Research Recovery and Adaptation for Graduate Students
General approach to research recovery and adaptation
Research continuity planning for students in research-stream and select professional programs begins with meeting with your supervisor and/or your supervisory committee. An individual and flexible approach to graduate research continuity planning will be needed given that impacts of COVID-19 on students are both uneven and evolving. Some students—either because of the nature or stage of their research or because of their personal circumstances—will be more profoundly affected by this pandemic than others.
You should have received a COVID-19 Mentoring Form that encourages a dialogue between you and your supervisor about potential research disruption as well as potential mitigating strategies for research continuity. If you haven’t received this form, please contact your graduate coordinator. As the impacts of COVID-19 restrictions on students’ research may not be seen for some time yet, documenting disruptions now may help to inform future planning to mitigate any disruptions and address degree completion.
If your research has been affected by COVID-19 restrictions, we recommend an individual and staged approach. The diagram below provides a visual representation.

Transition
Consider transitioning your time and attention to other academic learning activities that advance your progress towards degree completion and overall professional preparation (e.g., writing literature reviews, methodology, or discussion sections of thesis/dissertation; preparation of a publication; coursework; engaging in professional development activities such as GCAC and GPS offerings). This option means waiting until you can carry out your planned data collection, so speak with your supervisor, about how long you should wait before shifting to the next option.
Pivot
Another option to consider, (in consultation with your supervisor and/or supervisory committee), is pivoting the planned thesis/dissertation so you can make academic progress. Pivoting may take the form of revising aspects of a research question or objectives, the methodological approach or methods, or analyses. This may be a relevant mitigation strategy if you haven’t started data collection, or if you’re in the early stages of the program.
Extend
In some cases, pivoting research won’t be possible or the research disruptions are so significant that you may require additional time beyond the program length to complete your program requirements.
Students who:
- were making good progress with their research before the pandemic, but whose data collection or access to necessary sources and materials has been significantly impeded due to COVID-19 related disruptions,
- have completed all feasible alternative academic activities,
- now need additional time beyond the program length, may apply for additional time with tuition fees waived (non-tuition ancillary and incidental fees will still be charged). Click here for more information.
Students in research-stream programs
In addition to the FAQs below, please see the SGS Research Engagement/Re-Engagement Guidelines.
Students in professional programs
In addition to the FAQs below, please see the SGS Research Engagement/Re-Engagement Guidelines.
Students conducting research in hospitals
In addition to the FAQs below, please see the SGS Research Engagement/Re-Engagement Guidelines.