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Connaught PhDs for Public Impact Fellowship Program

Program Overview

The Connaught PhDs for Public Impact Fellowship Program offers U of T doctoral students an opportunity to explore the world of public scholarship. Developing a public scholarship initiative allows doctoral students to make connections outside the university through innovative forms of scholarly communication. Fellows focus on engaging the public through their scholarly work. This engagement can take a range of forms, from describing their work in a public forum to partnering with a school, community organization, or cultural institution in an ongoing two-way exchange of knowledge and practices.

Meet the 2025–2026 Cohort

Value & Duration

Fifteen scholarships will be awarded, each with a total value of $12,500.00 for one year (12 months) and must be held in addition to a program’s normal funding commitment. The $12,500.00 will be broken down into a $10,000.00 fellowship to be used as a top-up to the recipient’s usual funding package, and $2,500.00 towards project expenses and/or professional development. 

Fellows will participate in a program of specialized skills training in public scholarship, as well as networking opportunities. 

Eligibility

Applicants and recipients must: 

  • Remain registered full-time PhD/SJD students at the University of Toronto throughout the 2025-26 program duration (i.e., from September 2025 to August 2026, inclusive); 
  • Be in good academic standing; and 
  • Have completed at least the first year of their PhD/SJD program at the time of application (i.e., must be in the second year or higher of their PhD/SJD program at the time of application). 

Note that professional doctoral and flex-time doctoral students are not eligible for this program. 

For more information, please visit the Connaught PhDs for Public Impact Fellowship Program FAQ page.  

Fellows are expected to: 

  • Complete a public scholarship initiative to be presented at the annual showcase event;  
  • Attend monthly fellows’ meetings;  
  • Participate in program enhancement and evaluation;  
  • Promote the Connaught PhDs for Public Impact Fellowship Program; and  
  • Attend all activities and specifically 75% of the activities in person to build a cohort and community. 

Application process

Information Session

Attend the annual program information session, which normally takes place online in December. You will be able to watch a recording of the session if you are unable to attend. A registration link will be available here when the information session is scheduled.

Application Form

Fill out the application form, which will open to accept responses in December. The deadline to submit applications to SGS will normally be in January. Exact dates will be posted here once confirmed.

Application form components:

  • Identifying information: Name of applicant, student number, home unit(s) and contact information; Name of supervisor(s) and contact information; Name of Graduate Chair/Coordinator and contact information;  
  • Summary of proposed public scholarship initiative (maximum 500 words);  
  • Description of potential impact of proposed public scholarship initiative (maximum 250 words);  
  • Description of EDI considerations (maximum 250 words);  
  • Description of circumstances that have prepared applicant to deliver the proposed public scholarship initiative (maximum 250 words);  
  • Description of proposed timeline (maximum 250 words);  
  • Description of proposed use of the $2,500 allowance, as well as current funding package (maximum 250 words);  
  • Description of any special circumstances that have affected the applicant’s trajectory (optional; maximum 250 words);  
  • Curriculum vitae;  
  • Completed template statement of support from supervisor, co-signed by Graduate Chair/Coordinator, including a statement that the student is in good academic standing (template form provided).  

Application Requirements

The Connaught PhDs for Public Impact Fellowship Program receives a high volume of applications each year. Applications will be subject to an initial screening in the Centre for Graduate Professional Development to ensure that a concrete public scholarship initiative is described, and that a balance of qualified applicants from the humanities, social sciences, life sciences, and physical sciences are sent to the adjudication committee. Applicants are encouraged to ensure they articulate a specific public scholarship initiative in their application to maximize chances of their proposal being sent through to the adjudication committee and selected for the final cohort.  

The adjudication committee will evaluate applications on the following criteria: 

  • Quality and feasibility of proposed public scholarship initiative;  
  • Potential impact of proposed public scholarship initiative;  
  • EDI plan and / or considerations;  
  • Preparedness of the applicant to undertake the proposed public scholarship initiative;  
  • Feasibility of proposed timeline; 
  • Proposed use of fellowship funds. 

Building a cohort

  • We are committed to supporting diversity in research, scholarship, and creative practice, as well as individuals from under-represented groups, international students, and multilingual students.  
  • 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. 
Please visit the FAQ page for more information

Results

Applicants will be contacted directly in May.  

Terms & Conditions

Failure to meet the terms and conditions of the award may result in the forfeiture of the award and any future instalments:  

To accept the Fellowship, recipients must ensure they provide a signed copy of the Connaught PhDs for Public Impact Fellowship Response Form to the Centre for Graduate Professional Development (CGPD) via email to cgpd@utoronto.ca with a copy to their graduate unit within two weeks of the award offer letter. Fellows will be contacted by the CGPD to provide a short biographical statement and head shot. 

To maintain the Fellowship, Connaught PhDs for Public Impact Fellows must be registered full time at the University of Toronto, maintain good academic standing, and be making satisfactory progress toward the completion of their degree (as determined by the graduate unit). Recipients who withdraw, transfer to part-time status, complete all degree requirements prior to the end of their award, or fail to complete the full academic session, will not be eligible for future installments and may be required to repay any funds received for the incomplete session. Students on an approved Leave of Absence should inquire about interrupting the fellowship during their period of leave. Students may not hold full-time employment or a faculty appointment concurrently with the fellowship.  

Fellows will also be required to:  

  • Complete a public scholarship initiative to be presented at the annual showcase event;  
  • Attend monthly fellows’ meetings;  
  • Participate in program enhancement and evaluation;  
  • Promote the Connaught PhDs for Public Impact Fellowship Program; and  
  • Attend all activities and specifically 75% of the activities in person to build a cohort and community.

Deferral or interruption 

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 listed below: 

  • Relevant Work Experience: Deferral/interruption can be requested to gain relevant work experience through employment or an internship. 
  • Parental or family-related responsibilities: Deferral/interruption can be requested should the recipient be required to take a leave of absence due to parental leave or family care responsibilities including childcare or primary caregiver responsibilities.  
  • Medical: Deferral / interruption can be requested if an award holder is experiencing medical issues and must take a leave of absence.

Award Holder Information

The School of Graduate Studies will disburse the fellowship in three instalments using the following timeline:  

  • Connaught PhDs for Public Impact Fellows can expect their first instalment of $5,000.00 CAD within the first few weeks of September following registration.  
  • The second instrumental of $5000.00 CAD will be issued within the first few weeks of the winter session, and will be automatically applied to tuition and / or any outstanding balance on the student’s fees account. Any remaining funds will be refunded to the student.  
  • The $2,500.00 CAD supplement for professional development and project expenses will also be paid as a lump sum to students within the first few weeks of September so that it is available to recipients at any time during the award year and the remainder of their PhD program.  

Award payments are processed through ACORN. The method of distribution (direct deposit or a mailed cheque) depends on the information students enter into their ACORN accounts.  

Upon registration, we strongly recommend that students set up direct deposit by logging into ACORN and adding their banking information. Direct deposit will ensure that payment(s) are issued quickly. Visit the How to Activate & Maintain Your Award page of the SGS website for more details on this process.

Contact

Please direct all questions regarding the fellowship and its application process to cgpd@utoronto.ca.  

Advisory Committee

Meet the Connaught PhDs for Public Impact Fellowship Advisory Committee

Fellows in the News

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Return to the CGPD homepage