Graduate Students Archives - Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS)

Starting graduate school at 91��ɫ? BorderPass can help with your study permit!

vinish — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 13:43:19 +0000

Beginning graduate school in a new country is an exciting milestone, and securing your Canadian study permit is one of the first steps on your journey to 91��ɫ. While the process may feel complex, you don’t have to navigate it alone.

91��ɫ has partnered with BorderPass to provide eligible international graduate students with immigration guidance throughout the study permit process. Once you accept your offer at 91��ɫ, you can access BorderPass at no cost.

“Choosing to pursue graduate studies in another country is a big decision, and we want our international students to feel supported from the moment they accept their offer,” says Uzma Khan, Associate Director of Graduate Recruitment and Conversion in the Faculty of Graduate Studies. “Through 91��ɫ’s partnership with BorderPass, students can access expert immigration support as they prepare for their move to Canada and begin their graduate journey at 91��ɫ with confidence.”

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Whether you are beginning a master’s, PhD or graduate diploma program, BorderPass provides tools and access to licensed Canadian immigration lawyers to help you prepare, review and submit your study permit application, track its progress and receive updates in one place. The platform also offers webinars, one-on-one consultations, email support and live chat.

Beyond the study permit process, BorderPass provides ongoing guidance before you arrive in Canada and throughout your studies. This includes reminders about key immigration deadlines, secure document storage and access to legal expertise when you need it. Additional services such as Social Insurance Number registration, employment support and settlement resources are also available.

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Getting started is straightforward. Visit webpage, select “Sign in or Register for BorderPass” and create an account using your 91��ɫ student number found in your offer letter or application information.

If you have already submitted your study permit application, you can still use BorderPass for ongoing immigration guidance, support with future applications or assistance if you need to reapply.

To learn more or register, visit webpage and review the available resources.

We look forward to welcoming you to 91��ɫ’s graduate community and supporting you as you prepare for your studies in Canada.

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91��ɫ nursing students receive awards for excellence and leadership

vinish — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 14:03:05 +0000

Four 91��ɫ students were recently recognized by the Registered Nurses Foundation of Ontario for their academic excellence and leadership potential. Michelle Hermans (PhD student) earned the Lynn Kirkwood Research Award; Tiina Ranta (PhD student) received the Research in Mental Health Nursing Award; Alessia Lamanna (MScN student) was awarded the Nursing Research Interest Group Award; and Eseimuede James Ehiagwina (BScN student) received the Charlotte Noesgaard Memorial Scholarship.

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91��ɫU PhD candidate Coral Hillel selected for prestigious Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting

qings — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 13:22:11 +0000

91��ɫ PhD candidate and Vanier Canada Graduate Scholar Coral Hillel has been selected to attend the 75th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting in Germany, joining more than 600 young scientists from around the world for a week of scientific exchange, mentorship and international networking. Hillel’s research explores how molecular photoswitches transform their shape and properties, with the goal of informing the design of better light-responsive materials.

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AI scholarships highlight impact of grad student research, innovation

qings — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 13:13:32 +0000

91��ɫ graduate students at the Schulich School of Business and Lassonde School of Engineering have been named among Ontario’s top AI talent, earning prestigious Vector Scholarships in Artificial Intelligence. Awarded by the Vector Institute, an Ontario-based AI research organization, the merit-based scholarships are support Ontario graduate students advanced studies in fields including business analytics, AI management, and computer engineering and science. In addition to financial support, recipients are given access to networking opportunities with researchers and industry professionals, along with the Vector Institute’s Digital Talent Hub which connects AI specialists with potential employers.

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Graduate research at 91��ɫ U drives real-world discovery

qings — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 15:18:00 +0000

From plant defence in soybeans to epidemic modelling, 91��ɫ graduate researchers are tackling urgent scientific and social questions. The Faculty of Graduate Studies recognizes outstanding research annually through its thesis and dissertation prizes. The annual prizes – valued at $2,000 for doctoral dissertations and $1,000 for master’s theses – honour work defended in the previous calendar year that demonstrates originality, excellence and impact. This year’s awards highlight six projects that explored pressing questions with implications for food security, AI, public health, aging, air quality and workplace accessibility. Together, the projects show how graduate research at 91��ɫ connects scientific inquiry with real-world challenges.

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Meet NAVI: Your Graduate Funding Virtual Assistant

vinish — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 13:14:26 +0000

Navigating graduate studies can be challenging, especially when you’re starting a new program or trying to understand your available supports. NAVI helps you find answers to common questions about funding packages, fellowships, graduate employment, student accounts and financial supports available at 91��ɫ—all in one place.

Quick Links

Ask NAVI a question in your own words, and it will direct you to relevant information based on official Faculty of Graduate Studies' policies, procedures and collective agreement resources.

Try asking NAVI:

What financial supports are available to me?
When will my funding be paid?
How does my TA position affect my funding package?
Am I eligible for Graduate Financial Assistance?
How do fellowships appear on my student account?

Who can use NAVI?

NAVI is designed for future and current graduate students with questions about graduate funding, employment and financial assistance.

Use NAVI to:

Learn more about your funding package

Understand graduate employment opportunities

Find information about available financial supports

Navigate funding processes and timelines

Identify the appropriate office or resource for additional assistance

Topics NAVI can help with

Have questions? We’ve got answers in one place!

Graduate Funding

Graduate funding packages
Fellowships
Graduate Financial Assistance (GFA)
Grant-in-Aid (GIA)
International Tuition Offset (ITO)

Graduate Employment

Teaching Assistant (TA) and Graduate Assistant (GA) positions
Eligibility requirements, hours, and assignments
Posting and hiring processes
Workload expectations, appointment structures, and funding packages
Payroll processes and payment timelines

Funding Payments and Student Accounts

How and when funding is paid
How fellowships are applied to student accounts
Tuition and fee charges
Account balances and payment information

Funding Commitments

Annual funding commitment reviews
How funding shortfalls are identified and addressed
Types of support that count toward a funding commitment

Graduate Employment and Collective Agreements

General guidance related to CUPE 3903 Units 1 and 3, including:

Employment structures
General rights and responsibilities
Pay structures and employment terms

Additional Financial Assistance

Bursaries
Emergency funding
Equity-related funding supports
UHIP and health-related funding supports
Program- and Faculty-level supports

More about NAVI

NAVI provides general information and guidance. It does not replace advice from your Graduate Program, Human Resources, Student Financial Services or the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

If your question requires a review of your individual circumstances, NAVI will direct you to the appropriate office or resource.

Final decisions regarding funding, employment and financial matters are based on official 91��ɫ policies, procedures, collective agreements and administrative decisions.

Please contact your graduate program or the Faculty of Graduate Studies if you need assistance with:

Appeals or exceptions
Individual funding concerns or disputes
Employment eligibility decisions
Contract-specific questions
Urgent or time-sensitive financial matters

Graduate funding and employment processes often involve multiple systems, policies and sources of information. NAVI brings key resources together in one place to help you:

Find answers more easily
Better understand your funding and employment options
Learn where to go for additional support

NAVI is designed to help you navigate graduate funding information with greater confidence.

Help us improve NAVI

Your feedback helps make NAVI better. After using NAVI, please consider sharing your experience, the information you were looking for, or questions you would like NAVI to answer in the future. Your suggestions will help improve access to graduate funding information and support future students.

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Coming This Summer to FGS — Professional Development Badging for the 91��ɫ Graduate Community

vinish — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 04:00:00 +0000

This summer, the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) will introduce a new way to recognize and celebrate professional development across the 91��ɫ graduate community. Beginning in May 2026, digital badges will be launched to acknowledge participation and achievement among graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, administrative staff, and graduate-appointed faculty.

The initiative marks an important step in highlighting the many ways members of the graduate community build skills, expand knowledge, and contribute to academic and professional life at 91��ɫ. Starting in Summer 2026, badges will be awarded for participation in FGS-led sessions, capturing a wide range of professional development activities.

For graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, these badges will recognize key milestones—from completing the Academic Honesty Module to participating in the Graduate Wellness Certificate and engaging in webinar series such as Scholarly Skills. They will also reflect involvement in workshops focused on scholarship applications, research development, and essential academic skills, helping participants showcase their growth in meaningful and tangible ways.

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As the initiative grows, it will expand in Fall 2026 to include administrative staff across the graduate community. These badges will recognize participation in the annual FGS professional development curriculum, supporting staff in strengthening their knowledge and enhancing their capacity to navigate the complex processes involved in graduate education.

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Graduate-appointed faculty will also play an important role in this initiative. In addition to participating in the broader professional development curriculum, faculty members will be able to earn badges for key skill-building opportunities, including supervision, conflict resolution, and effective mentorship.

Developed in partnership with , this initiative positions FGS among a select group of Canadian institutions offering digital recognition for graduate-level professional development. Owned by the Association of Registrars of the Universities and Colleges of Canada (ARUCC), MyCreds is a national digital credential network that enables the issuing, receiving, and secure exchange of official and professional documents for qualification holders. FGS and MyCreds are excited to launch this innovation and look forward to expanding its impact across the graduate community.

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Equity-focused certificate available for 91��ɫ U grad students

vinish — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 13:39:00 +0000

A new certificate is available for 91��ɫ graduate students and postdoctoral researchers to enhance knowledge and practical skills in decolonizing, equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility (DEDIA). The certificate is designed to help grad students apply DEDIA principles to academic work, research, teaching and professional settings. Co-created by the Centre for Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion (CHREI), the Faculty of Graduate Studies and the Teaching Commons, the program uses a mix of self-guided learning, workshops and applied practice. The goal, says Cheryl van Daalen-Smith, associate dean academic, Faculty of Graduate Studies, is to strengthen students’ abilities to foster inclusive learning and working environments and to develop equity-focused leadership skills within higher education and beyond.

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Nominations open for Robert J. Tiffin Student Leadership Award

vinish — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 20:42:18 +0000

The Robert J. Tiffin Student Leadership Award recognizes students who go above and beyond in contributing to the growth, development and vitality of 91��ɫ. Established in 2012, the award is named after Robert J. Tiffin, who served as 91��ɫ’s vice-president of students for nine years. Through his strong leadership, dedication and integrity, Tiffin transformed his team into one of the leading student service organizations in the country, serving one of Canada's largest student populations. All 91��ɫ students, faculty, staff and alumni are encouraged to submit nominations for this award.

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Canadian non-profits face barriers to advancing equity, 91��ɫ U study shows

vinish — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 15:16:52 +0000

Despite widespread commitments to equity and intersectionality, many Canadian non-profits face barriers to translating these frameworks into everyday practice, according to new research from 91��ɫ. The study led by Ashlee Christoffersen, a postdoctoral researcher hosted by the Department of Politics in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, aims to fill gaps in understanding how equity-seeking non-profit organizations in Canada apply inclusive frameworks. The research shows that while 2020 sparked renewed attention to equity in some organizations, many changes were short-lived or largely performative. Lack of diversity remained widespread, particularly in leadership and decision-making roles. The findings also reveal that internal practices often lag behind in advocacy efforts and equity work frequently falls disproportionately on staff from marginalized communities.

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