FIFSW PhD Funding Packages for 2025-2026

Updated June 27, 2025

2024-2025 PhD Program Funding Guidelines are available here.

Funding Eligibility, Terms and Conditions

Overview

The Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work (FIFSW) provides a base level of financial support to PhD students to help cover the costs of tuition, fees, and basic living expenses, and to support their academic and professional development. These funding guidelines outline the value and composition of the base package, eligibility criteria for domestic and international students, and various funding sources.

Beginning 2025–2026, PhD students within the funded cohort will receive a base funding package of $40,000 per year. This funding is drawn from a combination of internal and external sources, including fellowships, research and teaching assistantships, research and/or teaching employment, and other academic awards.

The funded cohort is comprised of students who enter the PhD program in Fall 2025 or earlier are eligible to receive the base funding package for up to five years of study.

These guidelines are in effect for the 2025–2026 academic year and are subject to annual review, in alignment with the School of Graduate Studies guidelines for funding for research-stream graduate programs.

PhD Base Funding Package

For the 2025-2026 academic year, all current and incoming PhD students in the funded cohort (students entering years 1 to 5) of PhD program will be guaranteed an annual base funding package of $40,000. The base funding package includes tuition and fees, a University of Toronto stipend, external awards and scholarships, and internal funding opportunities to support students’ research and teaching professional development.

Students in the funded cohort will receive an individualized letter between September 1-30 each academic year, detailing their funding package for that academic year.

Funding Eligibility, Terms and Conditions

To be eligible for the base funding package, students in the funded cohort must meet the following terms and conditions.

To receive the FIFSW PhD base funding package, students must maintain full-time registration throughout the academic year. This ensures they can complete their studies within the expected timeframe. Full-time is defined as being registered as a full-time student each academic session.

If a student takes an approved leave of absence (including retroactive leaves), the funding package will be adjusted accordingly.
Students must make satisfactory academic progress as defined in the PhD Program manual and the School of Graduate Studies, which includes:
- Satisfactory completion of all graduate courses
- Submitting the Annual Progress Report and Funding Declaration Form
- Meeting key program milestones, including:
  - Selecting a thesis supervisor by June 1^st, of year 1
  - Completing the comprehensive exam by the end of year 2
  - Completing all non-thesis program requirements by the end of year 3 (i.e., course work, comprehensive exam and thesis proposal)
  - Demonstrating satisfactory thesis research progress (for PhD Candidates)
Note: If a student has a disability or medical condition impacting their timeline, they may register with Accessibility Services and speak to their assigned Advisor regarding an appropriate, specific plan to complete their program.
To be eligible for the PhD Base Funding Package, students are expected to apply for and accept external awards for which they are eligible. External scholarships enhance professional development, allow students to focus on their research, and strengthen students’ academic profile.

For students receiving a major external award from a Canadian federal or provincial government body, the award will be applied to their funding in accordance with SGS guidelines. Depending on the award value, the base funding package may also be amended. Examples of major awards are SSHRC, CIHR, OGS.
To be eligible for funding from internal sources, students are expected to apply for awards, teaching, and/or research positions for which they are eligible—such as course instructor, teaching assistant, research assistant positions; and research or teaching fellowships within the Faculty.

For the portion of funding tied to an employment or fellowship contract, students are expected to commit between 200 and 300 hours per year, with specific details outlined in the relevant fellowship or employment contract.

Students who have not secured minimum funding from internal sources (as outlined in their funding letter) for the 2025–2026 academic year are encouraged to contact the PhD Program Director by January 15, 2026, for assistance in identifying internal funding sources or other opportunities to fulfill their funding package.

Students who are unable to fulfill the 200–300 hour time commitment—for any reason—may choose to waive the portion of their funding tied to internal sources such as research or teaching fellowships. This amount may be up to, but no more than, $10,000, depending on their individual funding package.

Students who would like to waive the portion of funding tied to the time commitment should notify the PhD Program by January 15, 2026 to support timely planning and administration.

Note: Additional terms and conditions may apply depending on the sources of funding. Details to be included in the student’s funding letter, respective award letter(s), and/or fellowship or employment contract(s).

See below for more details on the funding package breakdown, sessions, conditions, and the payment process.

Breakdown of PhD Funding Packages

A. PhD Base Funding Package

$40,449 = $12,000 UTF Stipend + $20,000 Internal Funding* + $8,449 Tuition & Fees**

Funding after tuition & fees = $32,000

_{* The composition of internal funding may vary based on individual combinations of awards, employment, and/or research and teaching opportunities.
** Tuition & fees for the 2025–2026 academic year are rounded up for clarity. The current tuition & fees are an estimate until final figures are produced in July. Tuition & fees are to be paid directly by the Faculty using University of Toronto funds.}

B. Funding Package for Students with an Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)

The Ontario Graduate Scholarship funds are included in the calculation of the base funding package for PhD students who are OGS recipients. In addition to funds from the OGS Award, OGS recipients will receive a stipend, tuition and fees from UTF funds, and up to $10,000 in funding from internal sources.

Students awarded an OGS award will also receive a Dean’s Merit Award of $1,500 per year in recognition of their academic achievement

$41,949 = $15,000 OGS + $7,000 UTF + $1,500 Dean’s Merit Award + $10,000 Internal Funding** + $8,449 Tuition & Fees**

Funding after tuition & fees = $33,500

_{* The composition of internal funding may vary based on individual combinations of awards, employment, and/or research and teaching opportunities.
** Tuition and fees for the 2025–2026 academic year are rounded up for clarity. The current tuition & fees are an estimate until final figures are produced in July. Tuition and fees are paid by the Faculty using University of Toronto Fellowship Funds.}

C. Funding Package for Students with a Higher Value External Award

External awards from the Canadian government (e.g. SSHRC, CIHR, or CGS doctoral awards), are included in the calculation of the base funding package for PhD students. When the value of an external government award meets or exceeds the $40,000 base funding commitment (e.g. SSHRC, CIHR, or CGS awards), students are responsible for paying their tuition and fees directly. Students holding higher-value external awards may apply for internal awards, research positions, and teaching opportunities for which they are eligible; however, internal funding is not guaranteed.

Students with a higher-value external award will also receive a Dean’s Merit Award of $2,500 per year in recognition of their academic achievement.

$44,000 = $40,000 External Award* + $4,000 Dean’s Merit Award

Funding after tuition and fees** = $35, 551

_*_{The exact award value is determined by the funding agency. External governments awards (e.g. SSHRC, CIHR, and OGS) are administered by the School of Graduate Studies and disbursed through ACORN. Please see award details for information on the award value, disbursement schedule, terms and conditions.}
_{** Tuition & fees for the 2025–2026 academic year are rounded up for clarity. The current tuition & fees are an estimate until final figures are produced in July. Tuition & fees are paid by the student.}

Sources of Funding

The PhD Funding Packages are comprised of funds from a range of source, including, but not limited to the following:

1. External Awards

Students are required to apply for external awards every year to be eligible for the base funding package. These include awards funded by the Ontario and federal government. External government awards are factored into students’ funding packages.

The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) is for both Domestic and International students. Applicants that apply to OGS should apply in February for the following academic year. Please visit the Awards & Scholarships page on the FIFSW site for more information.

The value of the OGS is $5,000 per session. Thus, awardees may receive $10,000 for two consecutive sessions or $15,000 for three consecutive sessions. Each scholarship is tenable for one year (i.e., two consecutive or three academic sessions). The value and duration of each OGS award will be determined by the awarding graduate unit and detailed in the offer letter.
External federal government awards and scholarships include:
- Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Doctoral Fellowship
- Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGS D)
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Doctoral Research Awards
Please see the School of Graduate Studies Awards page for more information on these awards.

2. Internal Sources of Funding

Internal sources of funding are comprised of employment income within FIFSW; and awards, scholarships, and bursaries from the Faculty or University of Toronto. Internal sources of funding make up part of the base PhD funding package. Please review the eligibility criteria outlined above.

Below is a list of some, but not all, common sources that make up funding packages.

CI and TA positions are typically circulated each year in May/June for the upcoming academic year by the Associate Dean, Academic Office. Employment income from CIships and TAships constitutes bargaining unit work and is included in base funding calculations. However, the amount of such income that can be counted toward base funding is capped at $7,200 for the 2025–2026 academic year, in accordance with the CUPE Local 3902, Unit 1 Collective Agreement.

Please see the CUPE Local 3902, Unit 1 Collective Agreement (January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2023) and the Memorandum of Agreement: CUPE Local 3902, Unit 1 (January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2026) for details about the prescribed maximum income that can be contributed towards students’ funding packages.
PhD students may seek employment from RAships paid through a supervisor’s research grants. Income earned from RAships are included in the base funding calculations. Course RAships, Work Study positions, and MSW field liaisons and instructorships are also available streams of employment through research activities. RA and other employment opportunities within the Faculty are typically circulated as positions become available.
The Teaching Apprenticeship Initiative (TAI) is a paid apprenticeship, which supports PhD students’ development as social work educators through engaging in course preparation as well as observing and offering educational experiences. The apprenticeship provides students with an opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience and develop competence in teaching a particular subject area in social work.

When to Apply: The TAI call for student applications is circulated in summer for the next academic year.

TAI Eligibility: To be eligible for the Teaching Apprenticeship Initiative (TAI), a student must be registered full-time in the PhD program. Priority is given to students who have completed their Comprehensive Exam and do not hold a CI or TA appointment.

TAI Award Value & Duration: TAI recipients receive a $3,500 stipend per course from the University of Toronto Fellowship funds. Students may receive up to two TAI appointments in a given academic year, pending the availability of funds. TAI stipends are calculated into student’s base funding package.

The FIFSW Doctoral Research Fellowship (DRF) is a matching program, supported by the Faculty and a faculty member’s research funding as part of the Faculty’s minimum funding commitment to PhD Students.
- When to apply: The DRF award call for student applications is typically circulated in the summer for the next academic year.
- DRF Eligibility: Doctoral students registered full-time in Social Work who are part of a funded cohort are eligible to apply if they have not yet received minimum funding from internal sources or have not received a major external award. Students who are awarded an RBC Fellowship may not hold a DRF in the same academic year. Priority is given to students who have not previously held a DRF Fellowship.
- DRF Award Value: Students who are matched through the DRF will receive up to $10,000 in funding and will be expected to contribute approximately 200 hours on the designated faculty research project. The DRF award period is from October 1, 2024, to August 31, 2025.  
The Royal Bank of Canada Graduate Fellowship in Applied Social Research (RBC Fellowship) is jointly sponsored by the Royal Bank of Canada, the University of Toronto, and the province of Ontario. RBC fellowships are designed to provide research training and experience to FIFSW PhD students, provide financial support to students in financial need, and support faculty research.
- When to apply: The RBC Fellowship call for student applications is typically circulated in the summer for the next academic year.
- RBC Fellowship Eligibility: A minimum of two-thirds of RBC Fellowship funds must be awarded to domestic students who demonstrate financial need and meet Ontario residency requirements outlined by the Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Fund (OSOTF). The remaining third of the RBC funds may be awarded to domestic or international students who demonstrate financial need. Doctoral students registered full-time in Social Work who are part of a funded cohort are eligible to apply if they have not yet received minimum funding from internal sources or have not received a major external award. Students who are awarded an RBC Fellowship may not hold a DRF in the same academic year. Priority is given to students who have not previously held an RBC Fellowship.
- RBC Fellowship Award Value: Students who are matched through the RBC will receive between $10,000-15,000, based on available funds. Students will be expected to contribute approximately 200 hours on the designated faculty research project. The RBC award period is from October 1, 2024, to August 31, 2025.  
Internal Awards are available annually to both entering and continuing students. Most of these awards require applications that are submitted in September of each year and comprise of merit based and financial need-based awards. You may refer to the University’s Award Explorer for a full listing of awards.

The Office of Student Services and Registrar emails information to students on how to apply in the summer.