About APUF & Eligibility

About APUF

Group of students working together around a table using laptop and writing on paper.

The Access Programs University Fund (APUF) is a Provostial fund, launched in 2019, that supports access initiatives at the University of Toronto. The Access Strategy & Partnerships Office (ASPO) defines “Access Programs” as initiatives that support traditionally underrepresented groups with pathways and opportunities for post-secondary education, such as transition to university, bridging programs for adults with diverse educational backgrounds, and exposure to career paths for underrepresented youth. Access also involves service-based planning and programming within university divisions, departments, learning approaches, technologies, and student services.  

APUF offers up to $100,000/per year in funding for 1-year or 2-year grants.

NEW Indigenous Access Stream

In 2026, ASPO introduced the Indigenous Access Stream (IAS), an additional APUF stream that invites proposals for initiatives that thoughtfully consider and address the unique context of Indigenous learners’ access to post-secondary education.

This stream is aligned with ASPO’s 2025-2027 thematic focus on Access to Post-secondary Education for Indigenous Learners.

Initiative Goals

All proposals should align with at least one of the following goals:

Expanding, replicating, adapting, or scaling an existing program (e.g., partnering with other U of T access programs, expanding community/school partners; increasing number of participants)
Developing a new initiative/program that focuses on creating intentional pathways to post-secondary education
Building relationships and fostering collaboration including with divisional access and outreach offices and across the University to ensure strategic alignment with collective access goals
Building relationships and fostering collaboration and partnerships with communities including but not limited to agencies, school boards, Indigenous communities (e.g., band offices, regional offices/organizations, justice circles/programs, and community councils) for the purposes of supporting access to post-secondary education
Supporting experiential learning opportunities for University of Toronto students through engagement with diverse communities and potential students for the purposes of supporting access to post-secondary education

In addition to the general selection criteria, Indigenous Access Stream proposals must align with these selection criteria:

Develop through Indigenous co-design & meaningful participation
Include Indigenous knowledge, leadership & community partnership
Foster belonging and culturally grounded & holistic supports for Indigenous learners

This stream and the relevant selection criteria are informed by recommendations and promising practices identified in consultations with staff and faculty who support Indigenous learners.

Eligibility Criteria

Submissions will be accepted from University of Toronto faculty and staff with continuing appointments.  Students may apply as co-lead in applications submitted by faculty or staff.

APUF seeks to support divisional and university access to postsecondary education goals, which may be defined differently in different areas.

Eligible initiatives may focus on:

Outreach & Engagement: increase awareness and understanding of post-secondary pathways
Access & Transition: promote successful academic and social transitions to post-secondary education
Retention & Persistence: support learners to complete and graduate from postsecondary programs

Proposals may:

Replicate, expand, or adapt a program or project with a track record of success 
Build a new access program or project

Note:  APUF grant funds are reserved for new and one-time new expansions to programs. Programs are expected to move to sustainability following the APUF funding period. APUF is not intended to continue funding established programs.

The primary participants of the initiative must be domestic or permanent resident status learners from Ontario who are underrepresented at universities and who might not access or thrive in post-secondary education without the provision of supports, pathways, structured programs and/or opportunities to continue learning at the post-secondary level. 

Proposals may include a wide range of activities spanning the project cycle from planning, implementation and evaluation.

For details on eligible expenses, refer to the 2026-27 APUF Budget Guideline.

Disclaimer related to research activities

APUF is primarily a grant to develop or expand initiatives/programs that focus on creating intentional pathways to post-secondary education; it is not a research grant. While a research component to a project may be appropriate, the sole purpose of a proposal should not be the production and dissemination of new research.

If a component or planned activity of a project proposal is research based, please ensure that Research Services has been consulted for ethics guidance. At the time of submission, include a formal letter or email notification from the University of Toronto Research Ethics Board stating that ethics has been approved, the project is exempt, or that it is pending. Researchers wishing to access student data held by the University, such as ROSI data, should review the Guidelines and Procedures Regarding Access to University of Toronto Faculty, Students and Staff for Research Purposes.

Reporting

As a condition of funding, project leads are asked to submit an interim and final status report. Your report should reflect the proposed activities, timeline and budget submitted in your application.

A reminder will be sent prior to the due date.

Reporting Timeline

Initiatives with 1-year funding
- Interim 6-month check-in: Due April 15
- Final report: Due October 15
Initiatives with 2-year funding:
- Interim report: Due October 15 of the year following funding
- Final report: Due October 15 of the subsequent year

Reporting Forms

Note:  Variances to the reporting deadlines will be considered based on circumstances. Please contact ASPO at access@utoronto.ca. 