Graduate Programs
The Collaborative Master’s and Doctoral Specialization in South Asian Studies offers entry into a graduate student community, as well as a basic methodological grounding for students already accepted into a graduate program in one of the collaborating departments. The program is designed to give students an interdisciplinary overview for the critical study of South Asia as a field of expertise and as a lens through which to read a wide range of global processes. Engagement with these questions through the collaborative program will be noted on the transcripts of participating students.
All students who wish to participate in the collaborative program, at the Master’s or PhD level, are required to take the core course, SAS2004H, Critical Issues in South Asian Studies: A Region and the Disciplines. This course aims to familiarize students with aspects of the construction and critique of area studies, the history of disciplinary engagement with the region, and major contemporary debates in the field. The most recent syllabus is available to view here (subject to change).
Students in the program are also required to be active participants in the Centre for South Asian Studies lecture and seminar series. The wide range of events organized by the Centre and the Asian Institute offer a significant opportunity for students to think critically about the role of area studies in providing new perspectives on problems of universal significance, as well as to meet regularly and build a community.
Please note that the Centre for South Asian Studies does not grant degrees. Students interested in pursuing an MA or PhD with a strong South Asia component must apply to one of the Centre’s participating home departments:
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
MASTER’S PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
- A mandatory half-year core course, SAS2004H, Critical Issues in South Asian Studies: A Region and the Disciplines. With the permission of the home graduate unit, the core course can be taken in lieu of one of the courses required by the home unit.
- Attendance at a minimum of 2 lectures per term from the Centre for South Asian Studies lecture series during the academic year in which the student takes the core course (September to May). You must register online for the lectures to confirm attendance.
- If writing a thesis, it is expected to include a significant South Asian component.
DOCTORAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
- A mandatory half-year core course, SAS2004H, Critical Issues in South Asian Studies: A Region and the Disciplines (unless already taken in the master’s program). With the permission of the home graduate unit, the core course can be taken in lieu of one of the courses required by the home unit.
- Active participation at a minimum of 2 lectures per term from the Centre for South Asian Studies lecture series for a total of two years, including the academic year in which the student takes the core course.
- The dissertation must include a significant South Asian component, with appropriate language skills as necessary.
- A research presentation in the Asian Institute PhD Seminar Series on a South Asian topic in year 3, 4, or 5 of the program. Students must contact the Program Administrator at ai.asianstudies@utoronto.ca in September to schedule the presentation for that academic year. The student’s dissertation committee should be in attendance at the talk.
application procedures
PROSPECTIVE GRADUATE STUDENTS
Annual Deadline: March 1
Students who are not yet enrolled in a graduate program at the University of Toronto should apply to a graduate degree program offered by one of the collaborating departments (listed above) through the School of Graduate Studies online application at https://apply.sgs.utoronto.ca. In the collaborative programs section of the application, indicate that you would like to apply to the South Asian Studies collaborative program. Your statement of interest should indicate that your research will include a significant South Asia focus. If you are accepted into the home department, we will review your application for admission into our program.
CURRENT GRADUATE STUDENTS
Annual Deadline: October 1 (Master’s); March 1 (PhD)
Students who are already enrolled in a graduate program at the University of Toronto can apply to join the collaborative program. Students must arrange for their home department to forward a copy of their complete application (including SGS online application summary form, statement of interest, letters of reference, transcripts, and curriculum vitae) to the South Asian Studies Program Administrator at ai.asianstudies@utoronto.ca by the deadline posted above. If necessary, an updated statement of interest should be provided to indicate the South Asia research focus.
SCHOLARSHIPS AND BURSARIES
The Centre for South Asian Studies administers a number of awards to support graduate student research on South Asia.
The application deadline for 2022 will be April 12. Students may apply for more than one award, as long as their research fits the general description of any given award. Results are announced and funds are disbursed in May.
Please submit separate applications for each award. For each separate application, please submit the following documents in a single pdf file titled with your last name and the award title, eg., LastName.IndCanAdvisoryGrp.pdf. Send them via email with the subject line CSAS 2022/Award Title (eg., CSAS2022/India-Canada Association Scholarship) to ai.asianstudies@utoronto.ca.
- Proposal for the deployment of funds, based on your academic research and project (500 words)
- Curriculum vitae (including contact information and the names and contact information for 2 academic referees)
- Academic transcript (printout or pdf from ACORN is fine)
- A 5–10 page writing sample
- If the award you are applying for is an OSOTF award, then you must also complete the SGS Financial Needs Assessment Form. This is only necessary for awards with an asterisk (*) below. This may be submitted as a separate pdf with your application pdf file.
DILJIT AND GULSHAN JUNEJA AWARD FOR SOUTH ASIAN STUDIES*
Value: Approximately $566 – $1,133
Description and eligibility: Awarded to one or more master’s or doctoral students in any department or faculty in the University whose course program or research is concentrated in the area of South Asian Studies. This is an OSOTF award and is made on the basis of qualifying Ontario residency, financial need, and academic merit.
2020-2021 Recipient: Asmita Bhutani
INDIA’S 50th ANNIVERSARY GRADUATE PRIZE*
Value: Approximately $1,259 – $2,519
Description and eligibility: Awarded to one or more students. Recipients must be enrolled at the graduate level in social sciences or humanities, and their study or research must be focused on India. This is an OSOTF award and is made on the basis of qualifying Ontario residency, financial need, and academic merit.
2020-2021 Recipient: Victoria Sheldon
INDIA-CANADA ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP
Value: Approximately $1,023 – $3,070
Description and eligibility: Awarded to one or more graduate students at the University of Toronto engaged in research in the field of South Asian Studies. This award is made on the basis of academic merit. Preference will be given to candidates whose research activities require travel to India.
2020-2021 Recipient: Henria Aton, Aakash Solanki, Siddharth Sridhar
INDO-CANADIAN ADVISORY GROUP BURSARY FOR THE STUDY OF INDIA*
Value: Approximately $2,326
Description and eligibility: Recipient must be enrolled in the Collaborative Master’s or Doctoral Specialization in South Asian Studies. Preference will be given to students whose course of study or research is focused on India. This is an OSOTF award and is made on the basis of qualifying Ontario residency, financial need, and academic merit.
2020-2021 Recipient: Asmita Bhutani
SANDHYA AND RITEN RAY AWARD FOR INDIAN PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION
Value: Approximately $519 – $1,038
Description and eligibility: Awarded to one or more graduate students at the University of Toronto who have demonstrated excellence in study or research in religion and/or philosophy of India, preferably with special emphasis on humanism and spiritualism in ancient Indian philosophy. Excellence may be demonstrated by grades in courses, academic essays, or research (in progress or completed).
2020-2021 Recipient: Tony Scott, Andrea Wollein
SHIRLEY ULDALL MEMORIAL BOOK PRIZE*
Value: Approximately $262
Description and eligibility: Awarded to one or more graduate students in the Collaborative Master’s or Doctoral Specialization in South Asian Studies who has completed or is currently taking SAS2004H. This is an OSOTF award and is made on the basis of qualifying Ontario residency, financial need, and academic merit.
2020-2021 Recipient: Victoria Sheldon