The Urban Policy Graduate Fellows program is an initiative by the Urban Policy Lab that offers students interested in cities and urban policy at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public 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 2020 to April 2021).
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 programming for students, such as organizing the Lab’s annual case competition, career/skills development programming, and other student-focused events
- Assisting with the Lab’s partner projects, such as collaborative research, seminars, etc.
- Promoting the Lab’s work through public outreach and communication activities (e.g, blog posts, social media presence, etc.)
Fellows will learn new skills and receive mentorship in key employability skills relevant to urban policy across different sectors, build relationships with MPP 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 Evergreen Canada, the Pembina Institute, and the City of Toronto. Due to COVID-related work disruptions, the exact nature of this year’s partnership is still being finalized.
Application Process
Interested students must submit (1) a current CV highlighting relevant skills and qualifications and (2) a short (max. one page) cover letter explaining their interest in urban policy, career ambitions related to cities, and most importantly, what they hope to contribute to the Lab in terms of potential programming and projects. Consult the Urban Policy Lab’s website for details on past and ongoing projects and events.
Please submit applications by Friday, August 21st using the following link: https://wp222203.wpdns.ca/applications
Interviews will take place the week of August 24th.
Feel free to contact Prof. Gabriel Eidelman by email (g.eidelman@utoronto.ca) if you have any questions not found in the FAQ below.
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. 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.