The University of Toronto has announced a major new scholarship programme worth $100 million (approximately Rs. 955.97 crore) to attract talented PhD researchers from Canada and other countries.
Named the Presidents’ Impact Scholarship Programme, the initiative will provide substantial financial support to selected doctoral students while encouraging them to work on research addressing major challenges facing society.
Under the programme, each selected scholar will receive $80,000 (around Rs. 76.98 lakh) per year for four years. This takes the total scholarship support to $320,000 (approximately Rs. 3.08 crore) for each scholar over the four-year period.
The first group of scholars is expected to begin their PhD studies at the University of Toronto in September 2027.
What is the Presidents’ Impact Scholarship Programme?
The new programme is designed around interdisciplinary research rather than limiting scholars to a single academic field. Selected students will work on a common societal challenge and are expected to have two faculty supervisors from different disciplines.
The university said the programme will focus on research with potential real-world impact. Areas could include fields such as artificial intelligence, healthcare, quantum technologies, genomics, biomedical sciences, sustainability, cybersecurity and public policy.
The research theme will change each year, allowing the programme to address different emerging challenges.
How many PhD scholars will be selected?
The University of Toronto plans to select approximately 12 to 13 scholars each year. Each scholar will receive four years of funding.
The programme is expected to reach a cohort of 50 scholars by the beginning of its fourth year, after which the university plans to maintain that level.
The scholarship has been established through a $50 million (approximately Rs. 477.99 crore) endowed gift from a Canadian family foundation, with the university matching the annual payout to create the larger $100 million programme.
When will applications begin?
The university has said that the formal call for applications will be announced soon. The first cohort of Presidents’ Impact Scholars is scheduled to start their doctoral studies in September 2027.
Candidates interested in the programme will need to wait for the university’s official application announcement for details regarding eligibility, selection criteria, deadlines and the application process.
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