Bridging Divides Scholarship

What you will need

• ✓ Application to a Toronto Metropolitan University Master's or PhD program
• ✓ Online application form
• ✓ CV
• ✓ Transcript
• ✓ Statement of Interest or Letter of Intent from your program application
• ✓ Bridging Divides motivation letter (maximum 2 pages) justifying the stipend and explaining the link to the four research themes

About this award

You can receive up to $35,000 per year if you are in a Master's program, for a maximum of two years for incoming students. If you are in a PhD program, you can receive up to $45,000 per year for a maximum of four years for incoming students. This is a stipend, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. If you already hold an external grant from sources like SSHRC (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council), CIHR (Canadian Institutes of Health Research), or NSERC (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council), you may apply for a top-up based on a case-by-case review. This is for you if you are a full-time researcher—either domestic or international—whose academic work aligns with one of the four research themes defined by the Bridging Divides program. No deadline is posted publicly for the upcoming cycle — before you start the application, check Toronto Metropolitan University's program page or call their office to confirm when applications open and close this year. Selection criteria aren't published — ask Toronto Metropolitan University how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds, especially since they only offer a limited number of stipends. Ask Toronto Metropolitan University during your application how the money will reach you — some awards pay students directly, others apply funds to tuition. Confirm this so you can plan your cash flow. Renewals depend on an annual review of your progress and the availability of funds. If you're counting on this for multiple years, confirm with Toronto Metropolitan University what specific milestones you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

You must be a full-time Master's or PhD student, either domestic or international, studying or applying to study at Toronto Metropolitan University. Your research topic must relate to one of the four Bridging Divides research themes. For Master's students, this is open to prospective first-year students and existing students entering their second year in Fall 2026. For PhD students, it is open to prospective first-year students and existing students enrolled in Fall 2026. You must be in a research-based program; students in course-based graduate programs are not eligible. Your supervisor or co-supervisor must be a Toronto Metropolitan University faculty member directly involved in the program.

This is what the award's official page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm on the award's official page before you apply.

• ✓ Canadian citizen or international student
• ✓ Open to graduate students
• ✓ Studying Criminology, Economics, Politics and Public Administration, Psychology, Spatial Analysis, Urban Development, Child and Youth Care, Early Childhood Studies, Nursing, Urban Health, Social Work, Civil engineering, Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering, Environmental Applied Science and Management, Communications and Culture, Immigration and Settlement Studies or Data Science and Analytics

How to apply

1. 1

   Read the award's official page

   Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.

2. 2

   Order your transcript1–2 weeks

   Your school's registrar can take a week or two.

3. 3

   Ask for reference letters2 weeks

   Give your referees at least two weeks' notice, and send them your résumé.

4. 4

   Write your essay

   Be specific about what you did and what changed because of it. Proofread it twice.

5. 5

   Check this year's deadline

   We don't have a confirmed date for this round. The award's official page will have it.

Tips for applying

• Motivation LetterAvoid writing a generic statement of interest. Instead, explicitly explain how your specific research project connects to at least one of the four Bridging Divides research themes. Mention the theme by name in your first paragraph.
• SupervisorAvoid choosing a supervisor who is not part of the program. Instead, ensure at least one of your proposed or current supervisors is a recognized Bridging Divides researcher. Email potential supervisors early to confirm their involvement.
• StrategyAvoid submitting your stipend application before your program application. Instead, apply to your chosen Toronto Metropolitan University graduate program first, as your stipend consideration depends on your acceptance into the degree program.
• RealismAvoid counting on the full multi-year amount. Instead, remember that these are a limited number of stipends and renewals depend on your annual progress and the school's budget. Have a backup financial plan for your second or third year.

Questions students ask

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