The online application will be available between
Monday, February 11th and March 4th at 10:00 am
Please note:
- Both the applicant and the supervisor/advisor will be required to use their
UTORid and password for the application process;
- The application will time out after two hours but can be saved in draft form after saving the second page; and
- The application cannot be modified after submission. If an error is discovered once it has been submitted, a new application must be created to replace the original application. Please email
travelgrant@utoronto.ca to inform SGS of the second corrected application.
Applicants are encouraged to:
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Notify their supervisor/advisor that they will be submitting an SGS Research Travel Grant application which will require their approval and advise them of the deadline;
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Confirm their supervisor/advisor’s correct email address to ensure the supervisor/advisor section of the application is sent to the correct email address for completion; and
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Be mindful of the deadline date to ensure their supervisor/advisor to complete their portion on time.
Supervisor/Advisor Information
For
the purposes of this competition, the supervisor/advisor identified on the application must be a faculty member who currently holds graduate faculty membership at U of T and is familiar with the applicant's current progress within their program.
Online Application
Step 1 - Student Application
Be sure you meet all eligibility criteria before filling out the application form.
Click on the “Online Application Form” button. Sign in using your UTORid.
You will be brought to a “Dashboard” page. Using the left hand side menu, click on “Forms”, then “Form Library”, and under the Award Forms section “SGS Research Travel Grant Application”.
Complete all pages, review and hit the “Submit” button at the bottom of the last page.
You will be asked to provide the following information:
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Supervisor/advisor's email address (for the approval process); Details of the travel (e.g., destinations, duration of travel);
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Proposed budget for the travel;
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Purpose of the research (1500 characters max).
Step 2 - Supervisor Portion
Once submitted, the identified supervisor/advisor will:
Receive a web link (via the email address entered by the applicant) that must be used in order to review and approve the application;
Be asked to review the application and confirm that the applicant is in good academic standing and that the proposed travel is appropriate at the current stage of the applicant's program.
Step 3 - Confirmation Email
Once the supervisor/advisor has submitted their portion, the system will send a confirmation email to both the applicant and the supervisor within 24 hours.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the details of their supervisor portion within the confirmation email.
Technical difficulties with the application must be reported immediately to travelgrant@utoronto.ca.
ONLINE APPLICATION FORM
Q: Who is eligible to apply for the SGS Research Travel Grant?
A: Applicants to the SGS Research Travel Grant must be: a) a registered, full-time PhD or SJD student in Division I or II, and b) requesting funds to support travel directly associated with the completion of their thesis.
Q: Are "flexible-time" students eligible for the SGS Research Travel Grant?
A: No, flexible-time students are not eligible. Flexible-time students are meant to be self-funded.
Q: If I am eligible, am I guaranteed the grant?
A: Eligible applicants are not guaranteed funding. Funding is contingent upon other factors such as the availability of funds, the number of applicants, and the relevance of the travel to the student's PhD or SJD research.
Q: I applied and received the SGS Research Travel Grant before; can I apply again?
A: Students are eligible to apply for the SGS Research Travel Grant more than once. However, preference will be given to those who are applying for the first time.
Q: I just started my program; am I eligible to apply for the SGS Research Travel Grant?
A: Students who just started their program (in first year) are ineligible to apply as the Grant aims to assist students in the later stages of their PhD or SJD program.
Q: Where can I find the SGS Research Travel Grant application?
A: The application will be available online on February 11 on the
Travel & Conference Awards web page on the SGS website.
Q: If I have not achieved candidacy, am I eligible to apply?
A: Although having achieved candidacy is preferred, PhD or SJD students in Division I or II are eligible to apply for the SGS Research Travel Grant before achieving candidacy.
Q: What is the deadline to submit my application?
A: Applicants must complete and submit their portion of the form by 10:00 am on March 4. Supervisors are also required to fill in a one-page application approval that is due by 10:00 am on March 8.
Q: What type of travel is eligible for funding?
A: The SGS Research Travel Grant is available for PhD or SJD students completing research in or outside Canada. Travel must be outside of commuting distance from the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), requiring separate accommodations. Travel must also be for purposes necessary to the student's thesis research.
Q: Is travel to conferences or courses/seminars covered by the SGS Research Travel Grant?
A: No, travel to conferences or courses/seminars is not covered under the SGS Research Travel Grant. Students who are seeking funding for conference-related travel should apply for the
SGS Conference Grant.
Q: What level of funding can I expect to receive if my application is successful?
A: The funding provided by the SGS Research Travel Grant is not intended to cover all of the travel expenses associated with each application. The value of the grant will be based on the destination(s), duration, and funds available. The value will be communicated in the offer letter.
Q: Can I use other funding to conduct this travel?
A: Yes. Since this grant provides modest financial support, applicants are expected to seek funding from other sources in order to supplement their travel and related expenses.
Q: If I am offered an SGS Research Travel Grant, how do I collect my award?
A:
Successful applicants are required to complete the online SGS Conference/Research Travel Grant Payment Activation form, show proof of travel in the form of receipts (e.g., train ticket, airfare, boarding passes, hotel booking), and submit a report upon return. Scanned copies of receipts and boarding passes are sufficient. Once the appropriate documentation is received, payment will be issued via ACORN in two to three weeks..
Q: Will the SGS Research Travel Grant cover multiple trips within the funding timeframe?
A: The SGS Research Travel Grant does not cover multiple trips. However, a single trip with multiple stops may be eligible.
Q: What if my travel plans change after I complete my application?
A: If travel plans change,
the Change Request form must be completed and submitted to
travelgrant@utoronto.ca for prior approval or uploaded to the online Payment Activation form (please see “Payment Activation” section). The Change Request form and further information can be found in the Changing Destination and/or Duration section above.
Q: Can I receive payment of my award before my departure date?
A: Yes, provided that you submit the necessary documentation including the online Payment Activation Form, proof of transportation and accommodations, and Safety Abroad registration and training, as required.
Q: Where can I find the SGS Research Travel Grant Payment Activation Form?
A: The Payment Activation Form can be found in the Payment Activation section above.
Q: When can I travel with the SGS Research Travel Grant?
A: Students who are awarded a 2018-19 SGS Research Travel Grant are required to complete their travel (depart and return) by April 30, 2019. Students who plan to travel after May 1, 2019 should apply for the 2019-20 SGS Research Travel Grant competition.
Q: Is there a minimum or maximum length of time for travel?
A: For the 2018-19 cycle, yes, the minimum length of travel is 7 days and the maximum is 365 days and must take place between January 1, 2018 and April 30, 2019.
Q: My travel began before January 1, 2019. Can I apply for retroactive funding for 2019-20?
A: Some exceptions to travel dates may be made for students who departed in December 2018 and returning after January 1, 2019. Please email
travelgrant@utoronto.ca with your travel date inquiries.
Q: Can I defer my award to next year?
A: No, the award is only valid during the competition timeframe in which it was awarded (January 1st of application year, to April 30th of the following year).
If your revised travel will occur after April 30th of the following year, please cancel your grant and reapply to the following year’s SGS Research Travel Grant competition.