UTM Conference Grant

 

Award Overview 

  • Deadlines: Application Opens: October 16, 2023 

Fall Application Closes: November 13, 2023 

Spring Application Closes: March 28, 2024 

  • Value/Duration: Variable 

  • Level of Study: Full-time master’s or doctoral students 

  • Required Legal Status: Domestic or International 

Grant Purpose 

Funded by the Office of the Vice-Dean Graduate Studies & Post-doctoral Affairs, the UTM Conference Grants provides financial support to eligible graduate students to present their research at regional, national, or international conferences, whether virtually or in person, in active participation roles such as speakers, poster presenters, panelists, or round table participants.  

The grant covers registration fees for the proposed conference and travel expenses for in-person conferences. Other research-related travel expenses, such as off-site data collection or collaboration, are not eligible for reimbursement.  

Successful grant recipients will need to present their research at the UTM Graduate Research Colloquium, scheduled for the Spring of 2024. For more details, please refer to the Graduate Research Colloquium section below. 

Eligibility  

Graduate students falling into one of the following three categories are eligible to apply: 

  1. Master’s and PhD students in research-stream programs who are identified in ACORN/ROSI as based at ("affiliated with") the University of Toronto Mississauga*; 

  1. Students in the Master of Science in Biomedical Communications (MScBMC); 

  1. Students in the Master of Science in Sustainability Management (MScSM); 

Additionally, all applicants must: 

  • Be a registered full-time graduate student within their time limit, both at the time of the application and conference participation. 

  • Be in good academic standing, as defined by their graduate unit. 

  • If international travel is required, have registered their travel dates, and completed the pre-departure workshops with the Safety Abroad Office – see link for more information. 

  • Be actively presenting their own research relevant to their current thesis. 

  • Be presenting at a future conference between October 2023 and March 2024. 

*Students are identified on ACORN/ROSI as “based at the University of Toronto Mississauga” if they submitted a completed SGS (School of Graduate Studies) Affiliation Form indicating that they are so affiliated (and have not subsequently changed that affiliation). 

Value  

The UTM Conference Travel Grant offers dollar-for-dollar reimbursement, matching graduate student conference expenses up to a maximum of $500. Please refer to the Matching Requirements section below for more details.  

Virtual presentations are eligible for funding to cover the registration fee only. Expense eligibility aligns with the Travel and Other Reimbursable Expenses policies and guidelines of the University of Toronto

Matching Requirements  

UTM Conference Grant funds require a 1:1 matching contribution from the student's faculty supervisor, graduate unit, or UTM department. Students are responsible for securing this matching contribution. 

Payment  

Funding Transfer: The UTM Conference Grant funds are transferred electronically to the research account of the student's faculty supervisor. This means the student does not directly receive the funds; they are managed by their faculty supervisor. 

Conditions for Fund Return: If the successful grant recipient is unable to present at the proposed conference or cannot secure the necessary matching funds, the supervisor is responsible for returning the grant funds to the Office of the Vice-Dean Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs.  

If a student applies for a UTM Conference Grant before receiving confirmation from the conference organizers about the success of their application, they are eligible to apply for the grant. However, if the student eventually receives a grant but is unsuccessful in securing a spot at the conference, the funds must be returned by the student's supervisor to the Office of the Vice-Dean Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs. 

Limitation on Grant Frequency: Students are limited to receiving a maximum of two UTM Conference Grants within any twelve-month period, pending availability of funds. Preference will be given to first-time applicants. 

Application Process and Deadlines  

Submit a electronic copy of the UTM Conference Grant application form to the Office of the Vice-Dean Graduate before one of the two annual application deadlines: 

  • Fall 2023 Competition Deadline: November 15, 2023. This competition supports conferences occurring between October 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024. 

  • Spring 2024 Competition Deadline: March 31, 2024. This competition supports conferences taking place between April 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024. 

The application form specifies: the name, location, and date of the proposed conference; the relevance of said conference to the student’s research; and the form of the student’s participation at the event - e.g., speaker, poster presenter, member of a panel or round table, etc. 

Adjudication Process  

Eligible graduate students will be awarded the UTM Conference grant, pending funding availability. In cases where grant requests exceed available funding, priority will be given as follows: 

  1. Applicants who have not received a UTM Conference Grant in previous years. 

  1. Applicants who have not presented at a conference during their current program of study. 

  1. Applicants who are close to completing their academic programs. 

Graduate Research Colloquium 

As part of their commitment as successful grant recipients, students are expected to actively contribute to the academic graduate community at UTM by participating in the upcoming Spring 2024 Graduate Research Colloquium (GRC). This event (date TBD) serves as a valuable platform for showcasing graduate student research at the University of Toronto Mississauga.  

Students presenting their research at the GRC have the choice to either deliver an engaging oral presentation, offering a deep dive into their research topic, or opt for a visually compelling poster presentation that allows them to visually communicate their research methodologies, results, and implications, fostering interactive discussions and knowledge sharing. Please note that there is a limited number of oral presentation slots; abstracts not selected for oral presentations will be assigned to poster presentations. 

The Graduate Research Colloquium not only provides an opportunity for students to present their work but also encourages interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration. It is a chance for students to refine their presentation skills, receive constructive feedback, and gain valuable insights from peers and faculty members. This diverse and inclusive approach to academic engagement fosters a rich and vibrant research community within the university, nurturing intellectual growth and the exchange of ideas among students across various fields of study. 

Contact 

Questions can be directed to: 

Karolina Szymanski 

Anna Reale 

Graduate Programs Manager 

Office Supervisor 

Office of the Vice-Dean Graduate & Postdoctoral Affairs 

Office of the Vice-Principal Academic & Dean 

k.szymanski@utoronto.ca  

Anna.reale@utoronto.ca