The School of the Environment offers several scholarships and awards for students enrolled in our Major or Specialist programs. These scholarships and awards are based on academic achievement; some also require social involvement in environmental issues and demonstrated financial need. Some require an application, while all students enrolled in the School of the Environment’s programs will be automatically considered for scholarships and awards that do not require an application.
Applications for graduating students are open. Please apply through this Microsoft Form by September 30, 2025.
Application-Based Undergraduate Scholarships & Awards
Applicants for most of these scholarships must have been registered in a program at the School during the previous academic year and still be registered in a program at the School in the current academic year with the following exceptions:
- The Catherine J. Riggall Award for Contributions to Sustainability is available to all U of T undergraduate students on all three campuses.
- The Douglas Pimlott Entrance Scholarship and the Barbara Green Scholarship in Environmental Entrepreneurship are entrance scholarships—applicants must have first enrolled in a program at the School in the current academic year.
- The Douglas Pimlott Graduating Scholarship is only available to students graduating in either June or October of the current year, enrolled in a Major or Specialist at the School.
Graduating students can apply for the Douglas Pimlott Graduating Scholarship and/or the Catherine J. Riggall Award through this Microsoft Form.
All other applications will open in July. The application form(s) will be posted on this page and sent to current School students at the corresponding time of year. Applications typically requrie a cover letter, resume, and an unofficial transcript (downloaded from ACORN), and will close annually on September 30.
Awarded to one or more outstanding undergraduate students enrolled full time in a program offered by the School of the Environment. Preference will be given to students who are focusing on studies of environment and development. However, this preference does not preclude other environmental students from being eligible.
Awarded based on merit to a full-time Canadian undergraduate student beginning year two in the School of the Environment, with consideration given to academic ability, a clear interest in the environment paired with an entrepreneurial interest and spirit, involvement in sports, culture and extracurricular activities, community engagement and contributions, and an interest in future environmental stewardship.
The award is renewable based on continued full-time registration in the School of the Environment and minimum annual GPA of 3.0. Canadian citizens and permanent residents are eligible to apply. The recipient will receive 25% of the awarded funds in Year Two, 35% in Year Three, and 40% in Year Four, with the award intended to cover ~50% of the three years’ tuition.
Awarded to an undergraduate student enrolled full time in a specialist or major program offered by the School of the Environment in the Faculty of Arts and Science, based on academic merit and financial need (under OTSS). Preference will be given to students taking courses in environmental science. Demonstrated commitment to social involvement in environmental issues will also be considered.
Awarded to outstanding undergraduate student(s) enrolled full time in a program offered by the School of the Environment. Preference is given to students who are focusing their environmental studies on climate (extra-curricular involvement with climate issues is also considered); however, this preference does not preclude other environmental students from being eligible.
Awarded to an undergraduate student, enrolled full time and specializing or majoring in Environmental Science. Consideration is given to students who have demonstrated involvement in sustainability issues. Recipients must be in good academic standing and have demonstrated financial need as determined by OTSS guidelines.
Douglas Pimlott Award
Awarded to one or more undergraduate students enrolled full time in a School of the Environment Major or Specialist program who demonstrates financial need (under OSOTF). In addition, (i) academic merit combined with (ii) a demonstrated commitment to social involvement in environmental issues are considered. The demonstrated commitment to social involvement is for activity undertaken before and particularly during enrolment at the University that shows a significant time commitment, leadership, and effectiveness in promoting environmental improvement. Typical activity is relevant volunteer or paid work, either alone or with organizations such as ENGOs (environmental non-government organizations, both grassroots and mainstream), government agencies or private sector organizations that promote environmental improvement through their activities, and the University of Toronto or other educational institutions.
Douglas Pimlott Entrance Scholarship
Awarded to an undergraduate student(s) enrolled full time and entering a School of the Environment Major or Specialist Program with (i) an excellent level of academic achievement combined with (ii) a demonstrated commitment to social involvement in environmental issues. The demonstrated commitment to social involvement is for activity undertaken before and particularly during enrolment at the University that shows a significant time commitment, leadership, and effectiveness in promoting environmental improvement. Typical activity is relevant volunteer or paid work either alone or with organizations such as ENGOs (environmental non-government organizations, both grassroots and mainstream), government agencies or private sector organizations that promote environmental improvement through their activities, and the University of Toronto or other educational institutions.
Douglas Pimlott Graduating Scholarship
Awarded to an undergraduate student, enrolled full time, and upon completion of a School of the Environment Major or Specialist program by the end of the summer of the year of the application deadline, with (i) an excellent level of academic achievement combined with (ii) a demonstrated commitment to social involvement in environmental issues. The demonstrated commitment to social involvement is for activity undertaken before and particularly during enrolment at the University that shows a significant time commitment, leadership, and effectiveness in promoting environmental improvement. Typical activity is relevant volunteer or paid work either alone or with organizations such as ENGOs (environmental non-government organizations, both grassroots and mainstream), government agencies or private sector organizations that promote environmental improvement through their activities, and the University of Toronto or other educational institutions.
To be awarded to a full-time third year undergraduate student enrolled full time in a BSc or BA major program offered by the School of the Environment in the Faculty of Arts & Science, who is pursuing studies focused on sustainability and who demonstrates extracurricular engagement in environmental advocacy and activism. Candidates will be selected on the basis of demonstrated strong academic performance, financial need and leadership on behalf of the environment either on the University of Toronto campus or within their community.
Awarded to one undergraduate student at the University of Toronto in recognition of outstanding accomplishment to enhance the sustainability of the University of Toronto and to engage students, faculty, staff and alumni in projects and initiatives that reduce the consumption of energy and natural resources. The scholarship is awarded on the basis of academic merit and personal leadership on issues of sustainability.
Awarded to full-time, undergraduate students in their third year, enrolled in the School of the Environment at the University of Toronto based on academic merit. Preference is given to a students studying topics relating to the environment and international development.
Awarded to a student enrolled full time in a program in the School of the Environment. Academic merit combined with preference for the following:
- Demonstrated passion for issues directly related to adaption and mitigation of climate change in Canada.
- Demonstrated desire to learn more about market-based instruments and their use by Governments, Industry and others as solutions to the challenge of climate change.
- Demonstrated interest in the use of international capital markets and the linkages to international carbon offset projects.
In-Course Undergraduate Scholarships & Awards
The following scholarships do not require an application. All students enrolled in the School of the Environment’s programs are automatically considered.
Awarded to an outstanding second or third year student in a Specialist or Major BA program in the School of the Environment.
Awarded to one or two undergraduate students enrolled in a BSc specialist or major program offered by the School of the Environment in the Faculty of Arts and Science, based on financial need (under OSOTF). Academic merit is also considered.
Awarded to an undergraduate third or fourth year student in a program offered by the School of the Environment, based on academic merit.
Awarded to a full-time undergraduate student in the School of the Environment on the basis of academic merit.
Awarded to an outstanding second or third year student in a program offered by the School of the Environment who has achieved a high mark in a course on environmental issues offered by or on behalf of the School.
Awarded to an outstanding third year student in a Specialist or double Major program in environmental studies in the School of the Environment and/or Geography.