Guides for Placement

As an academic course, fieldwork comes with expectations of students to attend to timelines, deadlines and instructions from their fieldwork course instructor(s). Students will need to review the fieldwork course outline and attend to all expectations. Students are asked to check their University of Toronto email account daily to support the communication process with their fieldwork instructor(s). Students are strongly encouraged to contact their fieldwork instructor(s) during the placement for guidance, as needed. 

Students should ensure that they communicate regularly with their preceptor to review expectations and progress toward fulfillment of placement objectives. Students represent the university and department and will present themselves accordingly. Students may find it helpful to review our tip sheet about communication, feedback, and conflict for both.

Students placed at community fieldwork sites which require a vehicle are eligible to apply for a car allowance. Students are eligible for this car allowance if the fieldwork placement site within the University of Toronto catchment area specifies in the fieldwork description that the student requires a vehicle for travel during the placement. 

Travel allowance documentation is typically due on the Monday following the last day of students’ fieldwork placement. Students must submit a log of Google Maps and a spreadsheet that shows the calculation of daily mileage and/or parking receipts to the Fieldwork Administrator. As part of this form, students must declare that they did not receive any funding from their fieldwork placement site for travel. 

For extenuating financial circumstances, please contact the Director of Clinical Education. Please note if mileage calculation is more than the maximum allowance, students will not receive any extra payment than the maximum allowable amount. 

Eligible mileage includes trips from home directly to client, from facility to client, from client to facility and from client to client. Trips from home to facility, from client to home or facility to home are NOT eligible. Gas receipts are not to be submitted. Google Maps mileage is the only thing used to calculate amount of re-imbursement based on mileage. Original receipts for parking costs can be submitted.

Travel Allowance will be distributed after submission of all necessary receipts and completion of all forms. Reimbursement will not occur until several weeks after placement has ended due to cheque processing time.

Please note that out-of-catchment placements within Canada are not eligible for a car allowance. 

All expenses are the responsibility of the student. This includes flight, accommodations, in-country travel and preceptor fees. 

There is a needs-based funding opportunity through the Centre for International Experience. You can apply here. 

Scroll down to the bottom and click on Going Abroad, but NOT through CIE? then click Apply Now. This process is very simple and many of your peers have received supportive funding.