University of Toronto Launches $100 Million PhD Scholarship Programme
The University of Toronto has launched a $100 million PhD scholarship programme offering selected researchers up to $80,000 annually for four years, with applications expected to open in late 2026.
The University of Toronto has launched a $100 million scholarship programme aimed at attracting leading PhD researchers from Canada and around the world. Selected scholars will receive up to $80,000 per year for four years, taking the maximum individual award to $320,000.
The Presidents’ Impact Scholarship Program will eventually support around 50 scholars at a time, with 12 to 13 new researchers joining each year. The first cohort is expected to begin in September 2027, while applications are scheduled to open in late 2026.
Each cohort will work around an annual theme addressing a major societal challenge, with possible areas including artificial intelligence and health, as well as sovereignty and the Arctic. Scholars will also have two faculty supervisors from different disciplines to encourage cross-field research.
The programme will include placements with governments, industries and international organisations, giving researchers opportunities to connect academic work with practical problems.
Funding comes from a $50 million contribution by an anonymous Canadian family foundation, matched by the university. For PhD applicants, that is a rather serious upgrade from the usual “please survive on this stipend” experience.
