Scholarships

Purpose: 

The purpose of this award is to facilitate completion and dissemination of doctoral research in the area of health equity and community wellbeing. Students who are outside of the traditional four- or five-year completion schedule may not be eligible for many sources of funding, but may be in need of financial support to assist them at the final stages of their research. This scholarship provides a scaffolded framework to incentivize timely completion and dissemination of a student’s doctoral research. This scholarship is open to all domestic and international students, provided they are registered in a PhD program at Toronto Metropolitan University. 

This is a competitive scholarship. Two students will be selected each cycle for the duration of the fund.

Value:

The value of the award is $6,000, paid in two installments: 

• Payment 1 ($2,000) is made in the first month of a term, when the scholarship is awarded 
• Payment 2 ($4,000): To receive the second payment of the award, awardees must provide to the CERC HECW a written statement (email is sufficient) from the Graduate Program Director of their program, which includes the date of the scheduled defense, and confirmation that the Vice Provost and Dean of YSGPS has approved the dissertation examination committee. The letter must be received by the CERC HECW office no later than December 15 (for Fall awardees) or April 15 (for Winter awardees) 
• If a student experiences unforeseen circumstances during the tenure of the award, which prohibit them from meeting the deadline, they may appeal for a longer term by making the request, in writing, to the chair of the adjudication committee (Dr. Karen Soldatic). 

The request must be made as the circumstances occur. Decisions to extend the completion terms are within the discretion of the chair of the adjudication committee. 

Eligibility:

PhD candidates who are in the final stages of writing their doctoral manuscript and whose research aligns with the mandate of the CERC in Health Equity and Community Wellbeing are eligible to apply. Students must have completed at least 9 terms of study in order to apply. To be considered, applicants should be within four months of completing a “defensible” draft of their manuscript (i.e. a draft that is suitable for circulation to an External Examiner), regardless of whether a defense date has been confirmed. This award is open to domestic and international students. 

Information about this award and the eligibility requirements will be made available to students through the YSGPS website (under Scholarships, Funding and Awards), as well as through direct communication with PhD programs. 

Students are responsible for ensuring that accepting this award does not conflict with the terms and conditions of any other awards or funding that they may hold concurrently. Students should consult with YSGPS if they have any questions. A conflict may result in the revocation of the award.

*Students are encouraged to reach out to the CERC HECW office to inquire about their eligibility if they are unsure how their research aligns with the mandate of the CERC HECW.     

Adjudication Process 

There will be two award cycles each year for this award.

In honour of the late Dr. Thomas Tenkate and his enduring contributions to public health, mentorship, and equity-focused research, we are proud to establish the Dr. Thomas Tenkate Memorial Student Research Internship.

This annual internship is designed to support emerging scholars whose work advances health equity, inclusion, accessibility, and community wellbeing. By providing students with meaningful research opportunities, mentorship, and professional development, the internship aims to foster the next generation of researchers committed to creating positive social change.

Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Tenkate was recognized not only for his scholarly contributions, but also for his unwavering dedication to students. He believed deeply in the transformative power of education and was passionate about creating opportunities for students to develop their skills, pursue innovative ideas, and make meaningful contributions to their communities. His mentorship inspired countless students and colleagues, leaving a lasting impact that continues to be felt today.

The Dr. Thomas Tenkate Memorial Student Research Internship serves as a tribute to this legacy. Each year, the internship will provide a student researcher with the opportunity to contribute to projects that address pressing societal challenges and promote more equitable futures. Through collaborative, community-engaged research, interns will carry forward Dr. Tenkate’s commitment to knowledge generation that makes a tangible difference in people's lives.

By investing in emerging scholars, we honour Dr. Tenkate’s belief that supporting students is one of the most powerful ways to build a more just, inclusive, and healthy world.