APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN
Call for 2025-2026 Graduate Student Applications for the R.F. Harney Graduate Research Fellowship in Ethnic, Immigration, and Pluralism Studies
The R.F. Harney Program in Ethnic, Immigration, and Pluralism Studies at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy is pleased to announce the R.F. Harney Graduate Research Fellowship in Ethnic, Immigration, and Pluralism Studies, an interdisciplinary initiative designed to support research by University of Toronto graduate students working at the intersection of citizenship, migration, and diversity. We invite graduate students from across the disciplines to apply for the R.F. Harney Graduate Research Fellowship in the 2025-2026 academic year.
The Graduate Research Fellowship program, now in its fifth year, provides students with opportunities for academic growth and community building with an interdisciplinary cohort approach that encourages sharing and deepening of knowledge. Fellows participate in tailored events, receive academic support, and are given opportunities to share their work and receive feedback from experts in the field.
Harney Graduate Research Fellows are expected to participate fully in the intellectual life of the Harney Program and to help develop the Harney Graduate Network by contributing to varied academic activities, including developing a workshop with their cohort. Fellows will also take part in community building activities such as reading groups and the Harney Lecture Series. We encourage applicants to visit our website to learn more about our program.
For the 2025-2026 academic year, such topics include, but are not limited to, the relationship between mobility and global inequality; the role of advanced digital technologies in migration and citizenship; decolonization and reconciliation in settler societies; changes in Canada’s immigration policies; and the impact of climate change on patterns of migration.
Related ongoing themes identified by the Harney Program are selective admission policies; dilemmas of collective identity and the rise of populist nationalism; the elastic boundaries of multicultural accommodation and their impact on religious, ethnic, sexual, and racial minorities. The Harney Program embraces a plurality of theoretical and methodological approaches. Interdisciplinary and comparative perspectives are welcomed.
We seek outstanding applicants whose research interests complement and strengthen the mission and network of the Harney Program. The selected awardees will carry the designation “R.F. Harney Graduate Research Fellow in Ethnic, Immigration and Pluralism Studies” and will receive a one-year fellowship award of $1,000 in the 2025-2026 academic year.
Requirements
Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited graduate or professional degree program at the University of Toronto. They must demonstrate a record of academic excellence and their research interests must be closely related to the Harney Program’s mission.
Application Process
Applicants must submit a letter of intention (maximum two pages) which clearly identifies how their research interests are connected to the Harney Program’s main themes; an updated curriculum vitae; and relevant official or unofficial transcripts for review by the selection committee. In the letter or CV, clearly identify your current program, department or academic unity and year of study.
All qualified candidates are invited to apply by submitting their application package to harneyprogram@utoronto.ca no later than 11:59pm on April 21, 2025. Please use the subject line: Harney Graduate Research Fellowship Application 2025: [LAST NAME].
Documents should be submitted as a single PDF file named [Last name] [First name].
Assessment Criteria
Applications will be reviewed based on:
- The relevance of the applicant’s research interests
- Academic excellence
- The quality of the applicant’s of research project (when applicable)
- The applicant’s expressed interest in contributing to the Harney Program’s intellectual endeavours
- Ensuring a diversity of perspectives
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 Fellows Program please contact us at harneyprogram@utoronto.ca
The 2024-25 Harney Program Fellows
The R.F. Harney Graduate Research Fellowship in Ethnic, Immigration, and Pluralism Studies, a flagship initiative by the R.F. Harney Program in Ethnic, Immigration, and Pluralism Studies at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, is dedicated to supporting cutting-edge research by University of Toronto graduate students at the intersection of citizenship, migration, and diversity.
Each fellow's work reflects a dedication to pushing the boundaries of knowledge within the diverse field of ethnic, immigration, and pluralism studies. Enrolled in accredited graduate or professional degree programs at the University of Toronto, these scholars showcase not only academic excellence but also a strong alignment with the mission of the Harney Program.
For the academic year 2024-2025, the selected fellows are delving into a range of compelling research topics. These encompass the intricate relationship between mobility and global inequality, the profound impact of emerging technologies on migration control, challenges to existing notions of belonging, and the complex influence of climate change on migration patterns both within nations and across borders.
Harney Graduate Research Fellows actively participate in the vibrant intellectual life of the Harney Program, contributing to its growth and enriching its network. Collaborative endeavors include active engagement in the Harney Lecture Series and the organization of a year-end symposium featuring their work.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to these remarkable individuals. Their contributions will contribute to the Harney Program's ongoing pursuit of fostering meaningful insights into the realms of ethnic, immigration, and pluralism studies.