IBET Momentum Fellowships
Overview
Application cycle for 2025-2026 is now open
The Indigenous and Black Engineering and Technology (IBET) Momentum Fellowships aim to provide pathways that encourage and support the pursuit of graduate studies by under-represented groups.
The program goal is to remove historical and systemic barriers to participation by Indigenous and Black scholars and increasing the number of Indigenous (First Nations, Metis and Inuit) and Black engineering professors teaching and researching in universities across Ontario.
Each year, two (2) IBET Momentum Fellowship recipients will receive financial support, mentorship, training and networking opportunities to foster a robust professional community for participating PhD candidates.
The value of the IBET fellowship is $25,000 a year for four years for graduate students to pursue a doctorate degree in the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering.
IBET Momentum Fellows will be offered a unique experience as PhD students, as they will be given the opportunity to rotate between selected labs and supervisors during their first term of registration into the PhD program.
Rotations are an effective way to clarify research interests and explore different supervisory styles, lab environments and to help build a network.
All applicants to the IBET Fellowship who meet the eligibility requirements will have their U of T School of Graduate Studies application fee reimbursed. See reimbursement instructions.
PhD students who hold a Major Scholarship such (as the IBET Fellowship) are not eligible* for the entire value of the base funding package provided to research-stream students by their home department/supervisor. However, they will be eligible to receiving a fraction of the base-funding package as a top-up. Please refer to the graduate unit department funding policy for a breakdown and the exact annual funding package for IBET fellows as this may vary depending on which department or institute you will be admitted to and registered in.
Program Features
Meet the IBET Momentum Fellowship Winners
2024-2025 Recipient
2023-2024 Recipient
2021-2022 Recipient
Eligibility and Selection Criteria
Eligibility to apply for the IBET Momentum Fellowship
- Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada who self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Metis and Inuit) or Black (African-Canadian, Caribbean-Canadian, or Afro-Caribbean heritage).
- Meet the minimum admissions requirements for admission to the PhD program in their selected graduate unit in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering at the University of Toronto.
- Applicants to the flexible-time PhD are eligible to apply to the IBET Fellowship. However, flexible-time applicants can only be admitted by a department where the flexible-time PhD program is offered, currently in University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies, Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Civil and Mineral Engineering, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering and Materials Science Engineering.
- Has submitted an application to apply to a PhD program in engineering and received an application number. Review PhD program application process and deadlines. If deadlines have already passed, please reach out to David Duong (d.duong@utoronto.ca) for assistance on how you can apply.
- Planning to start their PhD program in September 2025 or January 2026.
- Due to the central role of the rotations in this initiative, students planning to by-pass/transfer to the PhD from the master’s program are not eligible.
Eligibility to hold the IBET Momentum Fellowship
- Has been admitted into the PhD program and will be starting their PhD program in September 2025 or January 2026 in a Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering department or institute.
- Registered full time in a PhD program in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering.
- Students that engage in lab rotations must choose a permanent primary PhD supervisor by the start of their second term.
- Must maintain satisfactory progression in academic program to remain eligible.
Selection criteria
Once all eligibility criteria are met, a candidate’s application is assessed on their highlighted community leadership, engagement and professional commitment particularly within/for Indigenous and/or Black communities.
Candidates are advised to highlight these elements throughout application.
Note that the level of interest of the candidate in completing rotations is not a selection criterion.
Application Process
Step 1
To qualify, you first need to apply for the U of T Engineering PhD program directly with a graduate unit. Prospective IBET applicants do not need to have identified a PhD supervisor when they submit an application to a PhD program.
Review PhD program application process and deadlines. If deadlines have already passed, please reach out to David Duong (d.duong@utoronto.ca) for assistance on how you can apply.
Step 2
After you have applied to the U of T PhD program, to apply for the IBET Momentum Fellowship and submit your documents, please complete the IBET Momentum Fellowship application form.
All applicants to the IBET Fellowship who meet the eligibility requirements will have their U of T School of Graduate Studies application fee reimbursed. See reimbursement instructions.
As part of the application, you will be required to submit all of the following as a single PDF file by email to David Duong (d.duong@utoronto.ca) in the Graduate Studies Office.
- Your CV
- A one-page statement on your involvement and contribution to the underrepresented student community with which you identify
- If applicable, a half-page statement signaling your interest in completing optional rotations through up to 3 laboratories in the first 4 to 6 months of your program, before choosing a permanent primary PhD supervisor
- A letter of reference, written and signed by someone who can speak to your contributions and development within community-based leadership, engagement and professional commitment (particularly within/for one’s own ethno-cultural or racial community). The reference’s contact details should be included in the letter.
The IBET Momentum Fellowship evaluation committee will include members of the Engineering Graduate Education Committee in collaboration with members of U of T Engineering’s Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Professionalism and members of the Indigenous and Black communities.
Deadline to apply to PhD program directly with graduate units
Review PhD program application process and deadlines.
If deadlines have already passed, please reach out to David Duong, d.duong@utoronto.ca for assistance on how you can apply.
Deadline to apply to IBET Momentum Fellowships
Once you have submitted an application to apply to a PhD program in engineering and received an application number, submit your IBET Momentum Fellowships application by:
February 29th, 2025
Results
Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering office of the Vice Dean Graduate will notify all applicants regarding the status of their application by the end of April 2025.
Have questions about the fellowship or our PhD program?
Contact David Duong in the U of T Engineering Graduate Studies Office: d.duong@utoronto.ca.
The Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering is committed to achieving equity and professionalism at all levels of our school while promoting an inclusive culture in how our Faculty looks, feels and acts. This initiative is part of our Faculty’s holistic approach to improving representation within our community and advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in our programs. Visit uofteng.ca/EDI for more information on our work.