Funding Details
In addition to the funding provided by the Faculty of Information, in certain cases, faculty members use grants to fund a student’s base funding, including tuition and fees, which can exceed the minimum funding. If a student receives a SSHRC or NSERC Doctoral Fellowship of $15,000 or greater, the Faculty provides an additional $5,000 excellence award (for a total of $20,000) in the first four years of the program, which replaces the normal minimum funding allocation. In all cases, students build on their base funding by receiving Research Assistantships (RAships), external grants, awards, scholarships, fellowships, and additional TAships from any unit across campus. These do not affect a student’s base funding package.
The Faculty pays tuition and fees in the 5th year for all students in good standing. Any student who previously accepted a TAship is guaranteed a TAship in their 5th year and subsequent years. The Faculty does not provide a scholarship in the 5th year. However, students can apply for a one-time dissertation completion award in their final year of the program. As in previous years, students can receive additional external grants, awards, scholarships, fellowships, RAships, and additional TAships from any unit across campus.
General Terms and Conditions
In order to be considered for funding, all PhD students must:
- Be registered full-time and maintain good academic standing in the Faculty of Information during the academic period for which funding is granted.
- Apply to available teaching assistant and research assistantship positions within the Faculty of Information and other units at the University of Toronto.
- Apply for external student funding each year. Common external funding sources include competitive scholarships such as SSHRC and OGS.
- Abide by all the terms and conditions of any awards received.
The Faculty of Information follows the policy for maximum acceptable time spent on employment as defined by the Council of Ontario Universities:
Full-time graduate students are expected to pursue their graduate degree on a full-time basis and make satisfactory progress toward timely completion of all program requirements. It is not possible, or desirable, for the university to monitor and enforce the employment activities of its graduate students outside the university. However, it is both possible and desirable for the university to ensure that it does not itself create a structural situation that jeopardizes the ability of the graduate student to make full-time progress towards the completion of graduate program requirements. Accordingly, OCGS is committed to the principle that full-time graduate students are employed no more than an average of 10 hours per week on campus.
The funding package is available to all students who:
- Are registered as full-time PhD students. The funding package is not available to those enrolled in the flex-time program
- Are in good academic standing
- Are in years 1–4 of the PhD program. Determination of year of study is defined by the University of Toronto record which reflects any officially documented leaves of absence
- Do not have a major scholarship (e.g., SSHRC, OGS, MITACS, NSERC)
- Are, apart from approved absence, geographically available to visit the campus regularly
- Apply to and accept Teaching Assistant job postings. If no TA applications are submitted, students will not be eligible to receive this portion of the funding package
- Accept offered TA subsequent appointments as governed by the CUPE3902 Collective Agreement. Participation in Teaching and Research Assistantships is optional but failure to participate will void this aspect of the funding package
- Abide by all the terms and conditions of any awards received
Funding Scenarios
Funding Scenario 1
Funding for doctoral students who hold major external awards (e.g. SSHRC and NSERC) of $15,000 or greater:
- Years 1 – 4: Faculty Covers Tuition and Fees and provides a $5000 Faculty Excellence Award
- Year 5: Faculty Covers Tuition & Fee’s, plus TAships as part of Faculty held CUPE Subsequent Appointments
Funding Scenario 2
Funding for doctoral students who do not hold major external awards (e.g. SSHRC and NSERC) of $15,000 or greater:
- Years 1 – 4: Faculty Covers Tuition and Fees, a Faculty Scholarship in the amount of $11,700 and a guaranteed work allocation in the form of TAships for a value of $6800
- Year 5: Faculty Covers Tuition & Fee’s, plus TAships as part of Faculty held CUPE Subsequent Appointments
Full-time graduate students are expected to pursue their graduate degree on a full-time basis and make satisfactory progress toward timely completion of all program requirements. It is not possible, or desirable, for the university to monitor and enforce the employment activities of its graduate students outside the university. However, it is both possible and desirable for the university to ensure that it does not itself create a structural situation that jeopardizes the ability of the graduate student to make full-time progress towards the completion of graduate program requirements. Accordingly, OCGS is committed to the principle that full-time graduate students are employed no more than an average of 10 hours per week on campus.
Funding by Cohort
Please see the 2021-2022 PhD funding package information (PDF).
2021-2022 PhD Travel Relocation Policy & Application (open in Adobe for fillable PDF).
Please see the 2020-2021 Faculty of Information PhD Funding Information Sheet
2020-2021 PhD Travel Relocation Policy & Application (open in Adobe for fillable PDF).
Please see the 2019-2020 Faculty of Information PhD Funding Information Sheet
2019-2020 PhD Travel Relocation Policy & Application (open in Adobe for fillable PDF)
PhD funding packages are awarded to successful candidates to a maximum of $26,335.00 for the 2018-2019 academic year. The funding package is made up of a variety of funding sources and is dependent on meeting eligibility guidelines and conditions.
Funding packages are comprised of the following components:
- Tuition and Fees for up to four years, renewable for a fifth year based on satisfactory progress.
- Living Allowance Stipend for years 1 – 4 only are available to qualifying students who applied for but were not successful in achieving an external award. The Living Allowance Stipend is $17,500. For the 2018-2019 Cohort, this consists of 175 hours of Teaching Assistantships, which will be paid at the rate of pay established under the collective agreement between CUPE3902 and the University of Toronto. The balance is paid as a grant. Payments will be processed in three equal installments in September, January and May.
- Research Assistantships (RAships): are counted as part of PhD funding packages when contracts are negotiated by the Faculty specifically to fulfill PhD funding package requirements. Primarily offered when not enough TAships are available to satisfy PhD funding Requirements, these positions offer great opportunities to work closely with faculty and provide an opportunity to engage in hands-on research and academic work experience.
- Excellence Awards are issued in an amount of $2000 to those who qualify to receive the funding package but do not qualify to receive the living expense stipend due to receiving an award such as SSHRC or OGS. A further top-up is available if the value of a major award is less than the value of the living allowance stipend
PhD funding packages are awarded to successful candidates to a maximum of $26,335.00 for the 2017-2018 academic year. The funding package is made up of a variety of funding sources and is dependent on meeting eligibility guidelines and conditions.
Funding packages are comprised of the following components:
- Tuition and Fees for up to four years, renewable for a fifth year based on satisfactory progress.
- Living Allowance Stipend for years 1 – 4 only are available to qualifying students who applied for but were not successful in achieving an external award. The Living Allowance Stipend is $17,500. For the 2017-2018 Cohort, this consists of 175 hours of Teaching Assistantships, which will be paid at the rate of pay established under the collective agreement between CUPE3902 and the University of Toronto. The balance is paid as a grant. Payments will be processed in three equal installments in September, January and May.
- Research Assistantships (RAships): are counted as part of PhD funding packages when contracts are negotiated by the Faculty specifically to fulfill PhD funding package requirements. Primarily offered when not enough TAships are available to satisfy PhD funding Requirements, these positions offer great opportunities to work closely with faculty and provide an opportunity to engage in hands-on research and academic work experience.
- Excellence Awards are issued in an amount of $2000 to those who qualify to receive the funding package but do not qualify to receive the living expense stipend due to receiving an award such as SSHRC or OGS. A further top-up is available if the value of a major award is less than the value of the living allowance stipend.
Doctoral Student Funding Packages are awarded to successful candidates as a University of Toronto Fellowship to a maximum of $24,925.96 for the 2016/2017 academic year.
This fellowship is made up of a variety of funding sources and is dependent on meeting eligibility guidelines and conditions.
The Funding Commitment package is available to all full-time students who:
- Are registered as full-time students. Funding package is not available to those enrolled in the flex-time program;
- Are in good academic standing;
- Are in years 1 – 4 in their program. During year five, students who remain in good standing in the doctoral program may receive full Tuition and Fees only. There is no funding available for those in their 6th year and beyond. Determination of what year you are in is defined by official ROSI record which reflects any officially documented leaves of absence.
- Continuation of the Funding Commitment package will normally be contingent upon a student making consistent and satisfactory progression through the program, as per the “time for completion”. Progression is assessed annually.
- Do not work full time (full time: ≥ 35 hours per week, or defined as full time), and/or
- Do not have ≥ $30,000 income per year;
- Do not have a major scholarship (e.g., SSHRC, OGS, MITACS, NSERC)
- Are, apart from approved absence, geographically available to visit the campus regularly
Doctoral students registered full-time who wish to be considered for funding must:
- Fill out a Doctoral Student’s Funding Declaration Form (DSDF), on an annual basis, by the established deadline to determine eligibility. This will typically be issued in August. The Faculty reserves the right to request additional documentation at any time to confirm employment status and/or annual earnings. By signing the DSDF you agree to advise the Faculty of any changes in your circumstances during the year that may affect your eligibility to receive funding from the Faculty of Information.
- Apply to available TA/research assistantship positions within the Faculty, as well as within the University of Toronto and/or accept offered TA Subsequent Appointments as governed by the CUPE3902 Collective Agreement for Teaching Assistants. Participation in Teaching and Research Assistantships is optional but failure to participate will void this aspect of the funding package.
- Apply for external student funding each year. Funding sources include external competitive student awards such as SSHRC, OGS, MITACS etc.
- Students receiving departmental awards/funding must abide by all the terms and conditions of the award.
Funding packages are comprised of the following components:
- Tuition and Fees for up to four years, renewable for a fifth year based on satisfactory progress.
- Awards: Students must apply for external student funding each year. Funding sources include external competitive student awards such as SSHRC, OGS, MITACS etc. Students who choose not to apply for external competitive awards may forfeit their option to be considered for renewal of their funding.
- Living Allowance Stipend for years 1 – 4 only are available to qualifying students who applied for but were not successful in achieving an external award.T he Living Allowance Stipend is $16,500. For the 2015 / 2016 Cohort, this consists of 175 hours of Teaching Assistantships, which will be paid at the rate of pay established under the collective agreement between CUPE3902 and the University of Toronto. The balance is paid as a grant. Payments will be processed in three equal installments in September, January and May.
- Teaching Assistantships: Participation as a Teaching Assistant is optional but failure to participate will void this aspect of the funding package.
- 1st year students receive 50 hours of training in their first term, the remaining TA hours owed in the 1st year are usually, but not necessarily, assigned in the winter term.
- To qualify for this portion of the funding you must apply to TAship job postings. If no TAship applications are submitted you will not be eligible to receive this portion of the living expense. Job postings are found on the website, are posted on the 6th floor CUPE bulletin board and are emailed to the PhD mailing list.
- If you have previously held a TAship, your subsequent appointment will be counted towards your funding package. Subsequent appointments are filled with funding package commitments taken into account. Acceptance of subsequent appointment is optional but failure to participate will void this aspect of the funding package.
- Research Assistantships (RAships): are counted as part of PhD funding packages when contracts are negotiated by the Faculty specifically to fulfill PhD funding package requirements. Primarily offered when not enough TAships are available to satisfy PhD funding Requirements, these positions offer great opportunities to work closely with faculty and provide an opportunity to engage in hands-on research and academic work experience.
- Grant: The Grant portion of the living allowance will be processed in three equal installments in September, January and May.
- Excellence Awards are issued in an amount of $2000 to those who qualify to receive the funding package but do not qualify to receive the living expense stipend due to receiving an award such as SSHRC, OGS, MITACS etc.
Doctoral Student Funding Packages are awarded to successful candidates as a University of Toronto Fellowship to a maximum of $23,925.96 for the 2015/2016 academic year. This fellowship is made up of a variety of funding sources and is dependent on meeting eligibility guidelines and conditions.
The Funding Commitment package is available to all full-time students who:
- Are registered as full-time students. Funding package is not available to those enrolled in the flex-time program;
- Are in good academic standing;
- Are in years 1 – 4 in their program. During year five, students who remain in good standing in the doctoral program may receive full Tuition and Fees only. There is no funding available for those in their 6th year and beyond. Determination of what year you are in is defined by official ROSI record which reflects any applicable leave or absences.
- Continuation of the Funding Commitment package will normally be contingent upon a student making consistent and satisfactory progression through the program, as per the “time for completion”. Progression is assessed annually.
- Do not work full time (full time: ≥ 35 hours per week, or defined as full time), and/or
- Do not have ≥ $30,000 income per year;
- Do not have a major scholarship (e.g., SSHRC, OGS, MITACS, NSERC)
- Are, apart from approved absence, geographically available to visit the campus regularly
Doctoral students registered full-time who wish to be considered for funding must:
- Fill out a Doctoral Student’s Funding Declaration Form (DSDF), on an annual basis, by the established deadline to determine eligibility. This will typically be issued in August. The Faculty reserves the right to request additional documentation at any time to confirm employment status and/or annual earnings. By signing the DSDF you agree to advise the Faculty of any changes in your circumstances during the year that may affect your eligibility to receive funding from the Faculty of Information.
- Apply to available TA/research assistantship positions within the Faculty, as well as within the University of Toronto and/or accept offered TA Subsequent Appointments as governed by the CUPE3902 Collective Agreement for Teaching Assistants. Participation in Teaching and Research Assistantships is optional but failure to participate will void this aspect of the funding package.
- Apply for external student funding each year. Funding sources include external competitive student awards such as SSHRC, OGS, MITACS etc.
- Students receiving departmental awards/funding must abide by all the terms and conditions of the award.
- Participate in Doctoral Research Days each year (usually two (2) days in April).(Rescinded November 2016)
Funding packages are comprised of the following components:
- Tuition and Fees for up to four years in the first instance, and a fifth year based on satisfactory progress.
- Awards: Students must apply for external student funding each year. Funding sources include external competitive student awards such as SSHRC, OGS, MITACS etc. Students who choose not to apply for external competitive awards may forfeit their option to be considered for renewal of their funding.
- Living Allowance Stipend for years 1 – 4 only are available to qualifying students who applied for but were not successful in achieving an external award. The Living Allowance Stipend is $15,500. For the 2015 / 2016 Cohort, this consists of 175 hours of Teaching Assistantships, which will be paid at the rate of pay established by CUPE3902. The balance is paid as a Grant, payments will be processed in three (3) equal installments in September, January and May.
- Teaching Assistantships: Participation as a Teaching Assistantship is optional but failure to participate will void this aspect of the funding package.
- 1st year students receive 50 hours of training in their first term, the remaining TA hours owed in the 1st year are usually, but not necessarily, assigned in the winter term . To qualify for this portion of the funding you must apply to TAship job postings. If no TAship applications are submitted you will not be eligible to receive this portion of the Living expense. Job postings are found on the website, are posted on the 6th floor CUPE bulletin board and are emailed to the PhD mailing list.
- If you have previously held a TAship, your CUPE Subsequent Appointment will be counted towards your funding package. Subsequent appointments are filled with Funding Package Commitments taken into account. Acceptance of Subsequent Appointment is optional but failure to participate will void this aspect of the funding package.
- Research Assistantships (RAships): are counted as part of PhD funding packages when contracts are negotiated by the Faculty specifically to fulfill PhD funding package requirements. Primarily offered when not enough TAships are available to satisfy PhD funding Requirements, these positions offer great opportunities to work closely with faculty and provide an opportunity to engage in hands-on research and academic work experience.
- Grant: The Grant portion of the living allowance will be processed in three (3) equal installments in September, January and May.
- Excellence Awards are issued in an amount of $2000 to those who qualify to receive the funding package but do not qualify to receive the Living expense stipend due to receiving an Award such as SSHRC, OGS, MITACS etc. Payments will be processed in three (3) equal installments in September, January and May.