2026-27 Temerty Faculty of Medicine Harmonized Base Funding Agreement
This agreement excludes graduate students who receive funding over and above the base funding when registered in the Physician Scientist Training Programs (i.e. MD/PhD, Residents and CIP) and MD Research Fellowship Training Program (e.g. clinical fellows).
1. Total Base Funding, 2026-27
2026-27 Student Base Funding for Doctoral-stream MSc and PhD studentsa
| Domestic | Domestic | International | International | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSc (2026-27 Fall & Winter Session or earlier) |
PhD | MSc | PhD | |
| 30,416.28 | 33,568.69 | Living Allowance | 30,416.28 | 33,568.69 |
| 9,982.39 | 8622.39 | Tuition and Feesb | 35,752.39 | 8622.39 |
| NA | NA | UHIP | 948.00 | 948.00 |
| 40,308.67 | 42,191.08 | Total | 67,116.67 | 43,139.08 |
a) Graduate stipends for eligible students will be partially offset by funding through Graduate Student Supplement (GSS).
b) Tuition & Fees include program fees, mandatory incidental, system access & ancillary fees.
2. Merit-based Entrance Scholarships (MES)
One year Merit-based Entrance Scholarships, valued at no more than $5,000 each, can be offered to up to 20% of the most highly rated applicants (based on previous year’s enrollment) as determined by the participating graduate units. A student who receives such an Entrance Scholarship, approved by the Graduate Unit offering admissions, will be eligible to retain the full amount over and above their base funding. No other “admissions” or “recruitment” incentive scholarships may be offered by individual graduate units. Doing so would be considered a violation of the Harmonized Base Funding Agreement. Graduate Units will continue to determine and enforce the eligibility of their MES.
3. Top-Up Practices
All awards that require student applications are eligible for a top-up from their supervisor. The top-up amounts are as follows:
| Award amount | Top-up* |
|---|---|
| $0.00 to $2,000 | There will be no top-up but the student gets to keep the award(s), up to a combined maximum of $2,000. The amount of the award will not be deducted from the base funding. |
| Between $2,001 to $9,999 (cumulative awards) |
Award goes towards the base funding and the student receives a $2,000 top-up over their base funding. |
| Between $10,000 to $15,000 (cumulative awards) | Award goes towards the base funding and the student receives a $3,000 top-up over their base funding. |
| Between $15,001 to $39,999 (cumulative awards) | Award goes towards the base funding and the student receives a $4,000 top-up over their base funding |
| Between $40,000 and $45,000 (cumulative awards) | Award goes towards the base funding and the student receives a $5,000 top-up over their base funding. The maximum total a student can receive from all sources (cumulative awards and top-up) can be no more than $50,000. |
| $45,001 and $50,000 (cumulative awards) | No top up, but students can hold the award(s) up to $50,000 |
*Note:
- Within an academic year (or 12 months period), the total cumulative top-up maximum is $5,000. That is, if a student holds an award of $25,000 and another award of $17,500, their total top-up is $5,000.
- The top-up is only provided in amounts of $2,000, $3,000, $4,000, or $5,000 per year (does not exceed 12 months) and is added above the base funding amount.
- A student who receives award(s) higher than $50,000 is not eligible for any top-up and can only retain the award(s) up to a maximum total of $50,000.
- Payment of top-ups will occur annually for the duration of the award and the student will revert back to the appropriate base graduate student funding package amount thereafter.
- Top-up eligibility excludes University of Toronto Fellowship (e.g., UTF Open), Doctoral Completion Awards, Temerty Faculty of Medicine Entrance Scholarship, GSS funds, travel awards, and bursaries.
- Only a single top-up can be administered for awards that span over two academic years. For example, CIHR, QEII, and OGS that commence in May – April annually. We highly recommend commencing such awards in September where possible. Administering top-ups for such awards with a May start should commence as of September in the new academic year.
4. Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Funds (OSOTF) Awards
Students who receive funding from needs-based and merit awards, such as OSOTFs, are required to consider such funds as part of their base funding. See above for top up policy for such awards.
5. Bursaries
Non-repayable grants, such as the UTAPS and SGS Emergency Grant, which assists students with sudden and/or unexpected financial need, are not part of the base funding outlined above. A student under these circumstances is therefore eligible to retain the entire amount of such an award.
6. Funding Terms
In general, provided that the student remains “in good standing”, a doctoral stream student will be funded for their thesis-based program, as per the approved graduate unit funded years. There are four basic principles that guide these funding terms, as follows:
- Full-time MSc students are guaranteed base funding for their first 2 years.
- PhD students admitted with completed master's degree are guaranteed base funding for a minimum of 4 years.
- Transfer students (i.e., transfer from MSc to PhD students), are guaranteed minimum base funding for their first 5 years, which includes 1 year as an MSc student.
- Direct-entry PhD students admitted with a bachelor's degree are guaranteed base funding for a minimum of 5 years.
Updated: 24-June-2026