Tomlinson Doctoral Fellowship

What you will need

• ✓ The Tomlinson application form
• ✓ Two letters of reference from external referees on your academic and research accomplishments and potential, sent by the referees directly to your department
• ✓ A statement from your proposed supervisor on how your project fits their research program, the funding available for it, and the resources you will have
• ✓ All official transcripts or certified copies from your university studies (undergraduate and graduate)
• ✓ Your admission letter and funding letter
• ✓ Submit the package to your McGill department, not to Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies — the department nominates you

About this award

You get $35,000 per year for up to 3 years. This is a fellowship, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you have been accepted into a doctoral program at McGill in any discipline, you have a first-class academic record, and you are coming to McGill from another university. You apply through the McGill department where you will study, and each department sets its own internal deadline, so ask yours early. For the 2026 round, departments had to send their nominations to Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies by May 21, 2026, and results were announced in July 2026. Applications are scored on academic excellence (20%), research ability or potential based on your personal statement (20%), your research project (20%), reference letters (20%), your department's nomination letter (10%) and the quality of your research environment, from your supervisor's statement (10%). Ask McGill 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. The fellowship is available for 3 years. International students also receive a Differential Fee Waiver. If you also accept a federal or provincial fellowship, you keep half of the Tomlinson value, up to a maximum of $50,000 a year in total.

Who qualifies

You must be an incoming student accepted into a doctoral program at McGill University, in any discipline. You are not eligible if your latest degree was completed (or is in progress) at McGill, but former McGill students who later finished a graduate degree elsewhere can apply. You need a first-class academic record: McGill counts this as a GPA of 3.7 (3.5 in Law) in each of your last two years of full-time study. You must already have an admission letter and a funding letter.

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

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

• Research StatementAvoid writing a generic summary of your interests. Instead, define a specific problem you want to solve and why it matters. Draft a clear objective for your doctoral project.
• SupportAvoid submitting references who only know you casually. Instead, choose two external referees who can speak to your academic and research accomplishments and potential. Contact your prospective supervisor early to discuss your alignment.
• StrategyAvoid ignoring the multidisciplinary nature of the fellowship. Instead, show how your work connects to broader academic conversations. Highlight the impact your research will have on your field.
• RealismAvoid counting on this as your only funding. Instead, treat it as one part of a larger financial plan. Apply for other grants simultaneously to ensure your studies are covered.

Questions students ask

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