EEB offers an extended stipend amount to graduate students of approximately $39,000 per year for MSc students and approximately $43,000 per year for PhD students. The stipend is intended to cover annual living expenses and the approximately $9,000 University tuition and other fees. Most of this income is non-taxable (only the 140 hours TA portion of the stipend package is taxable). Many of our students earn more than this base stipend amount through University, government, or international scholarships. For example, a recipient of an NSERC Doctoral award would receive approximately $50,000 per year with approximately $41,000 of disposable income after tuition.

A portion of your funding package is earned by working as a teaching assistant (TA). Most students are required to TA only 140 hours per year, which is a very low teaching load by North American standards. Students with major scholarships receive a 50% reduction in their minimum TA load, and may TA as few as 70 hours per year.

Teaching is a fundamental component of most academic careers. TAs who make exceptional contributions to the learning of students may be recognized with the EEB Outstanding TA Award. Recipients receive a certificate and a monetary gift in recognition of their achievement.

MSc

EEB guarantees full stipend support for 16 months

PhD

EEB guarantees full stipend support for 5 years through the direct-entry PhD stream, or for 4 years if entering with a recognized advanced degree (4 years of BSc in biology and a research-based MSc in ecology and evolutionary biology).

Students may extend their degree beyond the guaranteed funding period with financial support from their supervisor(s), additional TA work, or awards.

Beyond these basics, the full student funding model is quite complicated. Please see the link below for more information. Newly admitted students should also attend the annual EEB Stipend Workshop in September.

The Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) is the pimary source of federal funding for science research in Canada, and holds annual scholarship competitions for both MSc and PhD students. All eligible students are expected to apply for these awards.

Several other scholarship competitions are held by the federal and provincial governments each year, such as the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) and Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology (QEII-GSST).

The School of Graduate Studies (SGS) offers a variety of scholarships to graduate students based on academic achievement, community involvement, leadership, or financial need.

Our students are frequently awarded research grants from research societies, NGOs, and other non-profits. Students should ask faculty and other students for recommendations of awards to apply for.

Most lending institutions offer lines of credit to students. These generally require monthly interest payments and repayment of loans within a year or two of graduation. Inquire at your lending institution for more information.

Canadian citizens and permanent residents may be eligible for loans and/or grants through the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC). For Ontario residents, these funds are available through the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). Those from outside Ontario should consult the NSLSC website for information on aid available from their home province.

The SGS Emergency Grant program provides funds to full-time graduate students faced with serious and unanticipated financial emergencies.