Adel S. Sedra Distinguished Graduate Award

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. Finalists, up to 3, receive $1,000 each.

Apple Scholars in AI/ML

The Apple Scholars in AI/ML Program recognizes the contributions of emerging leaders in computer science and engineering at the graduate and postgraduate level. The PhD fellowship in AI/ML was created as part of the Scholars program to support the work of outstanding PhD students from around the world, who are pursuing cutting edge research in machine learning and artificial intelligence.

Nominations are only reviewed from invited institutions. Read about the first cohort of Apple Scholars here.

Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program (Discontinued)

Sunsetting of the Banting program 

The 2024 Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship competition (results released in mid-February 2025) was the final competition for this program.

Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships

The Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering and Research Council (NSERC), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) has launched a new harmonized Canada Postdoctoral Research Award (CPRA) program, which replaces the previous agency specific postdoctoral fellowships and the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship.

The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships ​Program was intended to attract and retain top-tier postdoctoral talent, both nationally and internationally; develop their leadership potential; and position them for success as research leaders of tomorrow, positively contributing to Canada’s economic, social and research-based growth through a research-intensive career.

Seventy fellowships were awarded annually, divided evenly between Canada’s three federal granting agencies (CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC). There were a total of 140 awards active at any one time.

The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships program was unique in its emphasis on the synergy of research goals and projects between the following:

• Applicant – individual merit and potential to launch a successful research-intensive career
• Host Institution – commitment to the research program and alignment with the institution’s strategic priorities

CAGS/ProQuest- Distinguished Dissertation Awards & John Leyerle-CIFAR Prize for Interdisciplinary Research

The CAGS/ProQuest and John Leyerle-CIFAR awards recognize outstanding Canadian doctoral dissertations that make significant, original contributions to both the academic community and to Canadian society.

The CAGS/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Awards annually present two awards:

• arts, humanities and social sciences; and
• engineering, medical sciences and natural sciences.

The Awards are granted by the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies (CAGS) and are sponsored by ProQuest.

The John Leyerle-CIFAR Prize for Interdisciplinary Research was established to honour John Leyerle, the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) in the late 1970’s, who played an instrumental role in founding the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) in 1978. This prize recognizes an excellent student who is performing outstanding interdisciplinary research.

Canada Graduate Research Scholarship-Doctoral (CGRS-D) Program

The CGRS D is a scholarship in the Canada Research Training Awards Suite (CRTAS) administered by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). Scholarships are awarded through national competitions by these three granting agencies.

The CGRS D program supports and promotes research excellence in a wide variety of disciplines and broad fields of natural sciences and engineering, health and social sciences and humanities, including interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research. This support allows scholars to concentrate on their doctoral studies more fully, to seek out the best research mentors in their chosen fields and to contribute to the Canadian research ecosystem during and beyond the tenure of their awards.

Note: CGRS D replaced the former CGS doctoral, agency specific doctoral awards, and Vanier CGS

China Scholarship Council: Scholarships

In partnership with the University of Toronto (U of T), the China Scholarship Council (CSC) offers scholarships to outstanding Chinese students who will pursue doctoral studies at U of T under the established collaborative program: China Scholarship Council – University of Toronto Joint Funding Program.

The CSC aims to fund in its annual competition:

• 15 Chinese students for U of T’s PhD program for up to 48 months
• 5 Chinese visiting PhD ​students at U of T for up to 24 months

Connaught International Scholarship

The Connaught International Scholarship for Doctoral Students is a cost-sharing initiative designed to assist graduate units in recruiting and supporting top international students by providing a top-up scholarship to each recipient, which will be paid in addition to the program’s normal funding package provided by the graduate unit.

Connaught PhDs for Public Impact Fellowship Program

The Connaught PhDs for Public Impact Fellowship Program offers U of T doctoral students an opportunity to explore the world of public scholarship. Developing a public scholarship initiative allows doctoral students to make connections outside the university through innovative forms of scholarly communication. PhDs for Public Impact fellows focus on engaging the public through their scholarly work. This engagement can take a range of forms, from describing their work in a public forum to partnering with a school, community organization, or cultural institution in an ongoing two-way exchange of knowledge and practices.

Delta Kappa Gamma World Fellowships

The mission of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International is to promote the professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education. The World Fellowship Fund was established to provide opportunities for international women to pursue graduate studies in Canada and the United States.

Doctoral Completion Award (DCA)

The School of Graduate Studies created the Doctoral Completion Award (DCA) in 2010 to provide financial assistance for full-time PhD and SJD students in the final stage of their program. DCA funds are made available to graduate faculties to support eligible students who are beyond the funded cohort but still within the time limit for the degree. The DCA is managed locally by the graduate faculty/unit.

Graduate students experiencing a disruption in their program and/or otherwise impacted trajectory should inquire about supports and services through the Registrar’s Office or Graduate Unit. More information is available on the SGS Research and Academic Resiliency and Adaptation Tool Kit webpage.

Ghana Scholarship Secretariat: Scholarships

To support cultural and educational exchange between Canada and Ghana, the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat and the University of Toronto (U of T) have established an initiative whereby the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat provides financial support through scholarships to Ghanian students who have been accepted into doctoral programs of study at U of T.

Google PhD Fellowship

The Google PhD Fellowship Program recognizes outstanding graduate students doing exceptional and innovative research in areas relevant to computer science and related fields. Fellowships support promising PhD candidates of all backgrounds who seek to influence the future of technology. Google’s mission is to foster inclusive research communities and encourages people of diverse backgrounds to apply.

Governor General’s Gold Medals

The Office of the Governor General annually awards Gold Academic Medals to students who achieve the highest academic standing at the graduate level. The assessment of highest academic standing includes an examination of the following:

• Academic performance in degree courses (first class average);
• Evaluation of the thesis and the thesis defense; and
• Originality and significance of the research.

Three (3) gold medals are available at the University of Toronto.

One medal will be awarded to a candidate from Division I or II; one medal will be awarded to a candidate from Division III or IV; the third medal will be awarded to an outstanding candidate from any division.  The recipients will receive a Gold Academic Medal and personalized certificate signed by the Governor General of Canada

REMINDER: All nominees for the GG Gold Medals will automatically be assessed for eligibility by the Graduate Awards Office, with recipients/nominees also being selected by the SGS Awards Committee for the following awards:

• Chorafas Prize – two awards of $10,000 USD to graduating doctoral students, age 32 or under, whose research benefits humanity in the following areas: Life Sciences & Medicine, Physics, Chemistry (incl. nanotechnology), Mathematics, Informatics/Computer Science, and Engineering of Finance & Risk Management. The Chorafas Foundation confirms eligibility of the University’s selected nominees and issues the awards each year.
• CGS/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Awards – two nominees to the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) for two $2,000 prizes for doctoral dissertations that represent original work and make an unusually significant contribution to the fields of biological sciences and/or life sciences (1 nominee), and humanities and/or fine arts (1 nominee). Fields of study awarded rotate every other year.
• NAGS Master’s Thesis and Doctoral Dissertation Awards – two nominees to Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools (NAGS) for $1,000 prize for outstanding master’s thesis (Physical Sciences, Mathematics, & Engineering field for Jan. 2026 submission to NAGS) and a doctoral dissertation (Agricultural, Biological & Health Sciences field for Jan. 2026 submission to NAGS). Fields of study awarded rotate every year, with any discipline category recurring every fifth year within its degree level.

Iranian Student Memorial Scholarship

The University of Toronto has established the Iranian Student Memorial Scholarship Fund in honour of those who lost their lives in the crash of Ukrainian International Airlines Flight PS752, including eight members of the University of Toronto community. This endowed fund will provide needs-based awards to international undergraduate and graduate students from Iran who have been admitted to the U of T or students from any background studying Iranian studies at the U of T. The first of these needs-based awards were awarded in the Spring of 2020 for students studying at the U of T in the 2020-21 academic year.

Mackenzie King Open & Travelling Scholarship

The Mackenzie King Scholarships were established as an independent trust under the will of the late Rt. Hon. William Mackenzie King (1874-1950). Two types of Mackenzie King Scholarships were established to support graduates of Canadian universities who are pursuing graduate studies. U of T is permitted to nominate two (2) candidates from each category to the national competition.

The Travelling Scholarship is awarded to applicants who have a degree from a Canadian university and are pursuing graduate studies in the areas of international or industrial relations within the United States or the United Kingdom. The Mackenzie King Board receives about 25-30 nominations annually for four scholarships, each of approximately $15,000 (number of recipients and value are subject to change).

The Open Scholarship is awarded to an applicant who has a degree from a Canadian university and is pursuing graduate studies in any discipline, within Canada or elsewhere. The Mackenzie King Board receives approximately 80-90 nominations annually from all universities to award one scholarship of approximately $13,000 (value is subject to change).

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Mexico Scholarship: CONACYT

The National Council for Science and Technology/The Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia (CONACYT) is an organization funded by the Mexican government that has been encouraging the development of professionals of the highest quality for more than 30 years.​

The University of Toronto and the Government of the United Mexican States’ National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT) have renewed their partnership by signing an agreement to support up to 150 scholarships over the period of the 5-year agreement (starting Fall 2018) for Mexican students to pursue doctoral stream education at the University of Toronto.

Mexican state governments and other national government agencies (e.g. Ministry of Energy, FUNED) offer other forms of scholarship assistance to Mexican nationals in partnership with CONACYT, including those for pursuing research and professional programs, and postdoctoral studies at overseas universities. Faculty members interested in admitting students applying to CONACYT scholarships are encouraged to connect with SGS.​

NAGS Master’s Thesis and Doctoral Dissertation Awards

Ontario Graduate Scholarship

The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) program encourages excellence in graduate studies at publicly-assisted universities in Ontario. Since 1975, the OGS program has been providing merit-based scholarships to Ontario’s best graduate students in all disciplines of academic study. The scholarship program at U of T is jointly funded by the Province of Ontario and the University of Toronto. The Province allocates OGS awards to universities specifying the number of awards that each may offer to their students annually.

Postdoctoral Competitive Research Awards

The Postdoctoral Competitive Research Award at the University of Toronto is a prestigious opportunity to support early-career scholars to develop and expand their research expertise at one of the world’s most distinguished public research universities. The program will empower postdoctoral scholars with the autonomy to pursue an ambitious research program, while benefiting from close collaboration with leading faculty and access to tailored professional and career development supports. The program is designed for exceptional postdoctoral scholars eager to contribute to an innovative, vibrant and inclusive academic community. This program specifically seeks to bridge the critical gap between doctoral training and independent academic careers by providing postdoctoral fellows with the resources and autonomy necessary to establish themselves as independent researchers. Recipients are expected to develop and lead their own research agenda, distinct from but complementary to their supervisor’s work, positioning them for future faculty appointments or leadership roles in research-intensive environments.

Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program​

The University of Toronto Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowship program provides funding to Graduate Faculties to increase opportunities for hiring postdoctoral fellows from underrepresented groups, specifically Indigenous and Black researchers only. These fellowships will enable postdoctoral researchers to grow their scholarly profiles, undertake academic work at the University of Toronto, and strengthen the research environment at the University with diverse perspectives.

This funding is designed to help the University compete with peer institutions for top-tier candidates, and to support the University in meeting its institutional goal of fostering increased diversity and representation at all levels of teaching, learning and research. Nominees must be nominated by their prospective Faculties/divisions following the timeline and processes outlined below. While the nomination/application process will normally begin with faculty advisors/mentors, funding for the successful nominees will be provided to their respective Faculty Research Office for administration.

Read about the recipients of the Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellows on the PPFP webpage.

Research Excellence Postdoctoral Fellows Program

The Research Excellence Postdoctoral Fellows Program at the University of Toronto is a prestigious opportunity for early-career scholars to develop and expand their research expertise at one of the world’s most distinguished public research universities. The program will empower postdoctoral scholars with the autonomy to pursue an ambitious research program, while benefitting from close collaboration with leading faculty and access to tailored professional and career development supports. The program is designed for exceptional postdoctoral scholars eager to contribute to an innovative, vibrant and inclusive academic community. This program specifically seeks to bridge the critical gap between doctoral training and independent academic careers by providing postdoctoral fellows with the resources, autonomy, and mentorship necessary to establish themselves as independent researchers. Fellows are expected to develop and lead their own research agenda, distinct from but complementary to their supervisor’s work, positioning them for future faculty appointments or leadership roles in research-intensive environments.

Schmidt Science Fellows Award

The Schmidt Science Fellows program is an initiative of Schmidt Sciences, delivered in partnership with the Rhodes Trust. 

The Program’s mission is to change how science is done. Working with the scientific community, they want to help break down barriers to interdisciplinary science and accelerate positive impacts for global society. To help scientists solve bigger problems faster, they are identifying, developing, and amplifying the next generation of science leaders.  Through the Fellowship, they are building a community of scientists and supporters of interdisciplinary science and leveraging this network to drive sector-wide change.

Scholars-at-Risk Fellowship​

Established with initial funding from the Donner Canadian Foundation, the School of Graduate Studies and Massey College provide this Fellowship, on an annual basis, as an established mechanism through which the University of Toronto is able to support eligible U of T graduate students who meet the criteria listed below. The Fellowship offers financial support for academic endeavours and the opportunity to participate in the Massey College community.

Please note that the SGS Scholars-at-Risk Fellowship is separate from the Scholars and Students at Risk Award Program administered by the University Registrar’s Office (URO).  Students should apply to only one of these opportunities per academic year; either the SGS Scholars-at-Risk Fellowship OR the URO’s Scholars and Students at Risk Award Program.

SGS Accessibility Grant

The SGS Accessibility Grant supports significant educational expenses not normally covered by the student, the graduate unit, provincial, or federal agencies. We recognize that each student’s situation is unique and funding will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. The grant was established to assist with accommodations necessary to meet unexpected needs arising from the particular demands of the graduate program.

SGS Bursaries for Junior Fellows at Massey College

The School of Graduate Studies is pleased to provide funding for bursaries, developed in collaboration with Massey College, which is a graduate students’ residential community affiliated with, but independent from, the University of Toronto. Designed for Black Canadian, Indigenous, and International graduate students, these bursaries create opportunities that can provide academic and personal enrichment for high-achieving candidates who would not be able to afford the Resident or Non-Resident fees associated with the Junior Fellowship.

In joining Massey College, recipients will be welcomed into a community of scholars and professionals from across Canada and around the world.

Please review Massey College’s Junior Fellows webpage for more information.

SGS Conference Grant

The SGS Conference Grant provides financial support to encourage eligible students to actively present their research at an academic conference during the course of their graduate studies. The grant will provide successful applicants with funds sufficient to cover the applicant’s minimum registration fee for the proposed conference. Students may apply for an SGS Conference Grant to support conference presentations occurring – either virtually or in-person.

SGS Emergency Grant

Graduate students are expected to begin their studies with a solid financial plan in place. The SGS Emergency Grant provides short-term financial relief when those plans are disrupted and a student is facing an immediate and unexpected financial crisis during their program. The grant is not intended to cover shortfalls in OSAP, other financial aid, graduate funding, or personal resources.

As a first step, students should contact their Faculty Registrar’s Office or Graduate Unit to discuss their financial situation and explore available options.

SGS Emergency Loan

The SGS Emergency Loan alleviates temporary cash flow problems for students who are expecting the release of funds in the near future (i.e., from 30 to 120 days) from a major award instalment (internal or external), OSAP (Ontario Students’ Assistance Program), teaching assistantship, research assistantship payment or other university fund source.

SGS Parental Grant

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).

SGS Research Travel Grant

The SGS Research Travel Grant provides financial support to eligible students registered in the Humanities or Social Sciences who are pursuing research travel necessary for their PhD or SJD program. Travel for conference, exchange programs, courses, or seminars are not funded through this application process.

Funding for this competition is supported by the School of Graduate Studies, the Faculty of Arts and Science, the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), The Associates of the University of Toronto Travel Award, and The Edward W. Nuffield Graduate Travel Fellowship.

SGS Sponsorship Fund

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.

SGS Summer Gym Bursary

With an aim to foster health and wellness of graduate students, the SGS Summer Gym Bursary offers students a reimbursement for up to 100% of their campus summer athletic membership or program fees. The SGS Summer Gym Bursary is open to registered professional and research stream graduate students. Participating facilities include Hart House Fitness Centre and Sport & Rec athletic facilities on the ST. George Campus (which include the Athletic Centre, Goldring Centre, Varsity Centre and Back Campus Fields).

With the SGS Summer Gym Bursary, students will receive a maximum reimbursement of $141.00 (plus HST) to apply towards the cost of their purchase to access either in-person or on-line programs through a campus athletic facility.

Taiwan-U of T Scholarship

The Ministry of Education (MOE), Taiwan and the University of Toronto (U of T) have entered into an agreement to support Taiwanese students pursuing doctoral education at U of T. This collaboration aims to strengthen academic exchange and promote the development of highly qualified professionals while fostering bilateral cooperation between Taiwan and Canada.  

The Taiwan-U of T Scholarship is a co-funded program in which MOE and U of T share (1:1) the costs of tuition, fees, and stipends (normal funding commitment) for eligible Taiwanese students admitted to a PhD program at U of T. The program is expected to support up to five (5) doctoral students per year for the initial five-year term (2026-27 to 2030-31), with funding for a maximum of four (4) years per student. 

University-Wide Awards

The School of Graduate Studies offers between 15–20 awards annually through its University-Wide Awards (UWA) competition. Awards vary in terms of the specific eligibility criteria (merit, financial need, student citizenship, area of research etc.). Accordingly, applicants are encouraged to review the award-specific criteria outlined within each award description, to ensure they are eligible before submitting their application. See descriptions of each award below.

Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (Discontinued)