University-Wide Awards

Award Overview

Purpose

Approximately 20 awards with individual criteria are available within the ​​SGS University-Wide Awards competition.​ Applicants must meet the award specific eligibility criteria, as outlined within each award description (see table of awards below).

Eligibility

Applicants must:

  • Meet the award specific eligibility criteria, as outlined within each award description (see list above);​
  • Be currently registered or accepted an offer of admission to a full-time U of T graduate degree program; and
  • Demonstrate one or both of the following as per the award criteria:
    • ​academic excellence
    • ​financial need

Need Based / OSOTF Award Criteria

To determine for which need based awards you are eligible, review the “Award Descriptions” section below. Awards categorized as need based only do not require demonstration of academic excellence.

Awards categorized as “OSOTF” (Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Fund) are only open to eligible applicants who meet the following criteria:

  1. Demonstrate financial need for the upcoming academic year (2022-2023) through the OSAP process or the completion of the SGS Financial Need Assessment form;
  2. Meet the award specific eligibility criteria, as outlined within the individual award; and
  3. Are Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada or protected persons under subsection 95(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) at the time of the application; and
  4. Are residents of Ontario at the time of the application, as defined by one of the following criteria:
    • Student has always lived in Ontario; or
    • Ontario is the last province in which student has lived for 12 months in a row without being a full-time postsecondary student; or
    • Student lives in Ontario now and has lived in Canada for less than 12 months in a row
    • Married / common-law, students can be considered an Ontario resident if:
      • Spouse has always lived in Ontario; or
      • Ontario is the last province in which spouse has lived for 12 months in a row without being a full-time postsecondary student; or
      • Both of these statements are true: student lives in Ontario now; and student and spouse have lived in Canada for less than 12 months in a row
    • Students who qualify as a dependent student is considered an Ontario resident if:
      • Ontario is the last province in which parent(s) have lived for at least 12 months in a row; or
      • Both of these statements are true: Student lives in Ontario now; and Student and parent(s) have lived in Canada for less than 12 months in a row

The above requirements are established by OSAP to determine Ontario residency for OSAP purposes.

Merit Based Awards

To determine for which merit based awards you are eligible, review the “Award Descriptions” section below.​ Awards categorized as merit based only do not require the demonstration of financial need.

Applicants for merit based awards must:

  • Have achieved at least A- (“A-” = 80%) or equivalent in each of the last two completed years of study (full-time equivalent); or
  • If the student has completed two years of graduate studies at the time of application, the student must only demonstrate an overall average of at least A- (“A-” = 80%) or equivalent on all graduate courses completed; and
  • Meet the award specific eligibility criteria, as outlined within the individual award.

Application Process

Applicants must:​

  1. Download and complete the SGS University-Wide Awards Application. Applicants applying for multiple opportunities need only to complete this item once;
  2. Ensure the letter(s) of reference are sent directly from the referee(s) to the graduate unit, as per the graduate unit’s application deadline;
  3. Submit all of the required documents for each award directly to the graduate unit (detailed in the award descriptions). Please note that an SGS Financial Need Assessment form and supporting documentation be required for some applications. Please refer to the guide attached to the SGS FNA form.​
  4. Graduate units may submit up to 2 nominations for each award within this competition. Ineligible or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Please download and save the application(s) to a local computer before completing the fields on the form(s).

Award Descriptions

Legend
IC = In-course; A = Admission
Eligible Div. = Graduate faculties and units belong to one of four SGS divisions. Learn more.

Eligible Div. Award Type Award Name (select to see description) Award Specific Criteria Approx. # Awards Offered Approx. Award Value Merit &/or Need
All IC & A SGS Fellowships and Bursaries for Black and/or Indigenous Students Black and/or Indigenous student 10 Up to $5,000 M &/or N
All IC Joseph Bazylewicz Fellowship Citizenship: Poland 5 Up to $6,000 N
All IC Jeanne F. Goulding Fellowship Conservation, pollution control, ecology 3 Up to $2,000 M
All IC Ranjit Kumar Graduate Fellowship Development of government, civil society or private sector in Africa, Asia, the Americas or the Middle East 1 Up to $5,000 M
All IC Kwok Sau Po Scholarship Citizenship: Hong Kong or China 2 Up to $2,000 M
All IC Scace Graduate Fellowship Citizenship: South Africa or United Kingdom 4 Up to $4,000 M & N
All IC Donald Matheson Springer Fellowship This award has moved to the University Registrar’s Office. Check the URO’s awards page for the next award cycle. Accepted to graduate program at University of Michigan for 2022-2023 1 Up to $7,000 M
All IC Professor R. Paul Young Fellowship Doctoral research addressing a problem that crosses traditional faculty boundaries 1 Up to $3,000 M
All IC Vivekananda Graduate Prize (OSOTF) Exemplifying philosopher’s ideal of education 1 Up to $1,000 M & N
All IC UTFA Al Miller Memorial Award (OSOTF) Significant contributions to U of T graduate student life 2 Up to $5,000 M & N
All A Agnes M. Ireland Award (OSOTF) Female identifying graduate student; within one year of completing undergrad honours degree in Arts & Science or Medicine 5 Up to $3,000 M & N
All IC CCCJ Fiftieth Anniversary First Families Award (OSOTF) Cultural diversity issues identifying prejudice (preference for Canadian experience) 1 Up to $3,000 M & N
All IC & A Hungarian Helicon Foundation Graduate Award (OSOTF) Advanced studies in any aspect of Hungarian Studies (e.g. language, literature, history, music) 2 Up to $3,000 M & N
Div. 3 IC Lachlan Gilchrist Fellowship Fund Fundamental physics 3 Up to $4,000 M
Div. 3 & 4 IC Mary Gertrude l’Anson Scholarship (OSOTF) Doctoral research in health sciences 10 Up to $4,500 M & N
Div. 3 & 4 IC Lorne F. Lambier, Q.C. Scholarship Cancer research (preference for biochemistry) 1 Up to $3,000 M & N
Div. 3 & 4 IC Ara Mooradian Scholarship Radioactivity 2 Up to $4,000 M

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Results

Graduate units will inform applicants regarding the unit’s internal results. Applicants nominated to SGS will be contacted directly by SGS regarding the outcome of the centralized competition.

Award Holder Information

Payment

Payments will be processed through students’ ACORN account. Please review the How to Activate & Maintain Your Award web page for further information.

Deferrals / Leaves of Absence

Award holders should contact the Financial Aid and Advising Office about any potential changes to their registration status and/or program.

Contacts & Resources

Financial Aid & Advising Office
School of Graduate Studies

sgs.financial.assistance@utoronto.ca