Major Research Paper

Course-only option (in lieu of MRP)

Since April 2024, students may choose to complete two courses (6 credits) instead of an MRP. These may be API electives or graduate-level courses offered outside the program. The latter must be approved by the program coordinator, and students may take a maximum of two non-API courses over the course of their program.

Registration and Deadlines

Students should register for the MRP for one term only, and they must submit their major research paper within that term of enrolment – by the date specified in the table below.

Service Requests

Students must submit a service request through uOzone for each of the following steps: 1) adding or modifying their MRP supervisor, 2) adding or modifying the title of their MRP, and 3) submitting the final version of their MRP.

IMPORTANT: No later than February 1 of their first year of study, students must submit the following two service requests: “Add or modify the MRP supervisor” and “Add or modify the MRP title.” If students do not submit these two services requests, a hold will be placed on their student account, and they will not be able to register for their spring-summer courses until they have submitted their service requests.

1. To add or modify the MRP supervisor (before February 1 of their first year)

To add the name of your MRP supervisor, submit a service request through uOzone by following these steps:

• Log in to the Service Request application in uOzone.
• Select “Research Related” as the category.
• Click on “View All”
• Select “Research Paper” as the type.
• Select “Add or Modify Supervisor” as the sub-type.
• Enter the name of your supervisor in the text box.

2. To add or modify the MRP title (before February 1 of their first year)

To add or modify the title of your MRP, submit a service request through uOzone by following these steps:

• Log in to the Service Request application in uOzone.
• Select “Research Related” as the category.
• Click on “View All”
• Select “Research Paper” as the type.
• Select “Add or Modify Title” as the sub-type.
• Enter the title of your MRP in the text box.

Ready for the MRP Registration

To register for the semester in which students will write and complete the MRP, students must first submit the form “Authorization to Register for MRP course”, signed by their supervisor to the department at [email protected].

It is expected that before the beginning of the semester in which the student is registered to write and complete the MRP, the student and the supervisor will have agreed on the following points:

1. The MRP’s topic, including the research question to be answered. (Note: With the supervisor’s approval, the topic may be developed from a student’s previous academic work or a special project, but it must advance substantially beyond the original work.) 
2. A list of at least 15 relevant and substantive academic sources that will be used as as a starting point for the research.
3. A work schedule to meet the deadlines identified below.

Submitting the Final Version of the MRP

The final version of the MRP must be submitted no later than the date indicated in the deadlines below. To submit your MRP, you must submit a service request in uOzone by following these steps:

• Log in to the Service Request application in uOzone.
• Select “Research Related” as the category.
• Click on “View All”
• Select “Research Paper” as the type.
• Select “Submission of the Research Paper” as the sub-type.
• Attach your final MRP to the service request.

Important: Once the final version of the MRP has been submitted, it cannot be revised.

Dropping the course

Students who drop the MRP before October 2, 2026, will receive financial credit if they are not registered to other courses. 

For students who drop the MRP between October 2, 2026, and November 20, 2026 (after receiving their supervisor’s feedback in late-October), they will not receive financial credit for the term even if they are not registered to other courses. 

If the student wants to drop the MRP before November 20, 2026, and they are not registered to other courses, then they must submit a service request for a leave of absence.

Deadlines

Length and format

Length: 50 pages. Double-spaced print. Normal fonts and margins.

Final version

After the final version of the MRP has been submitted, it cannot be revised.

Grading

Students must submit a completed MRP by the submission deadline, or they will automatically receive a failing grade of Non-Satisfactory (NS).

• Satisfactory (pass): The work poses a clear research question and seeks to answer the question through an organized examination that demonstrates the student’s capacity for independent analysis. The work uses relevant research sources and evidence appropriately. The work demonstrates that the student has done a considerable amount of research. The writing is clear.
• Distinction (S with distinction): Work shows a considerable amount of critical thought and independence, a capacity to analyze and synthesize, solid organization, evidence of extensive knowledge base with systematically listed sources and a superior grasp of the subject matter. Work also has very a good research question and develops strong arguments in answering it. There is clear evidence of independent thought and originality of approach. Examples, empirical illustrations and supporting evidence are valid, reliable and are used appropriately while demonstrating clarity and coherence of argumentation and focus on relevant data. This work is written and presented to very good academic standards.
• Non-Satisfactory (fail): Such work shows a very limited grasp of the basic literature and reveals major errors and/or omissions. The work reflects only a superficial understanding of the subject mater and/or fails to answer the research question and/or contains substantial amounts of irrelevant material. The paper is likely to contain extensive irrelevancies, lack a central thesis, be inconsistent or inadequate in its use of sources and referencing, and may be repeatedly marred by errors of grammar and syntax. Arguments are poorly organized and difficult to follow or may not even be present; the work recites existing knowledge without demonstrating a capacity for independent analysis.

Re-registering for the MRP

Students who fail the MRP may register to take the course again only if they have not failed another course. Students who fail two courses are automatically removed from the program.