Award Overview
- Student Deadline
- Prior to the start of the session of approved parental leave
- Application Dates
- Fall / Winter / Summer
- Required Legal Status
- Domestic / International
Value & Duration
PhD and SJD Students: up to 100% of monthly living stipend (no tuition) to a maximum of $10,517 per academic session
U of T Postdoc Trainees: up to 100% of monthly fellowship stipend to a maximum of $4167 per month.
Purpose
Established in 2017 for doctoral students, The SGS Parental Grant program, aims to provide financial support PhD and SJD students within the funded cohort by helping to offset the loss of their funding as a result of taking an approved parental leave of absence at the time of birth or adoption in order to provide full-time care during the child’s first year or the first year the child comes into care (see SGS Leave of Absence Policy). In 2025, this support has been extended to include all U of T Postdoc Trainees who receive funding through an external fellowship that does not offer a paid parental leave or benefits.
The SGS Parental Grant offers financial support for the duration of an approved parental leave for up to 8 months of support for all parents, and 12 months for birth parents. The value of the grant is based on the applicant’s current funding and aims to support 100% of the monthly stipend to a maximum value (see values above).
Eligibility
Eligible applicants will be:
- A registered PhD or SJD student, who is in the funded cohort, (before and upon return) and is on an approved parental leave from their program for at least 4 months (one academic session); or
- A Postdoc Trainee registered with the School of Graduate Studies, who is a recipient of an external fellowship that does not provide a paid parental interruption/leave of absence, and is on an approved parental leave from their postdoc fellowship position for at least 4 months.
Please note:
- Applicants may apply for a Parental Grant for every occasion of birth and/or adoption that occurs during the course of their program/fellowship position provided they continue to meet the eligibility requirements.
- Multiple births upon the same occasion (e.g., twins) do not increase the duration or the value of the Grant;
- Grant recipients who return prior to the end of the approved leave, are ineligible for funding beyond the revised return date;
- Postdoc trainees receiving Tri-Agency Fellowships or other awards/fellowships with paid parental leaves, CUPE 3902 Unit 1 Teaching Assistants and CUPE 3902 Unit 5 employee postdocs with access to employment insurance and benefits are ineligible;
- Students receiving Tri-Agency scholarships, a stipend paid through a PI’s Tri-Agency research grant, or CUPE 3902 Unit 1 Teaching Assistants with access to parental leave supplements and/or benefits that exceed the value of the Grant are ineligible or the will have the grant adjusted accordingly.
- Tuition support, is not included in the calculation of the Grant
Application Process
- Applicants can request an SGS Parental Grant by completing the appropriate application below and submitting the completed form and documents to their Graduate/Department Administrator or Business Officer to complete and forward to SGS on their behalf.
- Applicants will receive an email notification via their U of T email address regarding the application status, expected payment date(s) and/or a request for additional information (e.g. supporting documentation):
- Proof of pregnancy, birth or adoption will be required to activate payment; the following documents are accepted as proof of pregnancy/birth/adoption:
- Doctor’s certificate or certificate from a midwife stating that the student (or co-parent) is pregnant and the expected date of delivery;
- Long form birth certificate; or
- Confirmation of adoption letter issued by the Adoption Agency
- Proof of pregnancy, birth or adoption will be required to activate payment; the following documents are accepted as proof of pregnancy/birth/adoption:
SGS Graduate Student – Parental Grant Application
SGS Postdoc – Parental Grant Application (TBA)
Additional Info
Payment