SSHRC Insight Program

SSHRC provides funding for research carried out by individual scholars and teams of researchers.

Check here for rules on applying for an IG and IDG in the same calendar year.

Before submitting a funding application to a sponsor, a Principal Investigator (PI) must secure University approval for the proposal through the My Research Application (MRA) system. Please see the MRA deadlines noted below. For more information, please see How to Submit an Application Through MRA.

 

Insight Grants

Overview: Insight Grants support research excellence in the social sciences and humanities. Funding is available to both emerging scholars and established scholars for research initiatives of two to five years. Insight Grants are expected to respond to the objectives of the Insight Research program.

Value: Stream A: $10,000 to $125,000; Stream B: $125,001 to $500,000

Duration: 2–5 years

Nearest deadlines:

UTM editorial review deadline (optional)*: September 8, 2025, Noon ET (email kate.steinmann@utoronto.ca)
UTM MRA deadline: September 23, 2025, Noon ET**
U of T internal deadline to submit application on the SSHRC web-based application system: September 29, 2025, 9 am ET
Sponsor deadline: October 1, 2025, 8 pm ET
 
*Editorial review is mandatory for UTM Bridge Funding recipients and certain recipients of OVPRI internal awards funding. 
 
**UTM faculty should submit MRAs by September 23 to allow time for divisional approval before the U of T Research Services Office (RSO) MRA deadline of September 25.
 

Links:

U of T Research Services Office SSHRC Insight Grant page (U of T-specific application instructions and deadlines, links to U of T SSHRC Insight Grant information session recordings and slides, tip sheet)

 

 

Insight Development Grants

Overview: Insight Development Grants support research in its initial stages. The grants enable the development of new research questions, as well as experimentation with new methods, theoretical approaches and/or ideas. Funding is provided for short-term research development projects of up to two years that are proposed by individuals or teams. SSHRC welcomes applications involving Indigenous research, as well as those involving research-creation. Applications should respond to the objectives of the Insight Program. Funding is available for two distinct categories of scholars:

Emerging scholars who will develop new research questions and/or approaches. Such projects may build on and further the applicant’s (or team’s) graduate work and/or represent a continuation of their overall research trajectory.
Established scholars who will explore new research questions and/or approaches that are distinct from the applicant’s previous/ongoing research.

Value: $10,000 to $100,000

Duration: 1-2 years

Deadlines: 

  • Deadline to submit for optional* UTM editorial review: January 7, 2026 (email kate.steinmann@utoronto.ca)
  • UTM MRA Deadline: January 20, 2026
  • U of T internal deadline to submit application on SSHRC Research Portal: January 28, 2026, 9 am ET

*Editorial review is mandatory for UTM Bridge Funding recipients and certain recipients of OVPRI internal awards funding. 

Links:

U of T Research Services Office SSHRC Insight Development Grants page (U of T-specific application instructions and deadlines)