SGS Sponsorship Fund

Award Overview

Application Dates

Fall Cycle: Applications due November 10, 2025

Winter Cycle: Applications due January 10, 2026

Summer Cycle: Applications due May 10, 2026

Value & Duration

The SGS Sponsorship Fund offers up to $1,000 to support graduate student and postdoctoral fellow initiatives at U of T, including events, programming, and professional development activities.

Level of Study

Doctoral, Master’s, Research Master’s, Professional Master’s, Postdoctoral

Purpose

The SGS Sponsorship Fund supports initiatives designed, led, and attended by graduate students and / or postdoctoral fellows at U of T that contribute to the SGS mission of:

  • Working collaboratively to advance excellence and innovation in graduate research and education
  • Fostering an outstanding graduate experience for our diverse student population
  • Creating and promoting opportunities for graduate student and postdoctoral fellow professional development
  • Advancing integrity and ethical conduct in graduate research and education

Following the publication of the Report of the Working Group on Civil Discourse, SGS encourages initiatives that foster respectful dialogue, critical thinking, and inclusive engagement across the graduate community. Examples of programming can include but are not limited to: dialogue-based workshops and events, peer-led discussion groups, speaker series and panels and / or training and skill-building programs.

Eligibility

We invite proposals from individual graduate students and postdoctoral fellows as well as graduate students and postdoctoral fellow groups.

Graduate students must be registered and in good academic standing in the School of Graduate Studies. Postdoctoral fellows must be registered with the Postdoctoral Office at the School of Graduate Studies.

Application Process

Applications will be evaluated based on:

  • Alignment with SGS mission – How well the proposed initiative supports one or more of the mission areas listed above.
  • Community impact – Focus on community-building, engagement, and networking across programs and disciplines, with particular interest in initiatives that promote civil discourse and constructive dialogue across diverse perspectives.
  • Graduate leadership – Level of graduate student / postdoctoral fellow involvement in planning and implementing the initiative.
  • Anticipated contribution – Expected positive impact on graduate student life and/or the university environment.

The fund supports both in-person and virtual initiatives including events, workshops, programming, and professional development activities. Preference will be given to initiatives that have significant U of T student / fellow participation in planning and implementation and / or prioritize U of T students and fellows as participants. Priority consideration will be given to first-time applicants and in-person events, over those who have previously received funding.

Please provide a support letter from graduate chair (or graduate coordinator), and complete the application form and the budget template (XLSX).

Contacts & Resources

Please direct all questions about these SGS Sponsorship Fund opportunities to Ms. Angelique Plata, Executive Assistant to the Office of the Vice Deans, at sgs.vdeanea@utoronto.ca.