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Awards and Other Support Funds

Many graduate students at York are successful in winning prestigious external or internal scholarships and you are encouraged to seek eligible opportunities. The university also offers bursaries and other support funds to assist with your scholarly and research activities. Common types of funds include the following: 

Bursaries that are allocated based on demonstrated financial need;

Research support funds to cover expenses related to scholarly and research activities;  

Donor-supported internal awards: To find internal award opportunities, please use the award search.

Information about graduate funding as well as tuition fees are available here.  Visit also this page to learn about graduate student employment types, including the Teaching Assistantship (TA), Graduate Assistantship (GA) and Research Assistantship (RA).  

For further information, please visit the Faculty of Graduate Studies scholarships and awards page or please contact the Graduate Program Assistant.

Graduate Program or Faculty Specific Awards

Overview

The Elia Scholars Program is York University’s most prestigious graduate award for incoming domestic or international doctoral students. The Elia Scholars Program enables York University to attract doctoral students of the highest possible caliber, and ensures that those students have the opportunity to participate in York’s distinguished graduate programs. This commitment to excellence at the highest level of academic study both commemorates a distinguished benefactor of the university and his family, and reinforces York’s reputation for and commitment to excellence.

Value and Duration

  • Up to 3 awards of $35,000 per year, up to 4 years
    • Students may hold additional scholarships provided by York or received from other sources, so long as their total financial support, including support from the Elia Scholars Program, does not exceed $50,000
    • Students may also hold up to 0.5 teaching assistantship per academic year
    • In addition, the York Graduate Fellowship will be offered in the first two years of the degree program

Eligibility

  • Full-time incoming York doctoral graduate student;
  • Domestic and international students are both eligible;
  • Selection criteria includes:
    • Academic accomplishments;
    • Research and leadership potential
  • Normally, one Scholar will be selected in each of three fields: (1) Sciences, Engineering and Health Studies, (2) Social Sciences, Education, Law, Business and Environmental Studies, (3) Humanities and Fine Arts.

Deadline

  • Graduate program deadline: Program nomination is due to FGS by January 31.

Award Period (when the award will be paid)

  • Upcoming academic year

How to Apply

  • Applicants for admission must be nominated by the graduate program

Graduate Program Responsibility

  • Graduate programs are encouraged to nominate outstanding candidates for this program.

Documentation (supplied from the admissions file where possible)

  • Research statement
  • Transcripts
  • Two academic letters of recommendation

Support

  • If you require further assistance, please contact our Scholarship & Awards Coordinator by visiting our FGS Staff Directory.

Overview

Graduate Fellowships for Academic Distinction are scholarships awarded to incoming doctoral or master’s students with high potential for future leadership in international affairs; environmental protection; fine arts; and/or, political economy.

The fellowships have been supported by a generous endowment from the Sylff program, established by the Nippon Foundation and administered through the Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research. The goal of the Sylff Program is to nurture future leaders who will transcend geopolitical, religious, ethnic, and cultural boundaries in the world community for the peace and the well-being of humankind.

This scholarship is renewable for up to two years for Master’s students and for 3 years for doctoral students. This is the most prestigious York internal award at the Master’s level and one of the highest valued at the doctoral level.

Value and Duration

Master’s Level Scholarship

  • Scholarship: up to $16,000

Doctoral Level Scholarship

  • Scholarship: up to $26,000

Duration

  • Up to 2 years of funding is available for Master’s students. Up to 3 years of funding is available for doctoral students

Eligibility

  • Master’s and doctoral
  • both Domestic and international students are eligible for this award
  • Selection criteria includes:
    • Academic accomplishments
    • High potential for leadership in international matters, in public life, and in private endeavors
    • Engaged in research related to environmental protection; fine arts; and/or, political economy

How to Apply

  • Applicants for admission must be nominated by the graduate program.

Graduate Program Responsibility

Documentation (supplied from the admissions file where possible)

  • Research statement
  • Two academic letters of recommendation
  • CV
  • Transcripts

Deadline

  • Program nomination is due to FGS by January 31.

Support

  • If you require further assistance, please contact our Scholarship & Awards Coordinator by visiting our FGS Staff Directory.

Overview

The Chancellor Bennett Master’s and Doctoral Scholarships for Liberal Arts is available to a student entering a full-time Master of Arts or PhD program who has achieved a minimum admission average of an A and is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person and is an Ontario resident* who demonstrates financial need. The scholarship is renewable for a maximum of four years provided the recipient has maintained satisfactory progress and demonstrate financial need.

Value and Duration

  • One award up to $20,000 (Subject to change)
  • Renewable for three additional years (doctoral) or one year (Master’s), provided that recipients remain eligible and in good standing

Eligibility

  • Student entering a full-time Master’s or Doctoral program in Liberal Arts programs;
  • Canadian citizen, permanent resident and/or protected person who is a resident of Ontario;
  • Minimum admission average of A;
  • Demonstrate financial need.

How to Apply

  • Applicants for admission must be nominated by the graduate program.

Graduate Program Responsibility

  • Graduate programs are encouraged to forward nominations.

Documentation (Supplied from the Admissions file where possible)

Deadlines

  • Program nomination is due to FGS by January 31.

Award Period (when the award will be paid)

  • Upcoming academic year

Support

  • If you require further assistance, please contact our Scholarship & Awards Coordinator by visiting our FGS Staff Directory.

Overview

The Paavo & Aino Lukkari Award and the Paavo & Aino Lukkari Fellowship will be awarded annually to graduate student(s) whose research focuses on human rights and social justice issues related to the situation of indigenous people or people of African descent in Latin America and the Caribbean. Recipients must have a minimum “A-“ average, and must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents or protected persons, Ontario residents*, with demonstrated financial need. These supplementary awards will be awarded to one or more graduate students, depending on the applicants’ need and may include support for fieldwork, language training, and other research requirements.

How to Apply

Applications are to be submitted to the Centre for Research on Latin America and the Caribbean (CERLAC). Please contact CERLAC for more information.

Contact

  • Centre or Research on Latin America and the Caribbean (CERLAC)
    8th Floor Kaneff Tower
    Phone: 416-736-5237
    Email: cerlac@yorku.ca

Overview

The Susan Crocker and John Hunkin Awards and Scholarships provide valuable support for graduate students pursuing studies in Fine Arts programs. Recipients must have a minimum “B” average, be Canadian citizens, permanent residents or protected persons, Ontario residents*, and must demonstrate financial need.

Value and Duration

  • The award is valued at $10,000 but the number of award(s) in any given year will depend on the rate of distribution from the endowment fund.
  • Non-renewable

Note: This award is comprised of matching funds. If you are expecting to receive the York Graduate Fellowship, this award will impact your Fellowship amount. Please visit Matching Funds to learn more.

Eligibility

  • Incoming full-time registered Master’s or doctoral York graduate student;
  • Canadian citizens, permanent residents and/or protected persons
  • Minimum “B” average
  • Resident of Ontario;
  • Demonstrate financial need
  • Selection criteria includes:
    • Research in the area of fine arts;
    • Academic accomplishments;

Note: The student must be registered full-time for the upcoming academic year (Fall/Winter).

Deadlines

  • This award is adjudicated by the School of Arts, Media, Performance & Design (AMPD). A call for nominations from AMPD Graduate Programs will be announced during the winter term. Nominations must be submitted by Graduate Programs to the AMPD Research Officer by the due date specified in the call for nominations. Students should let their Graduate Program Director know as soon as possible if they would like to be considered and confirm the nomination deadline. 
  • The Faculty of Graduate Studies Awards Committee will review eligibility before confirming recipients.

Award Period (when the award will be paid)

  • Upcoming academic year

How to Apply

  • Since this award is for Fine Arts related graduate students only, the School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design through the Associate Dean Research will provide additional information regarding the process for adjudication
  • Students cannot apply directly to FGS. They must be nominated by their Graduate Program.

Documentation

  • Statement of research
  • CV
  • Transcripts, unofficial or official, (supplied by graduate program from admissions file), or can be a student copy downloaded from the student account. Must include the last two years or all years of graduate studies
  • Completed online Student Financial Profile
  • Letter of nomination (supplied by Graduate Program Director)

Contact

Overview

The Enbridge Graduate Student Award is available to graduate students at York University to support their research related to sustainability and the study of the environment, with particular emphasis on current and emerging issues and programs within fields such as, but not limited to: air quality; conservation; renewable resources; environmental engineering; climate change; and, the design of infrastructure. Applicants must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents or protected persons, be Ontario residents*, and demonstrate financial need.

Value and Duration

  • Up to 6 awards of up to $12,500
    • The value and number of award(s) in any given year will depend on the rate of distribution from the endowment fund and the number of recipients selected
  • Non-renewable

Note: This award is comprised of matching funds. If you are expecting to receive the York Graduate Fellowship, this award will impact your Fellowship amount. Please visit Matching Funds to learn more.

Eligibility

  • Full-time registered current Master’s or doctoral York graduate student;
  • Canadian citizens, permanent residents and/or protected persons who are residents of Ontario*;
  • Selection criteria includes:
    • Research in sustainability and the environment; air quality; conservation; renewable resources; environmental engineering; climate change; and/or, design of safe infrastructure
    • Academic accomplishments (minimum “B” average), and,
    • Financial need

Note: The student must be registered full-time for the upcoming academic year (Fall/Winter).

Deadlines

  • Student deadline: February 10
  • Graduate program deadline (if applicable): Feb 28

Award Period (when the award will be paid)

  • Upcoming academic year

How to Apply

Students must complete the Award Submission Portal with the following information:

  • The applicant’s statement section should outline how the student’s experience and current research are aligned with the scope of the award; and
  • Upload required material(s), merged into one PDF file, 1) an up-to-date CV, and 2) a copy of transcript for the most two recent years of study (an unofficial transcript or records from student account are acceptable)

Also separately,

Support

  • If you require further assistance, please contact our Scholarship & Awards Coordinator by visiting our FGS Staff Directory.

Learn More

The Graduate Program in Theatre at York is an exciting environment to pursue innovative, socially engaging, career-ready education. Contact our Graduate Program Assistant to learn more.