The Urban Policy Lab’s Graduate Fellows program offers Munk students interested in cities and urban policy the chance to participate in unique experiential learning opportunities, help coordinate the School’s urban-oriented extracurricular programming, and contribute to the Lab’s collaborative research, civic education, and outreach projects.
Eligibility and Financial Support
Up to four fellowships are available to second-year MPP or MGA students. Each fellowship comes with a $3,000 tuition bursary, in recognition of the time commitment involved (approx. 10-15 hours/week, September 2024 to April 2025).
Role and Responsibilities
Fellows comprise the Lab’s student leadership team, and are thus expected to make substantive contributions to Lab operations, including:
- Designing and coordinating extracurricular training and professional development programming for students, such as organizing the Lab’s annual case competition, mentorship program, career/skills development workshops, and other student-focused events
- Assisting with partnerships projects, such as collaborative research reports and civic education initiatives
- Promoting the Lab’s work through public and professional outreach
Fellows will receive mentorship in key employability skills relevant to urban policy across different sectors, build relationships with Munk alumni in the field, and gain access to professional development workshops and networking opportunities via Lab partners.
In addition, fellows will have the opportunity to contribute to a real-world urban policy project over the course of the academic year, working closely with experienced practitioners at one of the Lab’s partner organizations. Past partners have included the City of Toronto, Evergreen Canada, the Pembina Institute, CivicAction, the Toronto Region Board of Trade, and the Urban Economy Forum.
Application Process
Interested students must submit (1) a current CV highlighting relevant skills and qualifications and (2) a short (max. one page) cover letter demonstrating their interest in urban policy, career ambitions related to cities, and most importantly, what they hope to contribute to the Lab in terms of creative programming and projects. Consult the Urban Policy Lab’s website and social media channels for details on past and ongoing projects and events.
Reach out to Lab Director Gabriel Eidelman by email (g.eidelman@utoronto.ca) to ask any questions not found in the FAQ below.
Please submit applications by 9am ET, Monday, March 25, using the following link: https://urbanpolicylab.ca/applications
Interviews will take place the same week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is it realistic to work part-time during the fellowship?
A. Only you can fully assess your capacity to manage multiple commitments. But based on the experiences of past fellows, we do not recommend working part-time during the fellowship.
Q. Can I lead other student initiatives in addition to being a UPL fellow?
A. No. It is possible to participate in other student initiatives in a supporting role (e.g., as an analyst for EDPP). But it is unrealistic to take on a leadership/director role over and above your responsibilities with the Lab.
Q. Can I be a UPL fellow if I will be on exchange in the fall term?
A. Yes. But you must clearly explain in your application how you will make a meaningful contribution to the Lab while abroad, and how your international experience will specifically enhance your contributions to the Lab after you return.
Q. How many ideas for projects and events should I include in my application?
A. As many as possible! The number of projects and events the Lab works on each year depends in large part on the passion and dedication of its fellows. We encourage you to be as ambitious and creative as possible.