Individual Research Project

The Alberta School of Business offers BCom and BBCom students the opportunity to receive credit for an individualized self-directed research project, under the guidance of a full-time continuing instructor in the Faculty. Students may choose a project that expands on a topic not fully covered in a Business course or may develop a project in a Business subject area not offered through the School.

An Individual Research Project can be an Accounting, Business Economics, Business Law, Finance, Management Science, Business Technology Management, Marketing or Strategy, Entrepreneurship & Management course.

Only BCom and Bilingual BCom students may participate. Approval is normally granted for one project, however, a second project may be approved in a subsequent term if it is in a different subject area or there is demonstrated advanced material to be covered under the first project. Projects must be completed within one term and must be submitted to the instructor for a grade no later than the last week of classes.

Steps to Take:

  1. In order to participate in an Individual Research Project through the Alberta School of Business, students must be a BCom student in good academic standing and there must be room in your program requirements.
  2. Students must meet any pre-requisite requirements. Pre-requisites will be listed under the course description in the UofA Calendar. Students should have completed the introductory course in the subject area at the very minimum (e.g. FIN 301 for a Finance Individual Research Project), and it is preferred that students have a solid background in the subject area before proceeding with a project.
  3. Develop a project in conjunction with a full-time continuing instructor from the Alberta School of Business. This instructor will supervise and grade the project. Please contact the Department directly to see who is available in any given term.
  4. Complete the Individual Research Project Form. The title of the project will appear on your UofA transcript. Please do not use the title Individual Research Project. Instead, choose something that reflects the project. For the project description, please provide an overview of the project and method of evaluation. This information is required in lieu of a syllabus.
  5. Please submit the completed form, with both yours and the instructors signature to the Undergraduate Program Office through the Student Service Portal a minimum of two weeks prior to the add/drop deadline, for the term.
  6. The form will be reviewed and if approved, students will be registered in the appropriate course, eg B LAW 495, OM 495 etc. Tuition for Individual Research Projects is the same as any other 3-credit course offered by the Faculty and is due at the same time and same manner as other courses. 

Please note:

  • The Business Undergraduate Office will only register students in an Individual Research Project that have been approved through the office.
  • Do not submit your request at the last minute as your project may not be approved; or, if approved, you may need to make adjustments to your schedule to accommodate the registration.

Other Research opportunities for Undergraduate Students.

For additional information about other undergraduate research opportunities available at the University of Alberta please go to Undergraduate Research Initiative. Their site includes information about available funding for research and offers tips for approaching undergraduate research.