Our position as a leading research university depends largely on our success in recruiting outstanding graduate students and enabling them to realize their potential. This means ensuring the financial resources so that students can focus on their studies and complete their degrees in a timely manner.

That is why the University of Toronto was the first Canadian university to guarantee financial support to eligible doctoral-stream Arts and Science students for up to five years of study.

Under this program, for example, a student who enters the English PhD program directly upon completion of a bachelor’s degree will receive at least the guaranteed level of support for the first five years of the PhD.

As another example, an astronomy student who completes one year of doctoral-stream master’s studies and then enrolls in a PhD program will be guaranteed funding for the master’s year and the first four years of the PhD.

The minimum level of support with the guarantee is $15,000 (plus tuition and fees). Students who are not sure if they are eligible should contact their home department.

• What is the funding package?
• Who puts together the funding packages for graduate students?
• Why guarantee support for five years?
• Can the funding package be terminated?
• How much support do graduate students in Arts and Science receive?
• What determines the level of guaranteed student funding?
• How will this guarantee affect the way graduate students get TA-ships?
• How are complaints related to funding packages resolved?
• Find out more..

What is the funding package?

A graduate funding package may be constructed from a variety of sources including external awards from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), the Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program (OGS), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) as well as research assistantships, teaching assistantships and other U of T funding.

The amount of the guaranteed minimum funding package for eligible students has been determined by the provost, in consultation with the Faculty of Arts and Science. International students will be provided with additional funding to cover the international fee differential and the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) coverage for a single student. International students should check with their home department for more details.

Some departments will provide larger funding packages to students, consistent with academic priorities and availability of funding. This is the case, for example, in some of the science programs, where there may be more external funding available.

Who puts together the funding packages for graduate students?

The student’s home department oversees the funding packages and ensures that all eligible students receive at least the guaranteed level of support. The University of Toronto has provided additional funds as necessary to each department to enable them to fulfill the guarantee of support.

Why guarantee support for five years?

While most students complete their doctoral degrees in about six years, a majority would likely complete their studies in a shorter time if they could afford to do so. Data indicate that the average time-to-completion for a PhD student at U of T ranges from 4.9 years in the life sciences to 6.1 years in the humanities with many students doing a one-year master’s degree first.

The funding guarantee does not prevent students from taking more time to complete their degree. Support for such students, however, is not guaranteed. Funding in years beyond the funded cohort is a matter of policy in each program.

Can the funding package be terminated?

Yes it can. A student must make satisfactory progress in order to maintain funding.

How much support do graduate students in Arts and Science receive?

Students received over $58 million in financial support in 2004-05.

What determines the level of guaranteed student funding?

The amount is based on an Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) estimate that assesses the cost of living for a Toronto student plus tuition and fees. International students receive support at a higher level in recognition of the costs associated with the differential tuition fee and health insurance. Also, the university evaluates and supports students who have greater needs, such as those with family responsibilities.

How will this guarantee affect the way graduate students get TA- ships?

The Faculty of Arts and Science is responsible for assigning teaching assistantships consistent with our undergraduate teaching priorities, our commitment to providing a minimal level of support for our graduate students, and collective agreements with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), U of T’s teaching assistants’ union. Academic units strive to achieve equity among graduate students with respect to the ratio between direct grants and awards that may require work as a teaching or research assistant. A student who refuses a TA assignment that is offered as part of the funding package relinquishes the corresponding funding that the TA assignment provides.

How are complaints related to funding packages resolved?

If a graduate student believes that in her/his case the funding package has not been provided in a manner that is consistent with Faculty guidelines, and if informal discussion with the relevant departmental administrator(s) has not resolved the matter, the student should inform the chair of the graduate unit in writing, providing copies of any relevant correspondence and other documents. The chair will respond in a timely fashion, in writing, normally within two weeks.

If a resolution is not reached, the student may write to the Arts & Science Vice-Dean, Graduate Education and Research, providing a copy of the written complaint, the documentation, and the graduate chair’s response. The Vice-Dean will investigate the complaint and recommend a resolution to the parties, in writing, normally within two weeks.

If the matter remains unresolved, the student may write to the Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science, who takes final responsibility for the management of the guaranteed funding program.

This complaint resolution mechanism addresses only graduate funding matters in the Faculty of Arts and Science. It is not meant to replace or complicate possible appeals of substantive or procedural academic matters that are within the purview of the academic appeals process within the School of Graduate Studies.

Find Out More

The first stop for information is the student’s home department. If students still have questions or concerns:

Email: graduate@artsci.utoronto.ca

Or Contact:

Robert Baker
Acting Vice-Dean, Graduate Education and Research
416.978.5412