School of Graduate Studies (SGS) Parental Grant

Established in 2017, the SGS Parental Grant provides financial assistance to full-time domestic and international research-stream doctoral students in the funded cohort who experience a loss or reduction in funding during an approved parental leave of absence.

Grant values, up to $9,000 per session, serve to cover the portion of base/stipend funding paused, while on an approved parental leave of absence for the primary caregiver of a newborn or newly adopted child for up to two academic sessions (equivalent to eight months). Birth parents who have been granted a three-session leave (12 months) can also apply for a third additional installment.

While students can initiate the grant application process, graduate units are asked to complete and support the application.

More information: 

• Eligibility and application process
• Leave of absence policy
• Payment information

Note: Students receiving Tri-Agency scholarships, a stipend through a PI’s Tri-Agency research grant and CUPE 3902 Unit 1 Teaching Assistants are eligible for parental leave supplements or benefits that may equal or exceed the value of the Grant; such students are ineligible. Should the amounts from Tri-agency parental supplements/stipends and employment benefits total less than the graduate unit’s base funding level at the time of leave, students are eligible for an adjusted SGS Parental Grant.