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Fees & Funding
2025-26 GEMS agreements will be made available the week of July 21, 2025.
Once the 2025-26 GEMS agreements have been made available, you will receive an email inviting you to log onto the system.
The University of Toronto requires that all new and continuing doctoral stream students receive an annual student stipend.
A “stipend” refers to the funds a student receives during the program funding commitment period.
Doctoral stream students include IMS MSc and PhD students. It does not include IMS students completing a professional degree (MSc Biomedical Communications).
The annual stipend for all new and continuing students in the MSc program is $29,819.88 living allowance + tuition fees annually, guaranteed for the first two years of the MSc program.
The annual stipend for all new and continuing students in the PhD program is $32,910.48 living allowance + tuition fees annually, guaranteed for the first four years of their program and five years for the PhD Direct Entry program.
Students are responsible for either paying or deferring their fees on ACORN before the SGS registration deadline.
Fees and Funding
Tuition* | Living allowance | Total Stipend | MAXIMUM Top-up (+$5000) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
MSC |
$9,608.48 (admitted 2025-26) $9,438.48 (continuing students) |
$29,819.88 $29,819.88 |
$39,427.36 $39,258.36 |
$44,427.36 $44,258.36 |
PHD |
$8,448.48 |
$32,265.18 |
$41,358.96 |
$46,358.96 |
*2025-2026 tuition fees indicated.
For International students, see Funding information here.
Top-Up Practices
Award Amount | Top-Up** |
---|---|
$0.00 to $2,000 | There will be no top-up but the student gets to keep the award(s), up to a combined maximum of $2,000. The amount of the award will not be deducted from the base funding. |
$2001 to $9,999 (cumulative awards) | Award goes towards the base funding and the student receives a $2,000 top-up over their base funding. |
$10,000 to $15,000 (cumulative awards) | Award goes towards the base funding and the student receives a $3,000 top-up over their base funding. |
$15,001 to $39,999 (cumulative awards) | Award goes towards the base funding and the student receives a $4,000 top-up over their base funding. |
$40,000 to $45,000 (cumulative awards) | Award goes towards the base funding and the student received a $5,000 top-up over their base funding. |
$45,001 to $50,000 (cumulative awards) | There will be no top-up, but the student can hold the award(s) up to $50,000. |
Notes:
- Within an academic year (or 12 moths period), the total cumulative top-up maximum is $5,000. That is, if a you hold an awards of $25,00 and another award of $17,500, your total top-up is $5,000.
- The top-up is only provided in amounts of $2,000, $3,000, $4,000, or $5,000 per year (does not exceed 12 months) and is added above the base funding amount.
- If you receive an award(s) higher than $50,000 is not eligible for any top-up and you can only retain the awards(s) up to a maximum total of $50,000.
- Top-up eligibility excludes University of Toronto Fellowship (e.g, UTF Open), Entrance Awards, Doctoral Completion Awards, and bursaries.
- Payment of top-ups will occur annually for the duration of the award. Thereafter, you will revert back to the appropriate base funding.
- If you receive award(s) exceeding the amount equivalent to the base funding and top-up, you will not be eligible to receive a top-up for these award(s).
Fees Payment
The University of Toronto does not mail out fees invoice to students. You are responsible for paying or deferring your fees. Students are to check the Student Web Service (SWS) at www.acorn.utoronto.ca to view their fees invoice that lists all transactions posted to their account. Fee schedules together with incidental fees can be viewed at http://www.fees.utoronto.ca. UHIP charges for international students will be included in the charges on the fees invoice.
The School of Graduate Studies recommends that fees be paid by September 1st 2025 so that payment is processed by the registration deadline of September 12, 2025. The recommended deadline for fees payment for students registering in January 2026 to meet the registration deadline is December 19, 2025.
Tuition Deferral
Students who are receiving funding as part of the graduate funding package should request to register without payment on ACORN. Students who are receiving funding outside of the funding commitment must make their request with the Institute of Medical Science by completing the Register Without Payment Form. This form can also be found on the SGS website. Once completed, students should send the form to their respective graduate program assistant.
Full payment is due April 30
Monthly service charges will be applied against outstanding student account balances beginning May 15th and on the 15th of every month thereafter, until the account is paid in full.
Statement of Agreement (GEMS)
You and your supervisor are required to jointly complete the IMS GEMS Funding annually; before initial registration in an IMS graduate program and before each September registration thereafter.
Registration in the program is contingent upon your completion of the online GEMS with the correct funding amount and submission for approval by the IMS office. Once approved by the IMS office, you will be permitted to continue your registration in the program.
The Statement of Agreement covers the general conditions of supervision, student funding agreement, and conflict of interest guidelines. The submission of the Agreement by you and your supervisor indicates that both comply with the terms and provisions of the Agreement.
Major Awards
Your application for admission will be enhanced if you have peer-reviewed external funding (i.e. CIHR Doctoral Award, NSERC Studentship, Ontario Graduate Scholarship) at the outset of your degree program. Most funding agency deadlines are at least nine months before the start date of the award, and applications require original transcripts and letters of recommendation. Most available Canadian sources of funding give preference to persons with Canadian citizenship or landed immigrant status.
The IMS regularly informs registered students of funding opportunities as they arise. Visit the Awards Section on our website to view current award competitions.
Funding falls into two major categories:
- Internal Awards
- IMS awards (UofT Open Fellowships; IMS Entrance Award)
- UofT Internal Awards (OGS, OSOTF, QEII-GSST, Doctoral Completion Award)
- Hospital Awards (Restracomp)
- External Awards
- CIHR
- NSERC
- HSFO
- SSHRC
Funding Payment Principles
It is you responsibility to:
- read and discuss the statement of agreement with your supervisor,
- ensure payment of stipend amounts (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly), and
- discuss tuition funding and align with tuition funds payment due dates.
Leave of Absence (LOA) Stipendiary Fund
For research-stream graduate students in the Faculty of Medicine, the Leave of Absence Stipendiary Fund is available for an approved Leave of Absence (LOA) due to health issues (i.e. physical) and/or mental health challenges which temporarily impair a student’s functioning during his/her graduate studies.
Funding is available up to $5,000 per student for one term on a one-time only basis. Ideally, you must submit an application package (as described below) to the Office of Graduate and Life Sciences Education in the Faculty of Medicine (MSB 2360) before the deadline below and prior to the start of your LOA.
Students who remain registered during the requested LOA will not receive LOA Stipendiary Funding.
If you are taking a LOA due to parental leave, the School of Graduate Studies provides funding through the SGS Parental Grant. Please click here for more information. Please note that the SGS Parental Grant is only available to PhD students.
To apply for the LOA Stipendiary Fund, you will be asked to submit the following package by the appropriate deadline, to the Office of Graduate and Life Sciences Education via email to glse.admin@utoronto.ca.
- A completed and signed form (see below) by you and your Graduate Coordinator. Please read the instructions carefully to complete the Final LOA Stipendiary Fund Form
- One-page letter explaining the reason(s) for the LOA and how it has impaired your ability to function in your graduate program. Please address the letter to the LOA Stipendiary Fund Committee;
- A physician’s note, specifically outlining the physical and mental health issues that impair your functioning in your graduate program. Alternatively, you can also have your physician complete the Verification of Student Illness and Injury.
- A copy of your completed SGS Leave of Absence Form . Please note that only Sections 1 and 2 must be completed.
Please note this fund will not count towards your graduate student stipend package.
This fund is not renewable and can only be received once. It is intended to provide one term financial support to the recipient who will NOT receive funding from scholarship(s) or award(s) during this Leave of Absence.
This funding is conditional upon confirmation of an approved Leave of Absence by your graduate unit and the School of Graduate Studies.
Final Year Fees
Details on final year fees for MSc and PhD students can be found here.
Emergency Financial Resources
If you are experiencing a financial crisis, please explore the below resources:
- Book an appointment with a Financial Advisor at SGS.
- SGS Emergency Grant
- SGS Emergency Loan
Click here to download the 2025-26 Harmonized Base Funding Agreement
Need more information on Temerty Medicine Harmonized Based Funding? Click here
Have a question about completing your GEMS agreement? Check out the GEMS FAQ section from RHSE here