Osgoode Hall Law School — Graduate Funding (PhD)

What you will need

• ✓ Admission to a Research LLM or PhD program at York University
• ✓ Full-time registration status
• ✓ For PhD students: agreement to fulfill teaching or research assistantship obligations

About this award

The amount of money you receive depends on your program and residency. Domestic Research LLM students receive approximately $10,000 (minimum) for the year of the degree, while international Research LLM students receive approximately $19,256 (minimum). For PhD students, domestic applicants receive approximately $24,455/year (minimum) in the first year, and international applicants receive approximately $36,421/year (minimum). A similar level of funding is available in subsequent years of the PhD program. The package combines York Graduate Fellowships with paid work such as teaching or research assistantships, so part of it is earned through a job; PhD students are normally expected to hold a Teaching Assistant position as a condition of their funding. This funding is for you if you are a high-achieving student pursuing a research-focused law degree, whether you are starting your program or continuing your studies. There is no separate application for the core funding: all domestic applicants admitted to the Research LLM and PhD programs receive it. International students also receive a minimum package, but Osgoode accepts only a limited number each year. Funding is generally tied to your admission package. For PhD students, your package is composed of York Graduate Fellowships and a mix of teaching assistantships, graduate assistantships, research assistantships, and other awards. Donor-funded scholarships go to some students based on merit and financial need, and most are offered from your admission application with no separate form. Ask York 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. To keep your funding, you must maintain continuous registration as a full-time student and show satisfactory academic performance. Doctoral students must also fulfill any funding-related employment obligations, such as holding a Teaching Assistant (TA) position. Renewal conditions for specific donor awards aren't listed — if you're counting on those for multiple years, confirm with York University whether they are one-time or renewable.

Who qualifies

You must be admitted to a Research LLM or PhD program at York University. To qualify for the funding packages, you must maintain continuous registration in three terms (fall, winter, and summer) throughout your program. Domestic full-time PhD and LLM tuition is $1,735.74 per term; international full-time LLM tuition is $6,574.63 per term, and international full-time PhD tuition is $6,299.63 per term. Note that York University accepts only a limited number of international students each year, making that funding highly competitive.

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, permanent resident or international student
• ✓ Open to graduate students
• ✓ Studying Law

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

   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

• SupportAvoid applying for external awards in isolation. Instead, use the drafting and revision support provided by the Graduate Program Office and York's Faculty of Graduate Studies. Schedule a meeting with them to refine your proposal for major agencies.
• StrategyAvoid overlooking external funding sources. Instead, look into the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC — the federal agency that funds humanities and social science research) and the Province of Ontario Graduate Scholarships (OGS — a provincial award for academic excellence).
• RealismAvoid assuming your funding package covers all costs without checking the fine print. Instead, compare your total expenses with the minimum funding amounts and the per-term tuition fees. Contact the Research Graduate Program office to clarify the exact balance of fellowships versus employment-based pay.

Questions students ask

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