Money Matters
Fees for Graduate Studies
Please review the 2008-2009 Fall/Winter
fees schedule for MEng, MASc and PhD students.
Guaranteed Funding Program
In September 2001, U of T announced minimum guaranteed funding for eligible doctoral-stream graduate students for a period of up to five years of full-time study. In the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, doctoral-stream students are eligible for a minimum support package of $15,000 plus tuition and fees.
Components of a Funding Package
Graduate support packages are composed from a variety of sources: fellowship or scholarship funds, research assistantship stipends from faculty research grants, teaching assistantships and other U of T funding.
Packages for Scholarship Holders
Students with external scholarships such as
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC),
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) ,
Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS), etc., may have the opportunity to significantly enhance their funding packages. Students holding these awards may receive additional funds in recognition of their achievement. Package totals, including the scholarship, vary according to scholarship and program. Students should contact their Department for the exact details of “top-up” packages. For example, some departments do not top-up certain high value scholarships.
Funding Eligibility Criteria
All MASc and PhD graduate students in good standing are eligible for funding for a limited period. Students registered as "special students" are not eligible for graduate funding.
Maintaining Funding Support
MASc and PhD students must maintain satisfactory progress toward the degree to receive support. These funds are provided to enable students to focus on their research. Lack of visible effort may result in the withdrawal of funding.
It is expected that students will take every reasonable opportunity to apply for scholarships and awards that they are eligible for. Winning an NSERC, CIHR, OGS or other external award offers the opportunity for students to significantly enhance their funding package. Eligible students who choose not to apply for these awards may forfeit their eligibility for graduate support. Likewise, students who decline a teaching assistantship (TA) offered as part of their funding package will forgo that portion of the package.
Funding Duration
The University of Toronto has guaranteed funding to MASc and PhD students for up to five years. In the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, the master's program is normally longer than one year. Most Departments have chosen to divide funding between masters and doctoral programs with between four and five terms of funding (16 to 20 months) in the master's program and the remaining 10 – 11 terms (3.3 – 3.7 years) funding directed to the doctoral program. In all cases, individual Departments determine exact distribution of the guaranteed funding packages. Students are advised to consult with their home Department for further information.
Students who are nearing the end of their programs, and are not able to complete their degree requirements within the funded period, should consult their supervisors and graduate department coordinators. Please see the graduate department websites for scholarship and funding details.
Scholarship Opportunities
Financial Aid
The main source of financial aid for students not eligible under the guaranteed funding program is the federally and provincially funded
Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). Application forms are available after April 1 at the School of Graduate Studies, Student Services Office.
A limited amount of emergency assistance is also available on a case-by-case basis through the
School of Graduate Studies bursary and emergency loan programs.
