The Leave of Absence Stipendiary Fund is available to thesis-based graduate students in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine who are about to start or are on an approved Leave of Absence (LOA; i.e., not registered) due to physical and/or mental health challenges which have temporarily impaired their functioning during their graduate studies.
Funding is available up to $5,000 per student for one term on a one-time only basis. To apply for Leave of Absence Stipendiary Funding, students must complete an application in consultation with their graduate unit, prior to the start of their Leave of Absence. Graduate units are responsible for submitting the completed application package to the Faculty Graduate Affairs Officer, on behalf of the student.
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.
A one-page letter from the student explaining the reason(s) for the LOA and how it has impaired their ability to function in their graduate program. Please address the letter to the LOA Stipendiary Fund Adjudication Committee.
A letter from an acceptable health care professional, specifically outlining the physical and mental health issues that have impaired the student’s functioning in their graduate program OR a completed 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 the SGS Leave of Absence form with sections 1 and 2 completed. Please remember to submit a completed SGS Leave of Absence form to the School of Graduate Studies so the requested leave can 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 will be seen by the LOA Stipendiary Adjudication Committee during the last week of April. Decisions are communicated within 3 weeks of receiving an application.
The following are the terms of the LOA Stipendiary Fund:
This fund will not count towards the student’s 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 fund is conditional upon confirmation of an approved Leave of Absence by the graduate unit and the School of Graduate Studies
Registered students are ineligible to receive Leave of Absence Stipendiary Funding
The LOA Stipendiary Fund Adjudication Committee reserves the right to consult with the applicant’s graduate unit regarding his/her application
