Want to do a funded master’s or PhD in Canada on one of today’s most important global issues? The Global Migration Institute at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) is offering Bridging Divides Graduate Student Stipends for 2027–2028. They are worth up to $35,000 a year for master’s students and up to $45,000 a year for PhD students. Both domestic and international students can apply.
Key Facts
- Host: Global Migration Institute, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, Canada
- Programme: Bridging Divides, a research programme on migration and immigrant inclusion
- Master’s stipend: Up to $35,000 per year for up to 2 years
- PhD stipend: Up to $45,000 per year for up to 3 years (existing TMU PhD students only)
- Open to: Domestic and international students
- Deadline: 1 April 2027 for master’s applicants. PhD applicants should check the date (see below).
Research Themes
Your graduate research must connect to one of the four Bridging Divides themes:
- Immigrant Health and Well-Being
- Employment and Lifelong Learning
- Place and Infrastructure
- Citizenship and Participation
These themes are broad. Projects can come from fields such as public health, urban planning, sociology, economics, engineering, education or political science, as long as the research addresses migration and inclusion.
Benefits
- Annual stipend: Up to $35,000 (master’s) or $45,000 (PhD) per year
- Multi-year funding: Up to two years for incoming master’s students and up to three years for existing PhD students, renewed each year subject to progress and available funds
- Research community: Join the Global Migration Institute’s team as a graduate researcher
- Training: Access to research training, workshops and professional development
- Top-ups: Students who already hold external awards (such as SSHRC, CIHR or NSERC) can ask for a top-up, decided case by case
Eligibility
To qualify, you must:
- Be a full-time master’s or PhD student at TMU, or be applying to start a master’s at TMU
- Be in a research-based programme. Course-based graduate programmes are not eligible.
- Have research that fits one of the four Bridging Divides themes
- Have a supervisor (or co-supervisor) who is a TMU faculty member directly involved in Bridging Divides
Which stipend fits you:
- New master’s students: starting their first year in Fall 2027
- Current master’s students: entering their second year in Fall 2027
- PhD: only for students already enrolled in a TMU PhD in Fall 2027. New PhD applicants are not eligible this round.
Engineering and architecture applicants (FEAS): Your proposed supervisor must be a Bridging Divides researcher. New students also need a written statement from the FEAS Associate Dean of Graduate Studies confirming they meet admission requirements.
Required Documents
- The Bridging Divides online application form
- Your CV
- Your transcript
- The statement of interest or letter of intent from your graduate programme application
- A motivation letter of up to 2 pages explaining how your research connects to Bridging Divides
- Current students: your TMU student ID number and programme details
- PhD students: a writing sample of up to 10 pages
Tips for a Strong Application
- Pick one theme and commit to it. Your motivation letter should clearly link your research question to a single Bridging Divides theme.
- Contact potential supervisors early. Your supervisor must be involved in Bridging Divides, so look at the programme’s researchers and email the ones whose work matches yours.
- Show real-world relevance. Explain how your research could improve life for immigrants or the communities they join.
- International students: Apply for TMU admission early, because you need to be admitted to the master’s programme as well as win the stipend.
How to Apply
- New master’s students: First apply to your chosen TMU master’s programme, then complete the Bridging Divides online application form.
- Current TMU students: Complete the online application form for your level (master’s or PhD).
- Upload your CV, transcript, statement of interest and motivation letter, plus a writing sample if you are a PhD applicant.
- Submit by 1 April 2027.
Check the PhD deadline: TMU’s page lists both 1 February 2027 and 1 April 2027 for PhD stipend applications. To be safe, PhD applicants should aim for 1 February 2027 or confirm with the institute at [email protected].
Apply for the TMU Global Migration Institute Scholarships
