Burstow Scholarship for Studies in Activism from the Margins

The Burstow Scholarship for Studies in Activism from the Margins was established with the support of Professor Bonnie Burstow and other donors. This scholarship is awarded based on academic merit to registered graduate students working on a thesis focused on activism by populations traditionally thought of as mad, or which would once have been so conceptualized. The School of Graduate Studies is expecting to award approximately eight scholarships per year. Recipients must be registered in a full-time master's or doctoral program at the University of Toronto in the 2025-2026 academic year and must be in a program with a thesis requirement. Students in professional degree programs without a thesis are ineligible to apply. Eligible students must be conducting research leading to a thesis in the field of radical mad perspectives or mad studies, which may include trans-disciplinary mad studies focused on non-medicalized approaches to madness in relation to disability, history, gender, sexuality, age, culture, normalcy, and other intersections. Applications will be assessed on their merit, quality of research, the vision that they bring to their endeavours, and the significance of the applicant's work. Selection criteria include a statement of research demonstrating how the applicant's work falls within the field of radical mad perspectives or mad studies and its potential contribution to the advancement of knowledge; academic achievements demonstrated by transcripts, awards and distinctions; relevant professional, academic, and extracurricular experience; and the letter of recommendation. Results are communicated in late June 2025.