Call for 2026-27 Graduate Fellowship Applications for the China Governance Lab at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy

The China Governance Lab at the Munk School is pleased to announce the Graduate Fellowship in China Studies, a multidisciplinary initiative designed to support research by graduate students at the University of Toronto working on China. The geographical scope of this initiative include mainland China, the Greater China region, and what is becoming known as “Global China”.  We invite Master’s degree and PhD students from across the disciplines to apply for the graduate fellowship in the 2026-27 academic year.  

The Graduate Fellowship in China Studies provides students with opportunities to hone their research and writing skills, to showcase their research, and to engage in networking with their peers and the larger community. Fellows are expected to participate fully in the intellectual life of the China Governance Lab, attending the lab’s events, and taking part in various initiatives. Fellows will also have opportunities to contribute to knowledge creation in their areas of expertise, and communicate their research to external audience. Each fellow will be given a research stipend of $500. 

For the 2026-27 academic year, the themes of particular interest include, but are not limited to, the opportunities and challenges of studying Global China, the changing landscape of post-pandemic Chinese society, opportunities and perils of China’s investments in Canada, and China’s global ambitions and its implications for the world at large. Applicants are encouraged to visit the China Governance Lab’s website to gain an understanding of the projects currently underway. The Lab embraces and encourages a plurality of methodological approaches in different disciplines.  

Requirements
Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited graduate degree (Master’s or PhD) program at the University of Toronto, and demonstrate a record of academic excellence. 

Application Process
Applicants must submit a one-page cover letter that

a)     states their educational background;
b)     identifies how their research interests aligned with the China Governance Lab or the topic areas highlighted above;
c)     provides an idea or suggestion how they could enhance the intellectual life of the Lab.

Applicants must also attach a curriculum vitae and latest academic transcripts in their applications. All documents are to be submitted in a single PDF file named “[Last name], CGL Graduate Fellowship App 2026-27”. Applications must be submitted to ChinaGovernanceLab.Munk@utoronto.ca by midnight of October 23, 2026, EST.

Assessment Criteria
All applicants are assessed based on, but not exclusive to, these criteria: academic excellence, alignment of research interests; and the capacity to contribute to intellectual robustness and community building within the Lab and beyond.

The University of Toronto is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from racialized persons/persons of colour, women, Indigenous/Aboriginal People of North America, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.

For questions about the Graduate Fellowship Program, please contact the director of the China Governance Lab at Lynette(dot)Ong(at)utoronto.ca.

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