Transitioning from Coursework to Research

Written by Grace Tarrant 

Thumbnail & Banner Photo by Ryan Jacobson on Unsplash

The stress of coursework deadlines, exams, and final papers melts away once April comes and goes and most students finish their semester for the summer. For some students, such as those in graduate programs, finishing coursework does not mean the schoolwork is over; however, it can still be a very relieving time for a moment before reality sets in.

All graduate programs are structured a little differently; however, most thesis-based graduate programs will have a course-based component, following a research and thesis writing component. In the Atlantic Canada Studies graduate program, for example, the first fall and winter semesters involve courses, while the summer semester signals the start of research-only work. It is a weird feeling, considering many graduate students who have just come out of an undergraduate program would recall the winter semester being done as the signifier of the end of school-related activity until the following fall (unless one has done an honours project). However, in my case now, as well as many others’, the work is only just beginning.

Photo by Renáta-Adrienn on Unsplash

If you are anything like me, unstructured school is challenging to manage. Keeping a schedule when you are the one responsible for it, from Monday to Friday, can be difficult without outside responsibilities like coursework. Now, research is the only thing on my to-do list for the foreseeable future, and ironically, only having one thing on the agenda can be a little paralyzing for some. For others, this may be where they  thrive, so this is not a one-size-fits-all ordeal. 

One way I plan to stay on track is to continue my part-time employment, so that I can fill my days with something other than “research.” In the summer especially, it will be good to have a reason to get out of the house and remain engaged in the socializing aspect of a “work-life” balance that is required to stay mentally healthy.

Making a promise to yourself that you are going to treat every day like a workday, especially when you are just doing research from your home, campus, or another study spot, by setting a regular time to wake up and prepare for your day, is key. You can easily set yourself up for success when you maintain a number of regular and consistent morning tasks that you otherwise would have done if you were going to class. It can be as simple as waking up, showering and getting dressed as you normally would, and getting out of the house to begin your day.

When it comes to research, sometimes setting personal goals is necessary in order to feel accomplished when you aren’t getting a ton of typical “feedback” as you would have with course assignments. Some daily or weekly goals would likely help you to feel like you are not just getting up and doing the same things over and over again. Having a list of things you would like to have read or written within a certain amount of time will help to remind yourself of your progress along the way.

Making an effort to regularly see other students in your program or classes who are in similar situations will likely help you feel connected. Personally, I find holding each other accountable and remaining in touch with those who are undergoing similar projects to be extremely helpful. A number of other students within the Atlantic Canada Studies graduate program and the History program are planning on meeting once every other week to provide updates to one another and assistance when necessary.

While many of the deadlines for summer research opportunities have passed for students who are currently undergraduates, a number of scholarship and research assistantship opportunities become available to apply for around the beginning of the winter term. These undergraduate summer research awards can be received from The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), the First-Year Undergraduate Research Awards Program, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and the Dean of Science Research Awards. More information can be obtained about applying for these awards for summer 2025 here.

All of these tips apply to graduate students doing a thesis-based project, undergraduate students doing an honours, and undergraduate students working as research assistants. Ultimately, each student will have different ways of managing their own schedules, but these are only a few tips that I will attempt to practice throughout the summer and throughout my program going into the fall.