WGS Scholarships

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In addition to funding that is available from the home graduate units, the Graduate Program in Women and Gender Studies offers the following scholarships:

Brianna O’Connor Hersey Scholarship

The scholarship will be awarded annually to a WGSI PhD student who has completed their first year of study. The scholarship recognizes a student who demonstrates resilience and drive, shows strong communication skills, exemplifies creative thinking and methods, connects large and small scale thinking in their research, as well as engages with local or transnational communities in meaningful ways. Read more about Brianna O’Connor Hersey and this scholarship here.

City of Toronto Women’s Studies Graduate Scholarship

The City of Toronto Women’s Studies Graduate Scholarship, its value dependent on annual income, is awarded to a student enrolled in the Graduate studies in Women and Gender Studies (Degree or Collaborative Program). The award will be given on the basis of financial need and academic merit to students deemed most likely to contribute to studies on the status of women, community studies and public policy including studies in the areas of transportation, housing, urban planning, employment, public works and municipal services. Read more.

The Hammed Shahidian Graduate Award in Women and Gender Studies

Admission award given to a graduate student enrolled in the M.A. or Ph.D. Program in Women and Gender Studies whose research focuses on women and social movements, women and secularism, transnationalism, and the state. Preference will be given to international students and/or to students working in the Middle East and North Africa. Established in memory of Professor Hammed Shahidian, author of Women in Iran: Gender Politics in the Islamic Republic and Women in Iran: Emerging Voices in the Women’s Movement, and key contributor to debates on women in Muslim majority states, discussions of secularism and democracy, and women’s resistance to theocratic regimes.

Janka Seydegart Scholarship in Feminist Studies

This scholarship is based on financial need and academic merit, and is awarded in alternate years to a student in the Faculty of Social Work and in any other GCWS collaborating unit. All applications must be in letter form. Support documentation must demonstrate the candidate’s financial need and academic merit. The supporting documents should include a detailed covering letter, a completed Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Funds (OSOTF) Financial Need Assessment Form, a resume, one sample of written work and letters of reference.

Applications should be sent to the Program Office, Room 2035, Women & Gender Studies Institute, New College, University of Toronto, 40 Willcocks Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1C6.

The June Larkin TA Award

The June Larkin TA award will recognize outstanding graduate student contributions to undergraduate teaching and mentorship demonstrated through creative approaches to teaching and student engagement. The award is named for Dr. June Larkin in recognition of her invaluable contributions to the training and mentoring of Teaching Assistants at WGSI over two decades. The selection criteria thus reflect some of the practices and priorities that made Dr. Larkin an exceptional teacher, including her efforts to make WGSI’s intellectual priorities foundational to undergraduate teaching and her deep commitments to pedagogical innovation and knowledge translation.

Kay Armatage Graduate Women and Gender Studies Entrance Prize

To support an exceptional graduate student entering the Collaborative Specialization in Women and Gender Studies, named in honour of Professor Kay Armatage.

Margrit Eichler Student Leadership Award

This award recognizes overall achievement in graduate student leadership during the academic year. Professor Margrit Eichler was the first Director of the Women & Gender Studies Institute, which was founded in 1999.

We invite you to contribute to an online memorial board in honour of Margrit Eichler.  Please add memories, photos, poems or videos.  Feel free to invite others to contribute.  You can visit online anytime (you do not need an account to contribute).

Vida Heydarian Gender Justice Award

To be awarded to a graduate student enrolled in Women and Gender Studies, including the collaborative program. It will be awarded in the Fall to students who have successfully completed their comprehensive requirements by the summer of the just completed academic year. Preference will be given to individuals who demonstrate a commitment to social justice scholarship and regional, international, and transnational community-based themes.  Further preference will be given to students working on Middle East issues.  Recipients must be in good academic standing and have demonstrated financial need as determined by OTSS guidelines.  Under OTSS, financial need and Ontario residency as well as Canadian citizenship, Permanent resident or Protected persons status is a requirement for this award.  Students must complete an OSOTF Financial Need Assessment Form and the OSOTF II/OTSS Form.

Other Internal Awards at the University of Toronto

The School of Graduate Studies administers a number of other internal awards.  Information on these awards is circulated to students admitted to the master’s program in late spring/early summer.  We encourage all students to apply for these awards.  Often, the number of applicants for a given award are surprisingly small.

For more details, go to the School of Graduate Studies website.

Student Loans / Ontario Student Assistance Programs (OSAP)

Students are encouraged to investigate their eligibility for these programs. Application forms and brochures can be obtained from Admissions & Awards, University of Toronto, 315 Bloor Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A3.  For more information visit the OSAP website.

Additional Help with Financial Planning

The School of Graduate Studies has Financial Assistance Counsellors who can help enrolled students with financial planning.