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Contents of this page: Financial Assistance for Graduate Students

Financial Assistance

Traditionally, the Department of Computer Science has ensured that all full-time degree graduate students receive financial support equivalent to at least the basic departmental level. (See section on Department Research Funds.) Support may come from various sources.

Students and prospective students wishing to obtain financial assistance are expected to apply for all scholarships, fellowships, and bursaries for which they are eligible. Canadian and permanent resident students are expected to apply to the Canadian and Ontario Governments (NSERC and OGS, see below). Foreign students are expected to apply to their own government and national agencies, and for Government of Canada Scholarships available through the Canadian Embassy in their country. The Ontario Student Aid Program provides interest-free loans. In addition to these sources, there are other sources of financial assistance, for which no application is necessary. These include the University of Toronto Fellowships, and Department of Computer Science Research Funds.

By September 30, each student registered in the graduate program should complete a financial assistance form indicating what support they are presently receiving and, if they intend to continue for the next academic year, what external assistance they will apply for.

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Scholarships

Canadian citizens and permanent residents are eligible. Permanent residents must have completed one full academic year of studies at a Canadian university at the time of application. Scholarships are awarded only to first rate students. NSERC fellowships are tenable at any Canadian university. NSERC fellowship holders may start their fellowship on May 1, provided they are able to find a supervisor for the summer period preceding their registration.

Application may be made through the Graduate Office in which the student plans to study or to NSERC in Ottawa. The application must reach NSERC by December 1. At the University of Toronto, NSERC forms must be submitted to the Graduate Office of the Department of Computer Science by October 28. Enquiries should be made to the Graduate Office at the end of September. The annual rate for 1999-00 is $17,300 for M.Sc. and $19,100 for Ph.D. students.

Ontario Graduate Scholarships (OGS)

Canadian citizens and permanent residents are eligible. Preference is given to Ontario residents. OGS is tenable at any Ontario university.

Application may be made through the Graduate Office in which the student plans to study or to the Ontario Ministry of Education and Training. The application must reach the Ministry by December 1. At the University of Toronto, OGS forms must be submitted to the Graduate Office of the Department of Computer Science by October 28. Enquiries should be made to the Graduate Office at the end of September. The annual rate for 1999-00 is $11,859. This amount is topped up by the department or the university to bring it to at least the basic departmental level of support. (See section on Department Research Funds.)

Fellowships from Other Agencies

Further details on awards from outside agencies are given in the calendar of the School of Graduate Studies.

University of Toronto Fellowships (UTF)

A number of University of Toronto Fellowships are awarded by the University through the department. Details are given in the calendar of the School of Graduate Studies. To be eligible, students must have applied for all scholarships, fellowships, bursaries, and other external funding for which they are eligible, and must accept all such funding awarded to them. University of Toronto Fellowships are available only to full-time, resident, degree students who are making satisfactory progress.

All students accepted for admission and all continuing students will be automatically considered for support. No application is necessary.

Department Research Funds

To be eligible, students must have applied for all scholarships, fellowships, bursaries, and other external funding for which they are eligible, and must accept all such funding awarded to them. Department Research Funds are available only to full-time, resident, degree students who are making satisfactory progress.

All students accepted for admission and all continuing students will be automatically considered for support. No application is necessary.

Departmental funding is limited to five years from first registration. Reduction of degree requirements granted for previous graduate work reduces the maximum period of funding, as follows: the first course waived causes no reduction of the funding period; after the first course, the reduction is 2 months per course waived; the research paper or the master's thesis requirement waived reduce the funding period by 8 months. Two weeks summer vacation may be taken.

Effective September 1, 1999, the basic departmental level of support is $15,000 per year ($1,250 per month) before admission to candidacy, and $16,500 per year ($1,375 per month) thereafter, minus any amounts received from other scholarships, fellowships or research assistantships.

Teaching Assistantships/ Part-time Employment

In addition to other financial aid, graduate students are eligible for teaching assistantships, tutoring or marking undergraduate computer science courses. The department encourages all graduate students to serve as teaching assistants (TAs), as this constitutes a useful experience and can be viewed as an integral part of their studies. Our current needs for TAs are such that all DCS graduate students who are competent TAs are hired.

Each student is limited to one teaching assistantship per term, three terms per year. Each teaching assistantship carries a stipend of approximately $1,500 (the exact amount is governed by union agreement) for 4 hours of work per week during the 13-week term. In this way students may supplement their income by up to $4,500 per year. Students holding scholarships or fellowships must observe any income limits or part-time work limits that may be imposed on them by the conditions of their awards. The maximum of part-time work permitted by the department for a full-time student is limited to 200 hours per year.

Tuition Fee Aid

Foreign students, who are normally required to pay a higher tuition fee than Canadian students, will be given funds to reduce their tuition fee to the Canadian student level, as long as the departmental budget permits.

For the 1999-00 academic year, the fees as set out by the School of Graduate Studies are:
Domestic Student Fee $5,120.57
International Student Fee $8,920.57

Ontario Government Loans

The Ontario Student Aid Program (OSAP) provides interest free loans to needy full-time students who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents. For more information, phone 1-416-978-2190x6285 or email osap.staff@utoronto.ca.

If you have any thoughts, suggestions or queries, please feel free to contact us at www@cs.toronto.edu

Last updated July 18, 1999