We encourage eligible teams and individual educators to submit proposals which will advance and implement the Partnered in Teaching and Learning Strategy. There are two grant streams, each with three grant categories. Grant applications submitted for the Digital Stream may be considered for funding through the Regular Stream, and vice-versa on the discretion of the Selection Committee.
Completed PTL Grants Application Forms (.docx download) (and supplemental materials for Garden grants) must be submitted via this Microsoft Form by June 1, 2026, 11:59 p.m.
Make sure you have reviewed the eligibility requirements and FAQ, and considered the following:
This year, we have allocated a special funding pool to support projects which advance digital learning at McMaster.
Projects which allocate at least 50% of their budget to compensating students to support online course development, and emulate the guiding principles and align with the strategic priorities of the Digital Learning Strategic Framework are eligible for this additional pool of funding. This centralized philosophy for digital learning at McMaster is People-Centered, places Learning First, focuses on Fostering Belonging, and emphasizes Flexibility Forward. It prioritizes:
PTL Seed Grants are valued up to a maximum of $4,000. Seed Grants encourage the implementation of projects and initiatives that immediately and directly impact student learning experiences within an academic course or in the co-curricular spaces between their courses. They are intended to encourage experimentation, innovation, and development within a course or a set of courses, fostering small-scale enhancements with the potential for future sustainability, transferability, and/or scalability. The overall aim is to foster deeper student learning and promote curiosity, reflection, and exploration in the areas of teaching and learning.
Projects eligible for this stream must allocate at least half of their proposed budget to funding student involvement in project work. Associated costs may include:
Note: a special pool of funding for dissemination activities will be made available in January 2027 for which Digital Stream Seed Grant recipients may apply.
PTL Grow Grants are valued up to a maximum of $8,000. These grants are designed to support work already underway, whether that be through a previous PTL grant or through other means. They will enable recipients to grow their projects through assessment of the transferability of innovations, more dissemination, and/or moving from research to practice. A central purpose of the Grow grant should be to collect evidence of the transferability of the innovation beyond a single learning context. At the end of the granting term, Grow grant recipients should feel prepared to advocate to the Department, Program, or Faculty for the need to sustain the innovation beyond the granting year.
Projects eligible for this stream must allocate at least half of their proposed budget to funding student involvement in project work. Expenses eligible for this stream may include:
Note: a special pool of funding for dissemination activities will be made available in January 2027 for which Digital Stream Grow Grant recipients may apply.
PTL Garden Grants are valued up to $20,000. Garden grant projects should enhance students’ educational experiences through larger-scale improvements to whole programs or the teaching cultures and strategic educational directions of departments, schools, or Faculties. The funding may also support interdisciplinary partnerships between programs, departments, or faculties and we particularly encourage interdisciplinary teams to apply. These projects should already have support from the Department, Program, or Faculty for their sustained adoption beyond the granting year. They should demonstrate potential for long-term and sustainable impact on student learning and show potential for integration into complementary programs and courses.
Note: a special pool of funding for dissemination activities will be made available in January 2027 for which Digital Stream Garden Grant recipients may apply.
Projects which are not focused on digital learning can still apply for funding under the General Stream.
We encourage applications from educators seeking to implement innovative and evidence-based initiatives and projects which align with one or more of the following impact areas within the Partnered in Teaching and Learning Strategy:
Seed Grants – General Stream
Projects eligible for this stream may include:
Grow Grants – General Stream
Garden Grants – General Stream
Yes, so long as you will be employed at McMaster for the duration of the grant term, and your home department/unit allows you to hold grant funds in a departmental or research chartfield. If you are uncertain, please contact your department/unit administrator to confirm.
No, grant recipients must be able to hold funds and supervise employees. Please partner with a staff or faculty member employed by McMaster University who can oversee funding and personnel.
Yes, though the two projects must differ substantially.
Yes! But you cannot receive funding for the same project you received the LTL fellowship to support. If you apply for both and receive both, you will be asked to select one or the other.
No, grant recipients must be able to hold funds in a McMaster University chartfield and supervise McMaster employees. Please partner with a staff or faculty member employed by McMaster University who can oversee funding and personnel.
Yes!
At least three reviewers, a student, a staff member, and a faculty member, contributing knowledge from a range of disciplines and perspectives will adjudicate each application. They will use an evaluation form to assess each of the following considerations:
Complete this branching scenario via Microsoft Forms to find out!
According to McMaster’s Research Accounts Policy,
“Research is comprised of research activity and research related activity and definitions are as follows:
For more details on research vs. operating activities, please see Appendix A of the Research Accounts Policy.
McMaster University follows the guidelines set out by Tri Council Policy Statement 2. Scoping of research versus non-research and projects requiring research ethics approval can be found on the Government of Canada Panel on Research Ethics website.
For further clarification or decision-making, please contact MREB or HiREB via email.
Consider whether any of the following types of impact assessment might apply:
Provide the following guidance for the letter writer:
This year, we have a Word document instead of an MS Form! So adding references is easier. Though citations are not included in the word count, we suggest applicants use them sparingly. Reviewers are not expected to consult the references cited in the application.