic misconduct

The University has also developed specific policy on the use of ChatGPT and other generative AI tools on marked assessments. The use of AI must be consistent with academic integrity.

Absent express instructions otherwise, use of generative AI is not permitted. Also unless otherwise specified, use of generative AI tools for assistance must be disclosed. Unauthorized use of generative AI constitutes the use of an unauthorized aid, which is an offence under the University’s Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters. All suspected cases of academic dishonesty will be investigated following procedures outlined in the Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters.  

It is incumbent on students to ensure that they understand the expectations of their instructors regarding use of AI in any academic assessments.