Provost’s Distinguished Inclusivity Doctoral Entrance Award

Award type:
Scholarship

Affiliation:
Black, Indigenous, Women, Students with Disabilities

Award description:
The Provost’s Distinguished Inclusivity Doctoral Entrance Award aims to remove barriers and support the participation of students from equity-deserving groups that have been historically underrepresented. Awards, valued at up to $10,000, will support students entering a doctoral program in any Faculty from one of the following groups: women-identifying students enrolled in programs wherein women are underrepresented, Black, Indigenous students, and students with disabilities. With this award, the University is encouraging programs to benefit from the equal participation, knowledge and perspective of these individuals. Selection will be based on academic achievement, research potential and written statements as part of their application for admission to the program. Eligible candidates will be nominated by their department/school to their Faculty graduate office, based on their application for admission to the program. Final selection will be made by the Faculty through a process prescribed by the Associate Dean Graduate Studies from each Faculty.

This award is established as a special program pursuant to subsection 14(1) of the Human Rights Code, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.19 (the “Code”) as enacted and amended. The award is designed to address the historic and present underrepresentation of the following groups of students, by providing economic assistance to (i) ensure that women-identifying, Black, Indigenous and students with disabilities have access to resources that facilitate their participation; (ii) create a more robust program in which students and society will benefit from the equal participation, knowledge and perspective of these individuals.

While appreciating that this scholarship will not address all equity-deserving groups, Faculties will determine the specific eligibility criteria suited to address Faculty-specific gaps in representation. Underrepresented criteria are subject to review and may change as per framework from Institutional Analysis and Planning and Dean’s Council. Based on the 2021 University Equity Census and student data collected via Quest (as of Winter 2025), underrepresented and/or equity-deserving groups will be identified and updated as appropriate.

Value description:
Up to $10,000

Level:
Doctoral

Program:
Open to any program

Citizenship:
Canadian/Permanent resident, International/study permit student

Eligibility & selection criteria

Common eligibility and selection criteria

  • Candidates must apply for full-time (*or part-time) admission and be admitted to a doctoral program, for spring 2026 or later, either directly from a bachelor’s degree or from a completed master’s degree (i.e., students who transfer from a master’s degree are not eligible).
  • Students must be registered full time (or part time*) in the doctoral program during the term in which the scholarship is held.
  • Candidates will be nominated by the department/school to the Faculty graduate office, by Faculty-set deadlines, based on their application for admission to the program; final selection will be made by the Faculty Associate Dean, Graduate Studies in the applicable Faculty.
  • Selection will be based on: 
    • Academic achievement (minimum overall average of 75% or equivalent in the last two years in a degree program; some programs may require a higher average); 
    • Research potential as demonstrated by the application for admission; 
    • Student’s written statement explaining what receiving the award would mean to them in their pursuit of a doctoral degree 
  • This scholarship will be in addition to minimum doctoral funding and will not be reduced or cancelled should the student be successful in receiving a major scholarship (e.g., tri-agency or Ontario Graduate Scholarship).

*Part-time eligibility is restricted to students who are on reduced academic load as a stipulation of verified accommodation through AccessAbility Services.

Specific eligibility criteria for women-identifying students

  • Candidates must identify as a woman on the application for admission to a doctoral program, wherein women are underrepresented. Underrepresented criteria are subject to annual review and may change as per framework from IAP and Dean’s Council.

Specific eligibility criteria for Black students

  • Candidates must identify as Black on the application for admission to a doctoral program. For the purpose of this scholarship and confirmed through the Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Anti-Racism (EDI-R) Black students may include those of African, Caribbean, Black Canadian, Afro-Latine,  African American, or other African descent. 

Specific eligibility criteria for Indigenous students

  • Candidates must identify as Indigenous on the application for admission to a doctoral program. For the purpose of this scholarship an Indigenous person is one who is a citizen or member of a First Nations community (Status/Non-Status), Métis, and/or Inuit. To be considered for this award, students must have completed the Indigenous Verification section in Quest and have had their Indigenous identity verified by the Office of Indigenous Relations at the University of ݮƵ.

Specific eligibility criteria for students with disabilities

  • Candidates must identify as having a permanent or persistent or prolonged disability as defined by the (from 2024-2025): 

    • Permanent disability – is defined as any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment – or a functional limitation – that: 
      • Restricts one’s ability to perform the daily activities necessary to pursue studies at a postsecondary school level or to participate in the labour force, and 
      • Is expected to remain with the person for their expected life 
    • Persistent or prolonged disability – is defined as any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment – or a functional limitation – that: 
      • Restricts one’s ability to perform the daily activities necessary to pursue studies at a postsecondary school level or to participate in the labour force, 
      • Has lasted, or is expected to last, for a period of at least 12 months, but 
      • Is not expected to remain with the person for their expected life.

Term:
Spring, Fall, Winter

Selection process:
Student selected automatically by Faculty/Department

Contact person:

Additional Information
Category: Faculty: