The program hopes to offer incoming students financial assistance through fellowships, teaching assistantships and research assistantships. The availability of funding is subject to budget confirmations each year. Applicants should consult the program director. Canadian applicants are strongly encouraged seek out doctoral fellowships from Social Sciences and Humanties Research Counsel of Canada (SSHRC). Québec residents can also seek doctoral fellowships from Fonds de recherche sur la societe et la culture Quebec (FQRSC). International applicants can seek funding from FQRSC's MELS program. Incoming students who win major external awards (SSHRC or FQRSC) will be offered top-up funding from the School of Graduate Studies valued at $10,000.

Note: Students need to apply to these external funds in the Fall months that precedes their application to the PhD program to be eligible for top-up funding. The top-up funding will be offered as students receive the results from the granting agencies the following spring.