Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have additional questions? Contact us at cgpd@utoronto.ca. You can also watch the recording of the most recent information session.

Can international students apply to the fellowship?

Yes, this fellowship is open to domestic and international students. Before applying, students should determine how receiving this award will impact their other sources of funding. Some external funding agencies have restrictions on students having additional funding. 

Can I apply for this award if I am a scholarship recipient or have access to other sources of funding (e.g., stipend, grants)?

Yes. This fellowship is intended to be held in addition to students’ current funding. Eligibility for the fellowship is not restricted based on other funding. However, you should confirm that the terms and conditions of any existing sources of funding allow you to apply to and hold additional awards. With respect to funding from the University of Toronto, this award should be held in addition to the regular funding that supports student’s personal research. 

If you have questions about your existing sources of funding, please contact your Graduate Administrator regarding the specific conditions of your funding package. 

When is the best time to apply for the fellowship program?

The best time is when you can best frame a strong application and have the time to benefit from this fellowship program. Please contact your supervisor to discuss this.  

Fellows are required to participate in monthly meetings and the annual showcase. If changes to your situation make that impossible (e.g., taking a full-time job), you may need to decline the fellowship. 

I am planning to spend time away from Toronto during the fellowship year. Am I still eligible?

One of the requirements of the fellowship is to attend >75% of events in person, to support the development of an engaged yearlong cohort and a culminating public showcase event. If you are planning to spend significant time away from campus in the upcoming fellowship year, it is probably not the right time to apply for this fellowship. 

Does my thesis defense date and graduation date affect my eligibility?

Yes, you must be registered for the full academic year (i.e., September 2025 to August 2026).

What if I take a leave of absence?

Requests to defer or interrupt the fellowship will be considered on a case-by-case basis only if the recipient is taking a leave of absence approved by their graduate unit for an eligible reason, as outlined in the Terms & Conditions. 

Depending on the timing and duration of the leave of absence, students may be required to join the next cohort of the fellows. 

Should my public scholarship initiative be connected to my thesis research, or can it involve a side project I’m working on?

Most public scholarship initiatives will be connected to ongoing thesis research in order to ensure adequate focus. If, however, you have a well-defined secondary area of research interest, your public scholarship initiative may be connected to that.

Does my fellowship application require ethical approval?

Some activities may require ethical approval. It is your responsibility to determine if this applies to your project and ensure that you have appropriate ethical approval or any other relevant approvals in place. Please consult your supervisor to determine what approvals apply to you. 

Are in-text citations or a full reference list included in the word count?

In-text citations can be used in your application when necessary; they should be included in your word count. A full reference list is not required for this application.

I am having trouble accessing the application form and supporting documents. What should I do? 

The application is a Microsoft Form. To access the application form, you will need to be signed into Office365 with your University of Toronto account. If you are signed in with another account (i.e., hospital account, personal email account), you may encounter an error message. Log out of any other accounts and log in with your U of T account.  

If you still receive an error message, you can try a private browsing window to open the link and you should be prompted to log in with your University of Toronto credentials. If you are still having trouble, email us at cgpd@utoronto.ca  

Will my application be competitive without prior public engagement work?

You are not required to have prior experience with public scholarship; however, prior engagement with public scholarship could strengthen your application.  The focus of the adjudication will be the strength of your proposed public scholarship initiative. Please review the full application requirements for more information. 

Is there a preference for specific types of research or quota from specific graduate units?

We are committed to ensuring disciplinary diversity among each cohort of fellows. To that end, CGPD staff will do an initial prescreen to ensure that we are sending qualified applicants from the humanities, social sciences, life sciences, and physical sciences to the adjudication committee.  

In selection, the committee will consider multiple factors in selecting applicants to build the final cohort. The committee will also aim for representation of diverse projects, perspectives, and disciplines across the cohort of fellows. The final cohort will normally include a minimum of two fellows from each of the four SGS divisions, and a maximum of two fellows from any given graduate unit.  

I am a previous Connaught PhDs for Public Impact Fellow. Am I eligible to reapply this year?

No, you may not hold the fellowship more than once. However, if your application was not selected, you are encouraged to reapply (as long as you are still eligible).

​​​​