Test Award 2

Award Overview

• Award Category:
• Student Deadline : November 25, 2022, 4:30 pm
• Value & Duration : Up to $25,000 for 1 year; finalists receive $1,000 each
• Level of Study : Doctoral
• Year of Study : Second or third year of a doctoral program (third or fourth year of a direct-entry doctoral) at the University of Toronto
• Required Legal Status : Domestic / International

Purpose

In honour of the significant contributions made by Professor Adel S. Sedra, former U of T Vice President and Provost, the University of Toronto Alumni Association (UTAA) has established this award to recognize a doctoral student who demonstrates outstanding academic achievement and extracurricular leadership.

One fellowship of up to $25,000 is awarded annually. If the recipient is an international student, the award is increased to fund any tuition differential and individual University Health Insurance Plan premium.

Eligibility

At the time of application, applicants must be registered and in good standing in the second or third year of a doctoral program (third or fourth year of a direct-entry doctoral) at the University of Toronto. The scholarship is not open to students who are pursuing master’s degrees.  Please see UTAA’s website for complete eligibility requirements.

Note: If a student transfers from a master’s program to a doctoral program without completing the master’s degree, the commencement of their doctoral program will be from the date of first registration in the master’s program. For example, if the student transferred after their first year of registration into a PhD program, they would now be in year two of a “fast-track” PhD program.

Eligible candidates:

• Will have an outstanding academic record and be making exceptional progress in their doctoral program, as demonstrated by academic records, letters of recommendation, and other measures of scholarship according to their discipline;
• Should be involved in work that reflects a concerted effort to understand and respond to the changing intellectual landscape in their field of study; and
• Should have demonstrated a commitment during their doctoral program to enhancing the student experience of their peers through extracurricular leadership within the University and involvement in the life of the University. Of equal importance will be the candidates’ commitment to community outreach and involvement, as demonstrated by extracurricular activities outside of the University and their discipline. Community outreach often relates to disciplinary background. Therefore, outreach not specifically related to one’s research or academic field is highly valued and should be emphasized in the application. NOTE: only achievements/contributions during the doctoral program will be considered.

Application Process

Applications that are incomplete, ineligible or are submitted after the deadline will not be considered. Hardcopy application materials will not be accepted.

A complete application package will include all of the following items:

• Completed online application form.
• Curriculum vitae outlining academic achievements, scholarships and awards received, plus publications, work experience, and extracurricular involvement both inside and outside the University in the following three categories:
  • Academic Performance – scholarships & awards, contributions to research and development (e.g., publications, articles, book chapters, patents, presentations, creative outputs). Applicants should indicate their role in their most notable research contributions explaining the rationale or practice for any unusual ordering of authors. For multi-authored publications, use a percentage to approximate the portion of the contribution.
  • Leadership and Engagement within the University (Departmental, Faculty, or University-wide)
  • Leadership and Engagement Outside of the University (e.g., including volunteering or community work within and beyond the limits of the field of study)

Note: Only achievements/contributions during each applicant’s doctoral program will be considered. Applicants are encouraged to provide details for two to three of their extracurricular activities on their CV to demonstrate commitment to enhancing the student experiences through extracurricular leadership within the University, involvement in the life of the University, and community outreach/involvement outside the University during their doctoral program

• Statement of no more than 500 words about each applicant’s future academic and career goals
• Scans of original or certified/validated copies of up-to-date official transcripts from master’s and doctoral level studies.  Direct-entry or “fast track” doctoral students must also supply original or certified/validated copies of their official undergraduate transcripts. (See further details in “What Other Application Details Should I Keep in Mind?” on the University of Toronto Alumni Association’s website.)
• Three or four supporting letters of recommendation from the following list of people. (see further details in “What Other Application Details Should I Keep in Mind?”)
  • One (1) letter of recommendation from the thesis supervisor or supervisory committee member who can comment on the applicant’s academic progress
  • One (1) letter of recommendation from a member of the teaching staff (of the department/s in which the applicant is registered) who can comment on the student’s academic progress and/or involvement in university life
  • Up to two (2) additional letters of recommendation that attest to the student’s academic and extracurricular leadership

Complete application details are listed on the University of Toronto Alumni Association’s website.

Additional Info

By early February, successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified. Finalists who are not selected as the Sedra Scholar will each receive a $1,000 prize in recognition of their achievement, and will be named UTAA Graduate Scholars. The Sedra Scholar and all finalists are honoured at the annual Awards of Excellence ceremony held each spring.

Contacts & Resources

View the complete application details on the University of Toronto Alumni Association’s website.

For questions about this competition, please contact:

Debbie Chau
Graduate Awards Officer
Graduate Awards Office, School of Graduate Studies
debbie.chau@utoronto.ca