University of Toronto Debuts $100 Million PhD Scholarship Initiative
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The new Presidents' Impact Scholarship Program aims to attract global research talent to Canada through significant annual funding.
The University of Toronto is launching the Presidents' Impact Scholarship Program, a $100 million initiative intended to draw PhD talent to Canada, according to reporting from CityNews Toronto and CBC Toronto.
As detailed by both outlets, the program will provide 50 scholars with $80,000 in annual funding, totaling $320,000 over a four-year period. The university describes the initiative as the largest of its kind in Canada, noting that it is comparable to scholarship funds found at leading research universities in the United Kingdom and the United States.
Funding for the program was established via a $50 million endowed gift from a Canadian family foundation known for its history of supporting higher education and the university. The University of Toronto matched the annual payout of that gift to reach the $100 million total.
Starting in September 2027, the university will award four years of funding to 12 or 13 new scholarship recipients annually. CityNews Toronto and CBC Toronto report that the program will reach a total of 50 scholars by the start of its fourth year, a number the university intends to maintain in perpetuity.