Fees & Funding

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 2024 so that payment is processed by the registration deadline of September 16th. The recommended deadline for fees payment for students registering in January 2025 to meet the registration deadline is December 20th 2024.  

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.

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.

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: 

1. Internal Awards 
   • IMS awards (UofT Open Fellowships; IMS Entrance Award)
   • UofT Internal Awards (OGS, OSOTF, QEII-GSST, Doctoral Completion Award)
   • Hospital Awards (Restracomp)
2. External Awards
   • CIHR
   • NSERC
   • HSFO
   • SSHRC

It is you responsibility to:

1. read and discuss the statement of agreement with your supervisor,
2. ensure payment of stipend amounts (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly), and
3. discuss tuition funding and align with tuition funds payment due dates.

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.

1. A completed and signed form (see below) by you and your Graduate Coordinator. Please read the instructions carefully to complete the Final LOA Stipendairy Fund Form
2. 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;
3. 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.
4. 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.

Details on final year fees for MSc and PhD students can be found here.

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