Blog

The University of Toronto (U of T) has announced a major new doctoral scholarship initiative worth C$100 million, aimed at attracting exceptional PhD talent from Canada and around the world.

Called the Presidents’ Impact Scholarship Program, the initiative is designed to do more than simply provide financial assistance. Selected doctoral researchers will become part of an interdisciplinary cohort focused on major societal challenges, receive professional development and networking opportunities, and gain practical experience through government, industry or international placements.

The first group of scholars is expected to begin studying at the University of Toronto in September 2027, while applications are expected to open in late fall 2026. At the time of writing, U of T has not yet published the final eligibility requirements, application procedure or application deadline.

For international students considering a PhD in Canada, this announcement is particularly significant because U of T explicitly says the program is intended to attract top doctoral applicants from around the world.

What Is the Presidents’ Impact Scholarship Program?

The Presidents’ Impact Scholarship Program is a new cohort-based doctoral education initiative at the University of Toronto.

Rather than treating a PhD purely as an individual research degree, U of T plans to bring scholars from different academic disciplines together around a major societal challenge. Students will receive substantial financial support while working collaboratively and developing connections beyond academia.

According to U of T’s School of Graduate Studies, the program is designed for PhD and SJD students and emphasizes:

• Interdisciplinary research
• Co-supervision by faculty from different disciplines
• Innovation and entrepreneurship
• Real-world problem-solving
• Experiential learning
• Professional development
• Networking
• Engagement with government and industry

This makes the program considerably different from a conventional scholarship where the main benefit is simply tuition or a living stipend.

How Much Funding Will Students Receive?

The headline figure is C$100 million, but this does not mean that each student receives C$100 million.

Under the program, each selected scholar will receive:

U of T’s official graduate studies page confirms the C$80,000 annual award for four years. The Canadian Press, reporting on the university’s announcement, says the program will eventually maintain approximately 50 scholars at a time, with 12 or 13 new recipients entering each year.

Therefore, an individual recipient could receive as much as:

C$80,000 × 4 years = C$320,000

That is one of the most important numbers for prospective applicants to understand.

What Makes This Scholarship Different?

The Presidents’ Impact Scholarship is designed to be more than a traditional financial award.

Scholars will be brought together to work on major challenges facing society. The program emphasizes interdisciplinary research, innovation, entrepreneurship, professional development and real-world problem-solving.

Students will also have opportunities to connect with government and industry and take part in practical or international placements. Pasted markdown

Another distinctive feature is that scholars are expected to have two faculty supervisors from different disciplines. This approach is intended to help students combine knowledge from different fields when working on complex research problems.

What Areas Could Students Research?

Each year, the university plans to focus on a major societal challenge and build a research cohort around it.

U of T has mentioned areas such as AI and Health and Sovereignty and the Arctic as examples of possible themes. These are not necessarily the confirmed themes for the first cohort.

The idea is to bring researchers from different backgrounds together rather than keeping research limited to a single academic discipline.

Who Can Apply for the Scholarship?

This is not a general scholarship for every PhD applicant.

The university is looking for exceptional candidates in areas including:

• Academic trailblazers with the potential to make important research breakthroughs
• Innovation leaders who can turn ideas or research into real-world solutions
• Candidates who can contribute to strategic priorities of the university

Therefore, having good grades alone may not be enough. Research experience, publications, innovative projects, entrepreneurship and evidence of practical impact could all strengthen an application.

Can International Students Apply?

The program is particularly relevant to international students because the University of Toronto says it wants to attract top doctoral applicants from Canada and around the world.

However, students should be careful about one important point: the final scholarship eligibility requirements have not yet been published.

This means prospective applicants should not assume that a particular GPA, IELTS score, nationality or academic background automatically qualifies them for the scholarship. The final requirements will be announced when the application process is launched.

English Language Requirements

International applicants generally need to demonstrate English-language proficiency because English is the primary language of instruction and communication at the university.

However, exact test and score requirements can vary according to the graduate program.

U of T therefore advises international applicants to check both the School of Graduate Studies requirements and the requirements of their specific program.

This means prospective applicants should not assume that one universal IELTS or TOEFL score applies to every U of T PhD.

What Should International Students Prepare?

Students interested in the 2027 intake should start preparing before applications open.

A strong candidate should ideally have:

• A strong academic record
• Relevant research experience
• A good master’s thesis or substantial research project
• Publications or conference experience, where available
• A clear research interest
• Evidence of innovation or real-world impact
• A strong statement explaining why their research matters
• Potential supervisors whose research aligns with their interests

Applicants should also research individual U of T PhD programs because admission requirements can vary between departments.

What About the Canadian Study Permit?

Winning the scholarship would not automatically guarantee a Canadian study permit.

An international student would still need admission to the university and must satisfy Canada’s immigration requirements.

There is, however, an important advantage for prospective doctoral students. Since January 1, 2026, eligible students entering degree-granting master’s or doctoral programs at Canadian public institutions do not need a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) or Territorial Attestation Letter (TAL) for their study permit application. Pasted markdown

The University of Toronto is a public Canadian university, making this particularly relevant to students considering its PhD programs.

What About Financial Proof?

Students should not assume that receiving the scholarship automatically removes every financial requirement for a study permit.

Canada still requires applicants to demonstrate that they have sufficient funds for their studies and living expenses.

For study permit applications submitted from September 1, 2026, the minimum living-expense amount for a single applicant is listed as C$23,448 per year, in addition to applicable tuition and other expenses. Scholarship or university funding documentation can be important evidence of financial support.

Can the Spouse of a PhD Student Work in Canada?

This can be another advantage for international families.

Under current Canadian immigration rules, the spouse or common-law partner of an eligible international student enrolled in a doctoral program may qualify for an open work permit.

This can make a funded PhD program more attractive for married students who plan to move to Canada with their spouse. Eligibility requirements still apply and should be checked before applying.

What Happens After Graduation?

Eligible international graduates may also have options to work in Canada after completing their studies through the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), subject to the rules in effect when they apply.

Current rules provide specific treatment for doctoral graduates, including no field-of-study requirement for PGWP eligibility. However, students should remember that immigration policies can change over time.

Is This a Fully Funded PhD?

It is better to describe the scholarship as very substantial doctoral funding rather than automatically calling it a fully funded PhD.

U of T has confirmed the C$80,000 annual award for four years, but the complete details about how the funding will interact with tuition, fees, living costs, health insurance and other expenses have not yet been published.

Therefore, students should wait for the final scholarship terms before assuming that every study-related expense will be covered.

Important Dates and Numbers