Dear PHS PhD Students and Faculty,

I am writing to provide an update regarding the new PHS funding policy, effective for the 2025-2026 academic year. This policy will apply to all PHD students in years 1-4. However, we believe that a transition plan will be helpful to those students who are close to completing their dissertation, but beyond the funded cohort.

Please note that the following transition plan applies only to PhD students who started the PhD program in the academic years 2021-2022, 2022-2023, or 2023-2024.

The previous funding policy for those academic years indicated that “eligibility may be extended to those fifth-year students who are in good academic standing and can present, through submission of the Year 5 Timeline Form, a realistic plan for completion in year 5.” We will make additional funding available to help students who have planned out their PhD timeline given the previous policy, and according to the previous policy. Transitional funding will be available for academic years 2025-2026, 2026-2027, and 2027-2028. This means that full-time doctoral candidates in their 5th year of study will be eligible for up to $18,500 plus tuition and incidental fees (i.e., the funding levels noted when they finished their comprehensive exams).

This level of support will be achieved through the same rules as the previous funding policy. This means that funding will be made up of scholarships and awards, stipends, and research and teaching assistantships with the difference made up by funding from the School.

Eligibility Requirements for Additional Funding for Doctoral Candidates completing their dissertation in 2025-2026, 2026-2027, and 2027-2028 and in Year 5 of their studies:

The student:

  • Must be registered full-time in the four-year PhD program as defined in the SGS Policy.
  • Cannot be employed full-time. Working more than 30 hours/week on outside employment is considered a conflict of commitment. Students with a conflict of commitment will not be eligible for the funding package.
  • Must maintain good academic standing as described in the Graduate Department of Public Health Sciences Statement on Good Academic Standing and Satisfactory Progress, completing the degree requirements and achieving the milestones as defined by the program.
  • Must apply for competitive awards, stipends, research assistant/project coordination positions and teaching assistant/course instruction positions for which they are eligible.

We are confident that most 5th year doctoral candidates will seek and secure more than $18,500 plus tuition and incidental fees through a combination of sources:

  • Scholarships and awards
  • Stipends
  • Research assistantships/project coordination
  • Teaching assistantships/course instruction

However, if a doctoral candidate falls short of this amount, they can access additional funding support by satisfying the same criteria as under the previous policy.

Students entering year 5 in September will be contacted by the PHS Grad Office about their eligibility and necessary paperwork.

(Email sent on behalf of Associate Dean, Academic Affairs, Dionne Gesink, on May 9, 2025)