SDGs@UofT Students Awards Program

SDGs@UofT is inviting students to apply for the SDGs@UofT Students Awards program! The program will train highly qualified personnel by supporting undergraduate and graduate students who demonstrate a high standard of achievement in graduate studies. 

The SDGs@UofT student awards program provides financial support to students who are engaged in SDG-relevant research in their chosen fields and that is being conducted at one of the three campuses at the University of Toronto. The SDGs@UofT student award program will support student-led research that aligns with one or more of the initiative’s research themes. Successful applicants will receive a one-time $1,500 for 12-months and can re-apply in subsequent years so long as they maintain good academic standing in their programs.

The program includes two streams:

• Undergraduate: support provided for full-time undergraduate students working with an SDGs Scholars Academy Fellow or affiliate to support research that aligns with one or more of the SDG initiative’s research themes.
• Graduate: support provided for graduate students enrolled in full-time programs at one of the three University of Toronto campuses working with an SDGs Scholars Academy Fellow or affiliate to support research that aligns with one or more of the SDG initiative’s research themes..

Eligibility

The SDGs Student Awards program supports and promotes high-quality research in a wide variety of disciplines and areas, which are divided into broad fields of research (health, natural sciences and engineering, and social sciences and humanities). This includes research that bridges two or more disciplines or that requires the skills of several disciplines.

We are strongly committed to diversity and especially welcome applications from racialized persons/persons of colour, women, indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, members of LGBTQ communities, and others who contribute to further diversifying our community.

• To be eligible to apply to the undergraduate student stream you must be enrolled in a full-time undergraduate program in at least your third year of study. Students must also be supervised by an SDGs@UofT affiliate or fellow at any of the university’s campuses.
• To be eligible to apply to the graduate student stream you must be enrolled in a full-time masters or PhD program and have completed at least one year of study. All students must be supervised by an SDGs@UofT affiliate or fellow at any university’s campuses
• An eligible graduate program must include a significant research component that leads to the completion of a thesis, major research project, dissertation, scholarly publication, performance, recital and/or exhibit that is merit/expert reviewed. and directly related to one or more of the program’s research themes. Applicants are encouraged to consider, but not be limited to, these nexus areas.
• Joint programs with a professional degree (for example, MD/PhD, DVM/PhD, JD/PhD, MBA/PhD) as well as clinically oriented programs of study, including clinical psychology, are eligible if they have a significant autonomous research component, as described above.

Application Procedures

To apply to the SDGs Student Awards program, you must complete and apply by completing the online submission form here. Your application should include:

1. Project title: The title should describe the research to be carried out during the funding period.
2. Academic unit the project falls into:
   • Applied science & engineering
   • Architecture, landscape & design
   • Arts & science
   • Dentistry
   • Education
   • Information
   • Kinesiology & physical education
   • Law
   • Management
   • Medicine, nursing, public health
   • Pharmacy
   • Social Work
   • Other
3. Campus
   • St. George
   • Scarborough
   • Mississauga
4. Research Themes: Select the SDG theme(s) that is/are linked to your proposal.
5. Summary of project: Provide a summary (120 characters max.) of your research and how it is relevant to the SDGs and aligns with the work of the SDGs@UofT initiative. Summary must include research topic, research questions, research methods and plans for knowledge mobilization.
6. CV: include a copy of your most up to date CV outlining your academic work with your application.
7. Letter of Reference: please arrange for your supervisor to submit a short one-to-two-page letter of reference by via email to sdg.admin@utoronto.ca by Monday October 21st. Letters should confirm the registration status of the student as well as the student’s qualities, strengths, and merits in conducting research activities.

Deadlines

• Application deadline: Monday October 21st by 11:59PM (ET). Complete applications must be submitted by the deadline here.
• Results deadline: Competition results will be available as of Monday December 9th.