SOPR Program Funding Options

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The Social Practice and Transformational Change (SOPR) PhD Program is a full-time program. Students are guaranteed a minimum stipend of $20,000 per year for four years. This stipend will be made up of a combination of scholarships and teaching or research assistantships.

Most students hold these research assistantship positions working on research projects with their faculty advisor or at one of the institutes associated with the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences. Many SOPR students hold external scholarships (such as those from OGS and SSHRC listed below).


Ontario Graduate Scholarship

Prospective applicants, domestic and international, are strongly encouraged to apply for the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) in advance of applying for admission to the SOPR program at the University of Guelph.

More information on the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)

Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Grants

Prospective students who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents are also encouraged to apply for the Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) grant in advance of applying for admission to the SOPR program at the University of Guelph.

More information on Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) grants

International Doctoral Tuition Scholarship (IDTS)

International PhD students will receive an International Doctoral Tuition Scholarship (IDTS) if they qualify with the minimum eligibility requirements (no application required). At $11,000 per year for up to four years, these scholarships cover the difference between international and domestic doctoral tuition. Doctoral students admitted to a full-time program with a minimum 80% (A-) admission average, and who are billed at international tuition rates, are eligible subject to meeting all other criteria.

  • All international doctoral students admitted to their program with a minimum 80% (A-) admission average, and who are billed at international tuition rates, are eligible. International doctoral students admitted with an average lower than 80% will be eligible in the semester following successful completion of their qualifying exam, for the balance of the four-year period of eligibility as determined from the beginning of the doctoral program. Students who transfer from a master's program to a doctoral program will be eligible starting in the semester in which they are enrolled in the doctoral program, for the remainder of the four-year period of eligibility.
  • International students who become permanent residents or Canadian citizens will no longer be eligible for the scholarship.
  • Incoming students who have not identified their residency status with the Office of Registrarial Services by the 14th class day are not eligible until such evidence is presented.
  • Students must maintain full-time registration and satisfactory progress in their program.
  • Not tenable with the International Graduate Tuition Scholarship, Ontario Trillium Scholarships, Ontario Graduate Scholarships, Brock Doctoral Scholarships, Arrell Scholarships, Vanier CGS-D, Dairy Farmers of Ontario, China Scholarship Council, CONACyT, Nora Cebotarev Memorial Scholarship, Science without Borders or any other third party funding (e.g., workplace funding, scholarships from a home government).
  • Students who transfer from full-time to part-time status are no longer eligible to hold the award. However, should the student return to full-time status, and all other criteria are met, they will be eligible to hold the award for the balance of the four-year period of eligibility as determined from the beginning of the doctoral program (part-time semesters will be equated to full-time semesters on a 3:1 ratio).

More information on the International Doctoral Tuition Scholarship (IDTS)

Competitive Research Scholarships

A variety of competitive research scholarships are available. Review the lists of internal university-wide and college-specific graduate scholarships in the graduate calendar.

ACCESS Awards

The University of Guelph has established a number of ACCESS awards which provide bursaries for students in financial need. To be eligible for these bursaries, students must complete a needs assessment application available from Student Financial Services.

More information on bursaries and ACCESS awards