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Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS)

DARE for Students

Apply your classroom learnings to practical experiences and immerse yourself in a research project that fulfills your goals.

The Dean’s Award for Research Excellence, or DARE, gives you the opportunity to fully engage in a professional research project with one of our world-class faculty members. Over the summer term, you’ll participate in hands-on experience and one-on-one mentoring while working in your area of interest.

On top of the experience and mentoring benefits, you’ll gain valuable insight in the entire research process, including how to communicate research results.

DARE is perfect for students interested in…

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Producing impactful work though a funded position

Receiving one-on-one mentorship from faculty members

Complementing studies with a unique research experience

Developing transferable presentation skills

Award Details

  • Research is completed from May 1 to Aug. 31.
  • Each student receives $5,000, paid over the four months.
  • 60 awards are available each summer term.
  • Poster submissions will be considered for a Best Poster Award, to be announced at the DARE Poster Exhibit and Celebration Event in the Fall. The Award includes a certificate and gift card valued at $300.00. Up to two honourable mentions will receive a certificate and gift card valued at $100.00.

Eligibility

  • The award is open to full-time undergraduate students enrolled in programs (majors and/or minors) within the Faculty of LA&PS, but preference will be given to students undertaking LA&PS majors. Students enrolled in non LA&PS programs but who are taking individual LA&PS courses are not eligible.
  • Continuing students and those graduating in the spring may also apply.
  • You must have a minimum 7.0 GPA and have completed at least 48 credits by the time you start the program.
  • Applications are evaluated based on your overall academic record, the project description, and the way you express your learning objectives and role in the project. 
  • Students who have won DARE awards in previous years are eligible to participate again.
  • Students expecting to receive Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) assistance during the Summer are advised to review potential implications to their funding should they be successful in receiving a DARE Award. Information on awards and OSAP reporting is available on York University OSAP website.

Application Process

Stage 1: Review projects

January 17 – February 14, 2025  

  • Review Research Project Postings from faculty supervisors.
  • Choose two or three you’re interested in.
  • Submit your project proposal by January 17, 2025, 4 pm

Stage 2: Apply to faculty supervisors

February 14, 2025 by 4 pm  

  • Submit your resumé and unique cover letter for each of your chosen projects to the faculty supervisor. Jan 20 – Feb 14 DARE Projects posted for student Expressions of Interest (EOI).
  • Faculty supervisors will review these submissions and select the students they want to work with by March 17 at 4 pm.

Stage 3: Apply to DARE

Deadline: March 17, 2024 by 4 p.m.

  • Only students who have been selected by a faculty supervisor may apply to DARE.
  • Connect with the supervisor you’ve been selected by and request a letter of recommendation. Include this letter in your DARE application.
  • If you have been selected for more than one project, you must choose one and confirm your participation with the supervisor.
  • You’ll be notified by email once funding has been confirmed.

Stage 4: Projects begin

  • DARE projects begin May 1 – August 31, 2025, although you may negotiate different terms with your faculty supervisor in order to accommodate summer work.
  • Your award will be $5,000 in 4 monthly payments of $1,250 over the summer months.
  • The end of the research project is followed by a poster presentation.

For me, the DARE helped solidify the fact that this is the path that I want to take. It helped me identify the soft skills that you can’t sit in a classroom and learn – you have to be a witness, you have to job-shadow, you have to see people who do phenomenally well at it in their field, pick up the skills and have that mentor relationship with your professor. It also allowed me to network with people who have similar and like-minded ventures.

— Champagne Thomson
DARE Recipient, Human Rights & Equity Studies Major

Questions

For more details on DARE, contact the LA&PS Research Office through email at lapsrsc@yorku.ca.