Graduate Funding Package
The Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) offers OISE funding packages to students in full-time PhD programs and non-professional MA programs (referred to as the funded cohort).
OISE funding is designed to provide students in the funded cohort with a minimum level of financial support to offset the cost of graduate education.
Students in the funded cohort can expect to receive a letter providing the details of their funding package between August 15th and September 30th of each year in which they are a funded student.
OISE Graduate Funding Package Value
The value of the 2024-25 funding package is at least $25,351.53 (including tuition and incidental fees). Effective Fall 2025, the University of Toronto is increasing the base funding commitment for all PhD/SJD students in the funded cohort to $40,000, inclusive of tuition and incidental fees. For more details, please see the Graduate Funding at the School of Graduate Studies. Funding packages may be composed of fellowships, grants, awards, scholarships and employment income. For international students the value of the funding package will be increased to cover the mandatory University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) for registered international students. For historic information on average funding for both domestic and international PhD students at the University of Toronto, visit the School of Graduate Studies Funding webpage.
There is no formal application process for the OISE funding package.
Students who are eligible for the OISE funding package will be provided with a letter indicating the approximate minimum level of funding together with their offer of admission. The Office of Student Financial Support will contact students eligible for a funding package with the next steps in the process. All students in the funded cohort are advised to obtain their UTORID and University of Toronto as soon as possible in order to be able to access systems at OISE. Please visit the TCard website and note that the JOINid will not allow access to systems at OISE.
The The Office of Student Financial Support prepares a personalized funding package for each student in the funded cohort every year. The majority of students receive a package that is based on one of four types of packages. The type of funding package a student in the funded cohort receives may vary from year to year as student circumstances change. All funded students must meet all the terms and conditions for funding every year to continue to be funded.
Terms & Conditions
The following conditions must be met to remain in the funded cohort:
Funded cohort students must be registered full-time in both fall and winter sessions to qualify for funding in those sessions. A funded student must be registered as a full-time degree candidate for a minimum of 14 weeks in the Fall term and 17 weeks in the winter term to be eligible for the OISE fellowship tuition and grant funds. If a student takes an approved leave of absence, the funding package will be revised to reflect the student's enrolment status. This also applies in the event of a retroactive leave of absence.
Full-time employment is defined as 35 hours per week, or where different, the number of hours specified in an employment contract as full-time employment. Students working on a full-time basis either within or outside the University during the fall/winter session (September to April) are not eligible for funding.
It is strongly recommended that students who take paid employment limit their hours of work to no more than 10 hours per week, on average, in all forms of employment including Graduate Assistantships, Teaching Assistantships, Course Instructorships, other employment at the University or employment outside the University, while receiving a funding package.
Students may be offered employment as a GA, TA or CI as part of their funding package. To accept these positions and receive your full funding, students are required to have a Canadian bank account, a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN) and for international students, a valid Study Permit is also required. For more information on types of packages, see the section below on "Types of Packages".
For more information on how to receive your funding, please visit the section on "Receiving your Funding".
Good standing and satisfactory progress includes:
- Satisfactory completion of graduate courses with a minimum A- average;
- Timely completion of program requirements; meaning a minimum enrolment of four (4) half courses per year and completion of all required course work before or by the end of year two (2), (with the exception of SCCP PhD students who are required to complete additional courses in year three (3), not including the internship)
- Supervision and satisfactory progress per SGS regulation 7.5.2 which requires the establishment of a supervisory committee by the end of the first term of the second year (or as indicated by your program), and meeting with the supervisory committee at least once a year; and
- Achieving candidacy by the end of year three (3). To learn more about candidacy requirements, contact your department or see the School of Graduate Studies website.
As a condition of funding, graduate students are required to apply for and accept external awards for which they are eligible. It is an honour to receive a prestigious award and should be included on a student's cv. Writing applications for such awards is part of academic training.
MA SCCP Funded Cohort students in year one (1) of the SCCP program are required to apply for at least one large external award ($15,000 or over) for which they are eligible (i.e., CGSM or OGS) in year one (1) of their program and if successful, accept the award in order to qualify for funding in year two (2).
PhD Funded Cohort students starting from years one (1), two (2) and three (3) of their program are required to apply for at least one external award ($15,000 or over) for which they are eligible (i.e., OGS, SSHRC, Vanier) and if successful, accept the award in order to qualify for funding in year two (2).
When a student is successful in receiving a major external award, the award will be applied to their funding in accordance with SGS policy and guidelines. The award will become part of or replace the student's funding package. Examples of major awards are SSHRC, NSERC, OGS and foreign government awards, such as the CONACyT or China Scholarship. Students who receive major awards such as SSHRC, OGS, Vanier and any other major award are expected to request their award activation commences in September.
Funded Cohort Eligibility
Applied Psychology & Human Development (APHD)
| Program | Degree | Total Years Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Counselling & Clinical Psychology (CCP) | MA | Year 1 |
| Counselling & Clinical Psychology (CCP) | PhD | Years 1, 2, 3, 4 |
| Developmental Psychology & Education (DPE) | MA | Year 1 |
| Developmental Psychology & Education (DPE) | PhD | Years 1, 2, 3, 4 |
| School & Clinical Child Psychology (SCCP) | MA | Years 1, 2 |
| School & Clinical Child Psychology (SCCP) | PhD |
|
Curriculum, Learning & Teaching (CTL)
| Program | Degree | Total Years Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Curriculum & Pedagogy (C&P) | MA | Year 1 |
| Curriculum & Pedagogy (C&P) | PhD | Years 1, 2, 3, 4 |
| Language & Literacies Education (LLE) | MA | Year 1 |
| Language & Literacies Education (LLE) | PhD | Years 1, 2, 3, 4 |
Leadership, Higher & Adult Education (LHAE)
| Program | Degree | Total Years Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Education & Community Development (AECD) | MA | Year 1 |
| Adult Education & Community Development (AECD) | PhD | Years 1, 2, 3, 4 |
| Educational Leadership & Policy (ELP) | MA | Year 1 |
| Educational Leadership & Policy (ELP) | PhD | Years 1, 2, 3, 4 |
| Higher Education (HE) | MA | Year 1 |
| Higher Education (HE) | PhD | Years 1, 2, 3, 4 |
Social Justice Education (SJE)
| Program | Degree | Total Years Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Social Justice Education (SJE) | MA | Year 1 |
| Social Justice Education (SJE) | PhD | Years 1, 2, 3, 4 |
Types of Graduate Funding Packages
- Funding consists of a major scholarship and/or OISE Fellowship
- Large scholarships of $10,000 or more will be included in the value of the OISE Funding Package.
- A student who holds a scholarship valued at less than $13,382 (in 2023-2024) may be eligible for a Graduate Assistantship (GA).
Funding consists of a Research Fellowship for one of two terms. In the former case, the student would hold a Graduate Assistantship (GA) for one term as well, typically in the fall. Students typically also receive an OISE Fellowship.
- Funding consists of employment as a Graduate Assistant (GA) or Research and Development GA (R&D GA) and an OISE Fellowship.
- Graduate Assistants are hired to undertake research or field work under the supervision of a Faculty Member.
- GA and R&D GA roles occur September 1 to April 30 and consist of 240 hours.
- Funding consists of a Course Instructorship (CI) or Teaching Assistantship (TA) and an OISE Fellowship.
- Course Instructors are hired to lead teaching and course activities.
- Teaching Assistants are hired to assist in teaching and course activities.
- CI or TA roles vary in hours and can occur in the Fall (September 1 to December 31); Winter (January 1 to April 30); or Fall/Winter (September 1 to April 30).
