The University of Toronto PhD scholarship programme is set to provide major financial support to doctoral researchers from Canada and around the world. The university has launched a $100 million Presidents’ Impact Scholarship Program, with selected scholars eligible to receive up to $80,000 per year for four years, taking the maximum value of an individual scholarship to $320,000.
The initiative aims to strengthen doctoral education while encouraging researchers to work on major societal challenges through interdisciplinary research and practical experience.
Programme Will Support Around 50 Scholars
The programme will eventually support about 50 scholars at a time, with approximately 12 to 13 new scholars joining each year. The first cohort is expected to begin studies in September 2027.
Each year, scholars will work around a specific theme linked to a major societal challenge. Potential research areas include artificial intelligence and health as well as sovereignty and the Arctic.
Selected researchers will also have two faculty supervisors from different academic disciplines. The university says this structure is designed to encourage collaboration between fields and support research with wider real-world applications.
PhD Scholars to Get Practical Work Opportunities
The scholarship programme will also offer placements with government, industry and international organisations.
These placements are intended to help scholars connect their academic research with practical challenges while building professional and leadership skills alongside their doctoral studies.
The initiative is being funded through a $50 million donation from an anonymous Canadian family foundation, which is being matched by the University of Toronto.
Applications Expected to Open in Late 2026
The university describes the initiative as a major expansion of support for doctoral researchers and one of the most ambitious PhD scholarship programmes in Canada.
Applications for the Presidents’ Impact Scholarship Program are expected to open in late fall 2026. The first group of selected scholars is scheduled to begin their doctoral studies in 2027.
Relevant Link: University of Toronto
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