UTGSU Emergency Grant

The UTGSU Emergency Grant Fund provides up to $1,000 in financial support for graduate students facing unexpected emergencies beyond their control. Whether you’re dealing with a medical crisis, family emergency, natural disaster, sudden loss of income, or gender-based violence situation, this fund offers rapid assistance when you need it most. We process complete applications within three business days and maintain strict confidentiality throughout the process. If you’re a current UTGSU member experiencing a financial emergency that occurred within the past six weeks, and you’ve exhausted or are ineligible for other emergency funding sources like SGS grants, we got your back.

In order to complete the application form, you will be required to create a HelloRubric account. You can sign in with Single Sign-On (SSO) authentication with your utoronto.ca email. If you get redirected after signing in, please come back to this page and click the Emergency Grant Form link.

Emergency Grant Form Emergency Grant Quick Reference Table Emergency Classification Reference Table

Eligibility & Coverage

To be eligible to receive funds from the Emergency Grant Fund, a UTGSU Member shall:

  • Be a current UTGSU Member in good standing
  • Demonstrate serious financial need due to emergency events beyond their control
  • Not be eligible to receive compensation for the same expense from other emergency funds (SGS Emergency Fund, departmental funds, etc.) or have exhausted those options
  • Submit application within six (6) weeks of the emergency event

The determination of whether a particular situation constitutes an eligible emergency shall be at the sole discretion of the Emergency Grant Review Committee.

Eligible emergencies are limited to:

  • Medical emergencies and unexpected healthcare costs
  • Compassionate grounds (family illness, death)
  • Natural disasters or unexpected travel emergencies
  • Emergency food relief due to unforeseen loss of employment income or housing in the past two (2) weeks
  • Gender-based violence or intimate partner violence related needs

You are eligible to receive up to one thousand dollars ($1,000) during your entire time as a UTGSU Member. The actual amount awarded depends on your requested amount, documented financial need, available personal resources, severity of the emergency situation, and total documented costs related to the emergency.

You must first apply to other available emergency funding sources or demonstrate that you are not eligible for them. This includes the SGS Emergency Grant, SGS Emergency Loan, and any departmental emergency funds. If you have received partial funding from other sources, you may still be eligible for an emergency grant to cover remaining costs, but the total amount cannot exceed $1,000 during your entire membership.

No. You are eligible to receive up to $1,000 total during your entire time as a UTGSU Member. This is a one-time benefit per academic career.

Application Process

  1. Complete the online Emergency Grant application form
  2. Provide a detailed description of your emergency situation
  3. Upload all required supporting documentation
  4. Submit your completed application through the online portal

The Emergency Grant Review Committee will review your application and make a decision to accept, reject, or request additional information within three (3) business days of receiving your complete application.

All applicants must provide:

  • Proof of the emergency event (receipts, bills, official notices, etc.)
  • Documentation of your financial situation
  • Evidence that you have applied to or are ineligible for other emergency funding sources
  • Any additional supporting documents relevant to your specific emergency type

Note: You must provide proof of expenses within one (1) month of your application.

Once your application is approved, funds will be disbursed according to UTGSU’s standard payment processing procedures. The exact timeline for payment will be communicated to you upon approval.

Other Resources

The SGS Emergency Grant program aims to provide short-term financial relief to students experiencing an immediate financial crisis. The Emergency Grant cannot serve as a continued funding source or make up for a shortage in OSAP and other graduate funding sources. Students are encouraged to meet with a member of the SGS Financial Advising Team to discuss available resources including government financial aid programs and review grant eligibility and may be asked to complete a financial need assessment.

The SGS Emergency Loan alleviates temporary cash flow problems for students who are expecting the release of funds in the near future (i.e., 30 to 120 days) from employment (U of T internal), a major award instalment, OSAP (Ontario Students’ Assistance Program), teaching assistantship, or research assistantship payment, etc.

Many departments have implemented emergency grants and aids as well. Please consult with your department’s graduate office for more information.