Student Awards, Scholarships & Travel Grants

Created in 2017 by way of donations from Faculty and Staff in the Department, matched by the estate of Mary King. This scholarship will be awarded to incoming MScOT students who have self-identified as Indigenous on their ORPAS application form.

The School of Graduate Studies (SGS) Inclusive Excellence Admissions Scholarships (IEAS) aim to diversify academia by supporting the recruitment of underrepresented groups, specifically first-year Black and Indigenous master’s students to PhD-stream programs. These scholarships will increase graduate school opportunities for Black and Indigenous applicants whose paths to academia include significant accomplishments that may not be included in conventional graduate admission criteria.

Created by the estate of Dr. Stanley H. Ward to encourage academic excellence among the applicants to the program who are Canadian citizens, these scholarships will be awarded in conjunction with the offers of admission each year. Awarded to incoming students entering the first year of the MScOT program, top applicants will automatically be considered for this scholarship.

This award was endowed by the estate of Florence Elizabeth Pennington and the Ontario Trust for Student Support. To be awarded to an incoming MScOT student who is a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident with financial need. Academic merit may also be considered.

Created by a donation from Mrs. Beatrice Hunter, the Department selects a recipient based on financial need (e.g. qualifies for a provincial student loan). Equivalent candidates may be selected on the basis of other merit-based criteria on the recommendation of the Department as a final determining factor.

This fund is intended to defray travel costs for Occupational Therapy students who are presenting their work at a peer-reviewed national or international conference, and are requesting financial assistance to do so. This includes the annual CAOT conference.

This fund is intended to defray travel costs for students in the Department who are presenting their work at the annual conference of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT).

This award, endowed by Mrs. Marilyn Connibear, is intended to enable a full-time student in the Department defray travel costs associated with a distant fieldwork placement. Financial need and academic merit are considered, with students submitting application information that includes anticipating learning outcomes.

The availability of this award may vary annually, as competition is University-wide and administered at the sole discretion of the School of Graduate Studies. This award is intended to enable a student Department defray travel costs associated with attending an academic conference where they are presenting their research. There are two competitions per year, Fall and Winter, though MScOT students exclusively apply for the Winter competition as it coincides with the CAOT Conference in May.

Colleen was an OT student at U of T from September 1992 to January 31, 1993, when she passed away after a car accident. This award was established by her family and friends and is presented to two first-year students who exemplify the qualities of Colleen: friendly, outgoing, caring, supportive of others, and a good student. One student at each campus is selected.

This award was established to recognize Ms. Robinson’s contribution to U of T, and is presented to the student who obtains the highest academic standing in the first year of the program with good fieldwork evaluations.

Funded through generous donations to the Toronto Cathay Lions Club. This award recognizes the student who obtains the highest standing in the first year of the program.

Funded through a generous donation from the estate of Eleanor B. Krangle, this award for one MScOT student is based on achievements related to one or more of the following: activities benefiting vulnerable populations, strong academic performance in the OT program, evidence of interest in advancing the practice of occupational therapy among institutions that improve the lives of the vulnerable (e.g. ICDR travel).

Funded through a generous donation from the Rappolt Family, this award is for students entering the second year of the MScOT program with the highest overall average in first year research courses to support their Graduate Research Projects on improving the occupational performance and well-being of people with serious mental health, developmental or chronic health conditions.

Funded by the Province of Ontario, the Faculty of Medicine, and the Department, students apply using a School of Graduate Studies online form where an extensive list of factors is considered: GPA at the time of program entry, research accomplishments, academic achievements, reference letters from academics, and a plan of study. The number of awards available annually is determined by the School of Graduate Studies.

The award was established in 2021 by the Salehi family in memory of Yassi (Yassaman) Salehi, who was a Class of 2020 OS&OT graduate and successfully completed the national CAOT exam. Yassi sadly passed away from a car accident in January 2021. This award is presented to a graduating OS&OT student who exemplifies the qualities of Yassi: high academic standing, involvement in committees or student affairs, and demonstrated kindness and compassion for others.

This award was established in 1996 by Irene Vrckovnik to recognize a student who has demonstrated keen interest and aptitude in private practice and community rehabilitation as evidenced by excellence in both coursework and fieldwork.

Sponsored by Rhoda Lipton and Lesley Miller. This award was established in 2003 by her family to honour the memory of Jenne Lewis Goodman, who graduated from the first Occupational Therapy class at University of Toronto in 1928. The award recognizes the student in their last year of study who has demonstrated special ability and interest in the area of OT in mental health as evidenced by excellence in coursework, fieldwork and research paper.

*OSOTF awards are restricted to Ontario residents who demonstrate financial need: i.e., a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who has an Ontario mailing address at the time the award is made.

This award was established in 1997 by friends and classmates in memory of Jenny Lau. The award recognizes the student who, like Jenny, is supportive of classmates, willing to listen, gives freely of themselves, is cheerful, optimistic, warm, friendly, creative and loving.

Sponsored through a significant donation from Ramon B. Apilado, this award is presented to a student in the second year of the MScOT program who has a significant interest in hand therapy, as demonstrated through academic merit.

Sponsored by the Nina Mehta Memorial Committee, this award was established in 2003 to acknowledge the graduating student who has demonstrated an interest in and contribution to work with a population under serviced by occupational therapy. This contribution can be in the form of fieldwork (internationally or domestically), volunteer work, research, or other initiatives.

This award, sponsored by Margaret Bahen, is to be presented to the student in the name of a person who inspires others to be the best they can. The recipient of this award is to be chosen by their classmates as a student who, like Pamela Cowie Gray, has an indomitable, infectious spirit, has given unselfishly to others, and has been an inspiration to their classmates.

Sponsored by Assistive Technology Clinic, this award is presented to the student who has demonstrated a keen interest in and excellent understanding of the role assistive technology plays in improving the functional independence of people with various disabilities.

This award was established by the Department of OS & OT at U of T to be presented to the student achieving the highest standing in the Graduate Research Project course.