The Social Media Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University welcomes expressions of interest from international PhD students interested in applying for a short-term research visit to conduct joint research at the Social Media Lab through Canadian government-funded exchange programs.
These opportunities support visiting graduate students currently enrolled at post-secondary institutions outside Canada. Applications are administered through TMU Global and funded by Global Affairs Canada.
Available scholarship programs
Eligible applicants may apply through one of the following programs, depending on their home country:
- Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program (ELAP)
Open to students from Latin America and the Caribbean. - Study in Canada Scholarships (SiCS)
Open to students from selected countries and territories:- Asia: Bangladesh, Nepal, Taiwan;
- Europe: Turkey, Ukraine;
- Middle East and North Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia;
- Sub-Saharan Africa: Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda
All programs support short-term research stays in Canada, typically lasting 4 to 12 months, depending on the program. These are not degree programs.
Funding overview
Scholarship amounts vary by program and duration. For graduate research visits, funding generally ranges from ~CAD $8,600 to $14,000, with some variation depending on length of stay and program stream.
Applying with the Social Media Lab
Due to the tight timeline for this application, interested candidates should send their CV and a brief expression of interest to [email protected] no later than March 5, 2026 to be considered for support and supervision.
If selected, be ready to work on the application for the submission to TMU Global by March 10, 2026 (11:59 PM EST). TMU Global will submit eligible applications on behalf of candidates to Global Affairs Canada. Final decisions are expected by the end of Spring 2026.
In your expression of interest letter, please clearly indicate why you are interested in working with the Social Media Lab and how your research aligns with the Lab’s areas of expertise. We particularly welcome proposals in one of the following areas:
- This research stream takes a comprehensive, multi-platform look at how generative AI is reshaping the production and consumption of visual content on social media. The study asks three core questions: (i) How has the introduction of generative AI tools changed the creation, consumption, and circulation of images on social platforms? (ii) How do users engage with authentic versus AI-generated images, including content labeled “Created with AI”? (iii) Which social, platform-specific, or artifact-related factors influence the virality of AI-generated images? Visit the Deepfakes Tracker research portal for more details about this research stream.
- As part of the pan-Canadian “Migrant Integration in the Mid-21st Century” initiative led by Toronto Metropolitan University, this research stream examines the digital landscape of narratives and public discourse targeting immigrants and immigration policies. The project specifically examines how toxic, anti-social behavior on social media shapes societal attitudes toward immigrants and refugees.
- This research stream explores the complex information environment surrounding the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, which is heavily saturated with misinformation, disinformation, and conspiracy theories. By tracking and analyzing false narratives as they circulate online, the project examines who spreads them, how they gain traction, and how social media platform features contribute to their reach. Visit the Russia-Ukraine ConflictMisinfo Research Portal for more details about this research stream.