Funding opportunities

Funding Opportunities

ONCAT drives efficiencies across the postsecondary system through the implementation of shared tools and evidence-based practices that empower learners to receive appropriate academic recognition for their previous postsecondary education, as well as the knowledge and skills they acquired through workplace, non-formal and informal learning experiences.  

To accelerate the expansion and enhancement of opportunities for learner mobility, ONCAT supports Ontario’s publicly assisted postsecondary sector through two broad categories of funding opportunities:   

• institutional grants for projects that bolster administrative capacity and/or foster productive collaboration related to learner mobility
• research grants for projects that generate new insights about issues related to learner mobility   

Funding opportunities for institutional projects 

Over the last three years (2023–24, 2024–25 and 2025–26), ONCAT has awarded approximately $7 million in funding to support 91 institutional projects at publicly assisted postsecondary colleges, universities and Indigenous Institutes across Ontario. These innovative projects are helping learners access educational opportunities, earn postsecondary credentials and transition to the labour market.  

In alignment with the Government of Ontario’s policy directions, ONCAT’s 2026–27 support for institutional projects will focus on the following activities:  

• promoting key insights and promising practices about learner mobility that were identified during recently completed ONCAT-funded institutional projects
• fostering collaborative partnerships that will enhance the potential scalability of currently active ONCAT-funded institutional projects 
• leading two new initiatives that will streamline opportunities for learner mobility across Ontario’s postsecondary sector: a centralized platform for prior learning assessment and recognition (PLAR) and a centralized platform for facilitating credit recognition of online courses 

Here are ONCAT’s 2026–27 funding opportunities for institutional projects: 

ONCAT Collaboration Grants support the development and implementation of learner-centric policies, practices and pathways across multiple postsecondary institutions or the entire postsecondary sector.

• In alignment with the Government of Ontario’s policy directions, the 2026–27 round of ONCAT Collaboration Grants will support projects that develop transfer pathways. 
• Letters of Interest are due by 4:00 p.m. on October 29, 2026.   

Note: ONCAT does not expect to announce a January or February 2027 application round of ONCAT Collaboration Grants (or for other funding opportunities that were offered by ONCAT during 2023–26). 

Funding opportunities for research projects 

ONCAT conducts research activities that investigate learner mobility, student transfer experiences, academic achievement, labour market outcomes, and other topics related to our core mandate. 

By providing postsecondary institutions with evidence-based recommendations to improve learner mobility, ONCAT plays an essential role in helping Ontario’s learners reach their educational and professional goals. 

In addition, ONCAT collaborates with external partners to pursue research activities that contribute to a greater understanding of learner mobility within Ontario’s postsecondary sector. 
 

Contact ONCAT

If you have questions or comments, contact Alison Rodriguez, Grants and Projects Specialist. 

ONCAT is funded by the Government of Ontario. All programs and details are subject to change without notice.