University of Toronto SGS Research Travel Grant for PhD Students 2026

The School of Graduate Studies at the University of Toronto offers the SGS Research Travel Grant to full-time PhD and SJD students in the Humanities and Social Sciences whose thesis research requires travel. Grant amounts vary according to destination, travel duration and available funding. The Fall 2026 application deadline is November 30, 2026, at 4:30 p.m.

About the SGS Research Travel Grant

The grant provides supplemental financial support for research travel that is necessary to complete a doctoral thesis. Research can take place in or outside Canada, but the destination must be beyond commuting distance from the Greater Toronto Area and require separate accommodation. Students may apply to fund one return trip per cycle. A single trip with multiple stops may be eligible, but multiple trips are not covered. Research travel may last up to 12 months.

The award does not fund travel for conferences, exchange programs, courses, seminars, symposia, summer schools or annual meetings. Applicants seeking support for conference-related travel are directed to the SGS Conference Grant. The amount offered is calculated with regard to the travel destination, trip duration, previous SGS Research Travel Grants received and the number of eligible applicants. This is supplemental funding, and applicants are expected to seek support from other sources. Meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee an award.

Applications are organized into Fall, Winter and Summer cycles. The Fall 2026 deadline is November 30, 2026, and eligible departures fall between August 1, 2026, and April 30, 2027; results are sent in January. The Winter 2027 deadline is March 31, 2027, for departures from December 1, 2026, through August 31, 2027, with results in May. The Summer 2027 deadline is July 30, 2027, for departures from April 1 through December 30, 2027; results are sent in September.

Students traveling outside Canada, including to the United States, must register their travel with Safety Abroad before applying and before departure. They must also complete the online pre-departure workshop and upload proof of registration with their application. Students traveling within Canada are exempt from the Safety Abroad registration requirement for this grant.

Who Should Apply

This research travel grant is intended for full-time University of Toronto students enrolled in a PhD or SJD program in Humanities (Division 1) or Social Sciences (Division 2). Their proposed travel must be necessary for thesis research. Priority is given to first-time applicants who have achieved candidacy and are within the program length required for their degree. First-year PhD and SJD students and Flexible-time PhD students are ineligible.

Key Highlights

• Funding supports thesis-related research travel, not conference attendance or academic exchange activities.
• The grant value varies by destination, duration, prior awards and available funding.
• One return trip may be funded per application cycle; research can last up to 12 months.
• Fall 2026 applications close November 30, 2026, at 4:30 p.m.
• International travel requires prior Safety Abroad registration and completion of the pre-departure workshop.

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