English Department Graduate Awards

The Department of English offers a number of internal awards for its graduate students. All applicants and current students in the MA, MA CRW, and PhD/PhD U programs will automatically be considered for suitable awards.

Adam Penn Gilders Scholarship in Creative Writing

  • Established through generous donations by the friends and family of Adam Penn Gilders and matched by the Graduate Student Endowment Fund (GSEF).
  • The Adam Penn Gilders Scholarship in Creative Writing was established with the intent to support and encourage the best and brightest students from Canada and around the world to study creative writing in Toronto. This scholarship will allow the young poets, fiction writers and playwrights to focus their time, energies and talents on their writing, and enable them to take full advantage of U of T’s unparalleled intellectual and creative resources. It is awarded, on the basis of academic merit, to graduate student(s) in the MA in English in the Field of Creative Writing. Two awards will be dispersed in each fiscal: 1) A second-year award; 2) A first-year (entrance) award. 

Anne Tanenbaum Scholarship in English Literature (Undergraduate or Graduate Students)

  • Established by the families of Howard and Larry Tanenbaum in honour of the eightieth birthday of their mother, Anne Tanenbaum, in recognition of her sustained interest in English literature.
  • It is awarded to a student enrolled in a program offered by the Department of English.

A.S.P. Woodhouse Prize

  • Established by the alumni, friends, and associates of the late Professor A.S.P. Woodhouse.
  • It is awarded to the best PhD thesis in English accepted by the Department of English in any given year.

Avie Bennett Emerging Writers Scholarships

  • Established through the generous donation of an anonymous donor; the Bennett Family Foundation.
  • It is awarded to graduate students entering the first year of the MA Program in English in the Field of Creative Writing.

Brian Corman Graduate Prize

  • Established through the generous donations of the family and friends of Professor Brian Corman, who left his mark on the Department of English in many ways but none more lasting than his dedication to and mentoring of graduate students.
  • It is awarded to a graduate student(s) in the Department of English who is working on restoration and/or 18th century studies, and who have distinguished themselves both academically and for their leadership and contribution to the life of the university through student governance, community service or volunteer work.

C.B. Farrar Graduate Scholarship in English

  • Established by the Estate of Professor Clarence B. Farrar.
  • It is awarded to (a) graduate student(s) entering a graduate studies program in the Department of English at the University of Toronto, based on academic merit. Financial need may be considered.

C.B. Farrar International Graduate Scholarship in English

  • Established by the Estate of Professor Clarence B. Farrar.
  • It is awarded on the basis of academic merit to an international PhD student(s) studying in the Department of English.

Camilla (Cavanagh) O’Connor Doctoral Conference/Research Travel Bursary

  • Generously established by Professor John O’Connor with funds from his mother’s estate (and in her honour).
  • Supports candidates who are enrolled in the PhD Program and have completed at least three TAships, including the leading of tutorials. This bursary may be held either independently of or in conjunction with a departmental conference or research grant and may be used to defray travel expenses for the delivery of a paper at a conference or for essential research in the preparation of a thesis.

Christopher (Chris) Wallis / Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) in the Department of English

  • Established by Patricia Wallis.
  • It is awarded to an Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) recipient enrolled in the Department of English.

Clifford Leech Prize

  • Established by the friends, colleagues, fellow scholars, students and appreciative readers of Professor Clifford Leech who died on July 26, 1977.
  • It is awarded annually for an outstanding PhD thesis on a subject closely related to drama which was presented during the previous academic year to the Department of English. If no thesis sufficiently outstanding has been presented, the Prize need not be awarded for a particular year. The winner of the A.S.P. Woodhouse Prize shall be ineligible for the Clifford Leech Prize.

Department of English Creative Writing Scholarship

  • Established through the generous donations of various donors and matched by the Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Fund (OSOTF) and the Ontario Trust for Student Support (OTSS).
  • It is awarded to a student enrolled in the Creative Writing Program in the Department of English on the basis of financial need. Academic merit may also be considered.

Dorothy Louise Ellison, 4T8 / Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) in the Faculty of Arts & Science / Department of English

  • Established by Laura Chunosoff.
  • It is awarded to an Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) recipient enrolled in the Department of English. 

Dr. Ranbir Singh Khanna / Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) in Canadian Studies

  • Established by the estate of Dr. Ranbir Singh Khanna.
  • It is awarded to an Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) recipient enrolled in the Department of English pursuing studies/research in Canadian studies.

Dr. Sanjib Mukherjee Scholarship in English Literature

  • Established by Ms. Bharati (Bee-Bee) Mukherjee and Dr. Sanjib Mukherjee.
  • It is awarded on the basis of academic merit to an incoming student enrolled in the Masters in English Literature program in the Department of English. Preference will be given to non-native English speakers.

Elaine Parker Scholarship in Creative Writing

  • Established by Fawn Parker in honour of her mother, Elaine Parker.
  • It is awarded to one or more students in the MA program in English in the Field of Creative Writing on the basis of academic merit and/or future promise, with preference given to Black and/or Indigenous students. Financial need may also be considered.

English Graduate Student Travel Fund

  • Established by faculty, administrative staff and public donations.
  • It is awarded to graduate students registered in the Department of English on the basis of travel requirements and conference attendance. 

Frederick Marker PhD Fellowship

  • Established by Frederick Marker.
  • It is awarded to one or more graduate student(s) in the Department of English. The award is available to both domestic and international students pursuing a PhD degree. The student(s) should be in the first year of their PhD study. In addition to academic excellence, financial need shall be taken into consideration.

Gordon Russell and Beatrice Bott Dow / Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) in the Department of English 

  • Established by Marguerite R. Dow.
  • It is awarded to an Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) recipient enrolled in the Department of English.

Graduate Futures Scholarships in English Literature

  • Established by alumni and friends of the Department of English.
  • It is awarded on the basis of exceptional academic merit to one or more full-time MA student(s) in English Literature at the University of Toronto’s Department of English.

Henry Beissel Scholarship in Creative Writing

  • Established by the Thain Family and various donors in honour of Henry Beissel, a poet, playwright and author with a particular interest in humanism and the long poem.
  • To be awarded to one or more graduate student(s) of creative writing, on the basis of academic merit. Financial need may also be considered. Preference will be given to a student of poetry.

Jim Polk/Carol Shields Prize Foundation Scholarship in Creative Writing

  • Established by Jim Polk and the Carol Shields Prize Foundation.
  • It is awarded to one or more students in the MA program in English in the Field of Creative Writing on the basis of academic merit and/or future promise, with preference given to Black and/or Indigenous students. Financial need may also be considered.

John W. Spitzer Scholarship (Undergraduate or Graduate Students)

  • Established by the Estate of John Spitzer.
  • It is awarded to students in the Department of English. Financial need and academic merit will be considered.

Lynne Magnusson Graduate Futures Scholarship in English Literature

  • Established by Lynne Magnusson and Paul Stevens.
  • The scholarship will be awarded based on exceptional academic merit to one full-time graduate student in English Literature in the University of Toronto’s Department of English. Preference will be given to a MA student.

Linda Hutcheon Graduate Scholarship

  • Established through the generous donations of various donors.
  • It is awarded to an incoming graduate student in the Department of English or the Centre for Comparative Literature, who is working in the area of contemporary literature, theory or interdisciplinary approaches to literature. The award will alternate between the department and the centre each year.

Mara Roebuck Memorial Graduate Prize in English

  • Established by Mrs. Sandy Rotman and matched by Graduate Studies Endowment Fund (GSEF).
  • It is awarded to an MA student in the Department of English on the basis of academic merit and financial need, where preference will be given to students who completed their undergraduate degree at Woodsworth College of the University of Toronto.  If no suitable Woodsworth College graduate is identified in any one year, the Prize will be awarded to another deserving student regardless of the institution at which he or she or they received his or her or their undergraduate degree. Financial need and academic merit will be considered.

Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) in Canadian Studies

  • Established by University College, Canadian Studies.
  • It is awarded to an OGS Ontario Graduate Scholarship recipient enrolled in the Department of English pursuing studies/research in Canadian studies.

Paul Stevens Graduate Futures Scholarship in English Literature

  • Established by Lynne Magnusson and Paul Stevens.
  • The scholarship will be awarded based on exceptional academic merit to one full-time graduate student in English Literature in the University of Toronto’s Department of English. Preference will be given to a MA student.

Professor Linda Munk Graduate Futures Scholarship

  • Established by Anthony Munk, Marc-David Munk and Nina Munk.
  • Honors the late Linda Munk, Professor of English Literature at the University of Toronto. Professor Munk was widely recognized for her passion for literature, especially American poetry of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, for her teaching and her outstanding research.
  • The scholarship will be awarded based on exceptional academic merit to one full-time graduate student, with a preference for a Masters student, in the University of Toronto's Department of English. Priority will be given to a candidate whose stated area of interest is American literature where all other indicators of excellence are equal.

Quentin Compson Bursary for Graduate Studies in English

  • Established by the Estate of Jon Robert Pearce.
  • It is awarded to one or more graduate student(s) in the Department of English every year. This bursary is available to both domestic and international students, pursuing either a master's or PhD degree.

Richard and Florence Atwater Graduate Scholarship

  • Established by Mrs. Carroll Bishop.
  • It is awarded to graduate students who are studying children’s literature in the Department of English. Financial need and academic merit may also be considered.

Thomas and Beverley Simpson / Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) at the Faculty of Arts and Science

  • Established by Thomas and Beverley Simpson.
  • It is awarded to an Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) recipient enrolled in the Department of English.

Toronto Star / Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) in the Faculty of Arts & Science / Department of English 

  • Established by the Toronto Star.
  • It is awarded to an Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) recipient in the Department of English.

V. A. De Luca Memorial Fellowship 

  • Established by Professor V.A. De Luca, family, students, colleagues and friends.
  • It is awarded to one or more full-time graduate degree students in the Department of English. Financial need will be considered. Academic merit will also be considered.

V. A. De Luca Memorial Fellowship Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Fund (OSOTF)

  • Established by Professor V. A. De Luca with generous donations from family, students, colleagues and friends and matched by the Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Fund (OSOTF) and the Endowed Adjustment Fund (EAF).
  • It is awarded to a full-time graduate degree student in the Department of English. Financial need and academic merit will also be considered.

Viola Whitney Pratt Memorial Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Fund (OSOTF) Scholarship in English

  • Established by the Estate of Mildred Claire Pratt and matched by the Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Fund (OSOTF) and the Endowed Adjustment Fund (EAF).
  • It is awarded to a full-time graduate student in the Department of English who best exemplifies the qualities of Viola Whitney Pratt: enthusiasm, creative imagination and humility combined with a love for the English language.

Viola Whitney Pratt Memorial Scholarship in English

  • Established by the Estate of Mildred Claire Pratt.
  • Awarded to a full-time graduate student in the Department of English who best exemplifies the qualities of Viola Whitney Pratt: enthusiasm, creative imagination and humility combined with a love for the English language.