The Leave of Absence Stipendiary Fund is available to thesis-based graduate students in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine for an approved Leave of Absence (LOA) due to physical and/or mental health challenges which temporarily impair your functioning during your graduate studies. Funding is available up to $5,000 per student for one term on a one-time only basis. Please submit an application package through your graduate department prior to the start of your LOA. If you remain registered during the requested LOA, you will not receive LOA Stipendiary Funding.
If you are taking a LOA due to parental leave, the School of Graduate Studies provides funding through the SGS Parental Grant.
To apply for the LOA Stipendiary Fund, email the following package by the deadline to Rachel Zulla:
This is a fillable form and digital signatures can be inserted, where applicable. If digital signatures are not possible, please print the form, sign it and submit a scanned copy to your department.
A one-page letter explaining the reason(s) for the LOA and how it has impaired your ability to function in your graduate program. Please address the letter to the LOA Stipendiary Fund Committee.
A letter from an acceptable health care professional, specifically outlining the physical and mental health issues that impair your functioning in your graduate program. Alternatively, you can also ask your health care professional to complete the Verification of Student Illness form. This a standard University of Toronto form that has being adopted for the purpose of this fund. Acceptable health care professionals are listed on the form.
. A copy of your SGS Leave of Absence form. Please note only sections 1 and 2 need to be completed and submitted for the LOA Stipendiary Fund application. Please remember to submit a completed SGS Leave of Absence form to the School of Graduate Studies in order for your requested leave to be processed
Applications can be submitted at anytime throughout the academic year. Applications received within a given month, will be reviewed by the end of the month. For example, a complete application received on April 15, 2024 will be seen by the LOA Stipendiary Adjudication Committee in the last week of April 2024. We will communicate decisions to you within 3 weeks of receiving your application. Complete applications and questions can be directed to Faculty Graduate Affairs Officer.
Please note this fund will not count towards your stipend package. This fund is not renewable and can only be received once. It is intended to provide one-term financial support to the recipient who will NOT receive funding from scholarship(s) or award(s) during his/her/their Leave of Absence.
This funding is conditional upon confirmation of an approved Leave of Absence by your graduate unit and the School of Graduate Studies.
