University of Toronto OISE Graduate Funding Package 2026–2027 | Up to $40,000 for PhD Students in Canada

The University of Toronto OISE Graduate Funding Package 2026–2027 offers financial support to eligible graduate students pursuing selected master’s and doctoral programs at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto, Canada. The graduate funding package is designed to help eligible students offset the cost of graduate education through a combination of fellowships, grants, awards, scholarships, and employment income.

For the 2026–2027 academic year, eligible first-year MA students in the funded cohort can expect a funding package valued at a minimum of CAD $26,892.39, while the University of Toronto’s base funding commitment for eligible PhD and SJD students is CAD $40,000, inclusive of tuition and incidental fees.

This opportunity is particularly relevant to students interested in educational leadership, curriculum and pedagogy, counselling and clinical psychology, language and literacy education, adult education, higher education, and social justice education.

Unlike many competitive scholarship programs, the OISE Graduate Funding Package does not have a separate formal application process. Eligible students are considered through the admission and funding process, subject to the applicable eligibility requirements and terms and conditions.

ALSO READ: Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2027–2028 | Fully Funded Scholarship at the University of Cambridge

University of Toronto OISE Graduate Funding Package 2026–2027: Overview

• Scholarship/Funding Name: OISE Graduate Funding Package
• Host Institution: Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE)
• University: University of Toronto
• Study Destination: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• Academic Year: 2026–2027
• Eligible Study Levels: Selected MA and PhD programs
• MA Funding Value: At least CAD $26,892.39 for eligible first-year MA students in the funded cohort
• PhD/SJD Funding Commitment: CAD $40,000, inclusive of tuition and incidental fees, for eligible students in the funded cohort
• Funding Components: Fellowships, grants, awards, scholarships, and employment income
• Application Process: No separate formal application for the OISE funding package
• Funding Duration: Depends on the degree program and the student’s eligibility
• Official Website: https://www.oise.utoronto.ca/home/registrar-students/grad-funding

Important: The funding amounts are package values or funding commitments, not necessarily cash stipends paid directly to students. The actual composition of each student’s package may differ.

1. What Is the OISE Graduate Funding Package?

The OISE Graduate Funding Package is a financial support arrangement for eligible students enrolled in designated full-time graduate programs at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, part of the University of Toronto.

The purpose of the OISE graduate funding program is to provide a minimum level of financial assistance to help students manage the costs associated with graduate education.

Eligible students may receive funding through several sources, including university scholarships, fellowships, grants, awards, and paid academic employment opportunities.

The Office of Student Financial Support prepares a personalized funding package for each eligible student every year. The package may vary depending on the student’s program, circumstances, and applicable funding conditions.

Students in the funded cohort can expect to receive a letter explaining their funding package between August 15 and September 30 of each year in which they qualify for funding.

For prospective international students, including applicants from Africa and other regions, this graduate funding opportunity may be worth considering when planning postgraduate study in Canada.

2. OISE Graduate Funding Package Value for 2026–2027

The University of Toronto provides different funding commitments depending on the student’s degree level and eligibility.

Master’s funding: CAD $26,892.39

For the 2026–2027 academic year, eligible first-year MA students in the OISE funded cohort have a funding package valued at a minimum of CAD $26,892.39.

This financial support can help eligible master’s students offset the cost of their graduate education. However, the amount should not automatically be interpreted as the student’s take-home income because the package may include tuition-related support and employment income.

The precise package details are provided to eligible students through the university’s funding process.

PhD and SJD funding: CAD $40,000

Effective Fall 2025, the University of Toronto increased its base funding commitment for eligible PhD and SJD students in the funded cohort to CAD $40,000, inclusive of tuition and incidental fees.

This commitment is relevant to doctoral students planning to pursue advanced research in education and related fields at OISE.

The funding commitment does not mean that every student receives CAD $40,000 entirely as an unrestricted cash payment. Students should review their personalized funding letters to understand the value, components, and applicable conditions of their packages.

Health insurance support for international students

For international students in the funded cohort, the funding package is increased to cover the mandatory University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP).

This provision is important for international students budgeting for graduate education in Ontario.

Applicants should consult the official OISE funding page and the University of Toronto’s international student services website for the applicable details.

3. Eligible Graduate Programs at OISE

The OISE Graduate Funding Package applies to designated programs in several academic departments. Eligibility and the number of funded years vary by program and degree.

Applied Psychology and Human Development (APHD)

Eligible programs include:

• Counselling and Clinical Psychology (CCP)
  • MA: Year 1
  • PhD: Years 1–4
• Developmental Psychology and Education (DPE)
  • MA: Year 1
  • PhD: Years 1–4
• School and Clinical Child Psychology (SCCP)
  • MA: Funding duration depends on the student’s entry cohort; the standard listed duration is one year for students entering under the Fall 2025 arrangements.
  • PhD: Funding may cover three or four years, depending on the student’s previous MA funding and entry circumstances.

Applicants to psychology-related programs should check the official eligibility table carefully because the funding arrangements for SCCP include specific transitional provisions.

Curriculum, Learning and Teaching (CTL)

The eligible programs include:

• Curriculum and Pedagogy (C&P)
  • MA: Year 1
  • PhD: Years 1–4
• Language and Literacies Education (LLE)
  • MA: Year 1
  • PhD: Years 1–4

These programs may appeal to applicants interested in curriculum development, language education, literacy, teaching, educational research, and learning practices.

Leadership, Higher and Adult Education (LHAE)

Eligible programs include:

• Adult Education and Community Development (AECD)
  • MA: Year 1
  • PhD: Years 1–4
• Educational Leadership and Policy (ELP)
  • MA: Year 1
  • PhD: Years 1–4
• Higher Education (HE)
  • MA: Year 1
  • PhD: Years 1–4

These programs are relevant to students interested in educational administration, higher education systems, public policy, community development, and leadership.

Social Justice Education (SJE)

The Social Justice Education program is also included in the funded cohort.

• MA: Year 1
• PhD: Years 1–4

Students interested in equity in education, social justice, inclusion, and educational policy may wish to explore this program.

Note: The durations above reflect the funding eligibility information supplied by OISE. The official funding page should be consulted for complete program-specific conditions, particularly where entry-year exceptions apply.

4. Who Is Eligible for the OISE Graduate Funding Package?

The OISE Graduate Funding Package is not automatically available to every student at the University of Toronto.

The published funding arrangement is intended for students in the designated funded cohort, comprising eligible students in full-time PhD programs and non-professional MA programs.

To determine whether they qualify, prospective applicants should consider the following:

Enrolment in an eligible graduate program

Applicants must be pursuing a degree program covered by the OISE funded cohort. Not every graduate degree or professional program is necessarily eligible.

Full-time doctoral study

The published funding package covers eligible students in full-time PhD programs. Doctoral applicants should verify the requirements applicable to their specific program.

Eligible MA program

Students applying for master’s funding should confirm that their MA program is included in the funded cohort and check the number of years for which funding is available.

Compliance with annual funding conditions

Students must satisfy the applicable terms and conditions each year to continue receiving funding. Eligibility in one year does not remove the obligation to meet the requirements for subsequent years.

Academic employment requirements

Some packages include Graduate Assistantship (GA) or Teaching Assistantship (TA) employment income. Students who are eligible for these positions may be required to apply by the relevant deadlines and accept an offered position as part of their package.

Failure to apply for or accept an applicable position can result in forfeiture of the corresponding funding component.

Applicants should not assume that admission to OISE guarantees the same funding arrangement for every student. They should confirm their individual eligibility and funding details with the university.

5. Is the OISE Graduate Funding Package Fully Funded?

The OISE Graduate Funding Package provides financial support intended to offset the cost of graduate education. However, whether it covers all expenses depends on the student’s individual package.

For eligible PhD and SJD students, the CAD $40,000 base funding commitment includes tuition and incidental fees. Eligible first-year MA students have a minimum package value of CAD $26,892.39 for 2026–2027.

The package may combine several types of support rather than providing the entire amount as a single cash scholarship.

Students should review the following expenses when preparing a budget:

• Tuition and incidental university fees
• Accommodation and rent in Toronto
• Food and daily living costs
• Books, learning materials, and research expenses
• Transportation and personal expenses
• Health insurance arrangements for international students

Although the funding can provide meaningful assistance, prospective students should calculate their expected living costs and compare them with the terms of their individual funding package.

6. Types of Funding Included in the OISE Package

The university identifies several possible funding components.

Fellowships

Fellowships may contribute to a student’s graduate funding package, depending on eligibility and the awards available.

Grants

Eligible students may receive grant support as part of their personalized package.

Scholarships and awards

Scholarships and awards can contribute to the overall value of the funding package. Their availability and conditions may vary.

Graduate Assistantships

Graduate Assistantships may provide employment income to eligible students. Students required to apply for these positions must observe the relevant application deadlines.

Teaching Assistantships

Teaching Assistantships may also form part of the funding package. Students who are eligible to apply for TA positions must follow the applicable employment and funding requirements.

Because funding can be composed of different sources, applicants should read their funding letters carefully and distinguish between tuition support, awards, and employment earnings.

7. How to Apply for the University of Toronto OISE Graduate Funding Package

One important feature of the OISE Graduate Funding Package is that there is no separate formal application process for the funding package itself.

However, this does not mean that applicants can skip the admission process or that funding is available to every applicant.

Prospective students should follow these steps:

Step 1: Identify an eligible graduate program

Visit the OISE website and identify a master’s or doctoral program included in the funded cohort.

Official website: https://www.oise.utoronto.ca/

Step 2: Review the admission requirements

Check the requirements, application deadlines, supporting documents, and other admission procedures for your selected degree program.

Admission requirements may differ across departments and programs.

Step 3: Submit your graduate admission application

Apply through the University of Toronto’s official graduate admission process for the program you wish to pursue.

Make sure your application is complete and submitted within the applicable deadline.

Step 4: Review your admission and funding information

Eligible students are provided with a letter indicating the approximate minimum funding level alongside their offer of admission.

The Office of Student Financial Support will contact eligible students regarding the next steps in the funding process.

Step 5: Obtain your university credentials

OISE advises funded students to obtain their UTORid and University of Toronto TCard as soon as possible so that they can access the relevant university systems.

The university notes that a JOINid does not provide access to OISE systems.

TCard website: https://tcard.utoronto.ca/

Step 6: Apply for required assistantship positions

If your funding package includes an applicable Graduate Assistantship or Teaching Assistantship component, follow the relevant application deadlines and employment requirements.

Failure to meet these requirements may result in the loss of the corresponding portion of the package.

Step 7: Review your annual funding letter

Funding packages are prepared individually each year. Carefully review the value, components, conditions, and duration of your funding before making financial commitments.

8. Required Documents and Application Preparation

The OISE funding page does not provide a separate universal document checklist for the funding package because there is no independent funding application.

Instead, prospective students should prepare the documents required for admission to their chosen graduate program.

Depending on the program, these may include:

• Academic transcripts
• Degree certificates or evidence of previous qualifications
• Curriculum vitae or résumé, where required
• Statement of intent or statement of purpose
• Letters of recommendation
• English-language proficiency evidence, where required
• Research proposal or writing sample, where required by the program

This is a general preparation list, not an official OISE funding document checklist. Applicants must verify the exact requirements on the relevant program’s admissions page.

A strong application should clearly demonstrate academic preparation, suitability for the selected program, and alignment with the applicant’s educational or research goals.

JOIN OUR WHATSAPP GROUP

9. Funding Duration: How Many Years Can Students Receive Support?

The funding duration depends on the degree and program.

For many eligible MA programs listed on the OISE funding page, funding is available for Year 1. Some programs have specific arrangements for students who entered under earlier rules.

For eligible PhD programs, the listed funding period commonly covers Years 1–4.

The School and Clinical Child Psychology program has additional provisions based on previous MA funding and the student’s entry cohort.

Students should therefore avoid assuming that all OISE master’s and doctoral programs provide the same number of funded years.

Before accepting an offer, confirm the applicable duration and the conditions that must be met to maintain funding in each year.

10. Why Consider Studying at OISE, University of Toronto?

The Ontario Institute for Studies in Education is part of the University of Toronto and focuses on education, research, and related fields.

For students considering graduate study in Canada, OISE offers academic pathways in areas such as educational leadership, psychology and education, curriculum development, language and literacy, adult education, and social justice.

The graduate funding package may make eligible programs more financially accessible by helping students offset education costs.

Potential benefits include:

• Financial support through a personalized funding package
• A published CAD $40,000 base funding commitment for eligible PhD/SJD students
• A minimum package value of CAD $26,892.39 for eligible first-year MA students in 2026–2027
• Potential access to fellowships, grants, scholarships, and awards
• Potential graduate or teaching assistantship employment income
• UHIP-related funding provision for eligible international students
• Opportunities to pursue advanced academic and research training in Toronto

These benefits depend on eligibility and the individual package. Prospective students should not treat every listed funding component as guaranteed.

11. Is the OISE Graduate Funding Package Competitive?

The OISE funding arrangement has defined eligibility rules and applies only to students within the funded cohort.

Because the package does not have a separate formal application, applicants should focus first on meeting the admission requirements of their selected graduate program.

The official funding information does not provide a general acceptance rate or a single competition ratio for the funding package. It is therefore not possible to give a reliable numerical estimate of the likelihood of receiving funding based on the published information alone.

Applicants can improve their preparation by:

• Selecting a program that matches their academic background and goals
• Following all admission instructions carefully
• Submitting complete and accurate application materials
• Meeting the program’s deadlines
• Confirming whether their intended degree is included in the funded cohort
• Reading all funding conditions and assistantship requirements

Admission eligibility, program selection, and funding eligibility should be considered together when planning graduate study at OISE.

12. Important Terms and Conditions

Students receiving the OISE Graduate Funding Package must comply with the terms and conditions applicable to their funding.

Important considerations include:

• Funding is restricted to eligible students in the funded cohort.
• The package is personalized and may change from year to year.
• Students must satisfy the relevant annual funding conditions.
• Students eligible for required GA or TA positions must follow the application and employment rules.
• Declining an applicable employment offer or failing to apply by the deadline can result in forfeiture of the corresponding funding component.
• Funding values should be interpreted according to the package’s actual composition rather than assumed to be unrestricted cash.

The supplied official page refers students to the terms and conditions but does not reproduce all of those conditions in the information provided here. Applicants should read the full official page and their individual funding letters before accepting an offer.

14. Final Thoughts: University of Toronto OISE Graduate Funding Package 2026–2027

The University of Toronto OISE Graduate Funding Package 2026–2027 is an important funding opportunity for eligible students planning to pursue selected master’s and doctoral programs in education and related fields in Canada.

With a minimum package value of CAD $26,892.39 for eligible first-year MA students and a CAD $40,000 base funding commitment for eligible PhD/SJD students, the program can help reduce the financial burden of graduate education.

Its combination of potential scholarships, fellowships, grants, awards, and employment income makes it particularly important for prospective graduate students to understand the exact composition of their individual packages.

Students interested in counselling and clinical psychology, curriculum and pedagogy, language and literacy education, educational leadership, higher education, adult education, and social justice education should review the funded cohort eligibility information before applying.

Since there is no separate formal application for the funding package, the most important next step is to identify an eligible OISE program, review its admission requirements, and submit a complete application by the relevant deadline.