FINANCIAL AID
TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID
Bursaries:
A bursary is a monetary or equivalent award granted to a student or potential student to enable that person to continue his/her studies. It is based primarily on financial need, but academic standing may also be considered.
Scholarships:
A scholarship is a monetary award or equivalent granted to a student for educational expenses. It is usually based on academic achievement, although financial need may also be considered. Recipients are selected according to criteria established by the donor.
For information about scholarships and bursaries offered by individual colleges and universities, please contact the Financial Aid Office or visit its web site. For a more extensive list of scholarships and awards available nationally or in your local area, visit the guidance office. There are also a number of web sites with scholarship information, such as:
http://www. Scholarshipscanada.com
For Aboriginal students:
http://www.treaty7.org/friends/casts/castsch.htm
Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)
This government loan program assists qualifying full-time and part-time students form Ontario in need of financial aid.
Apply for OSAP well in advance as it takes four to sex weeks to process applications. There is no charge for applications filed through the OSAP website (http://osap.gov.on.ca/), although an application fee of $10 will apply for students filing paper applications. Application forms are usually available from high schools and colleges and universities in May.
If you require information regarding your OSAP application, you can call the automated response line at 1-900-565-OSAP (6727) (for a $2 charge) or you can use the OSAP website to check the status of your application at no charge.
The Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation provides over $100 million in awards to more than 35,000 Ontario students per year. Find out more about these scholarships on the Canada Millenium Scholarships web site at
http://www.milleniumscholarships.ca/.
Garfield Weston Merit Scholarship for Colleges (GWMSC)
Up to 80 awards ranging from $1,000 to $27,000, based on aptitude for; field of study, leadership potential and community involvement. Students entering 2 or 3 year diploma programs at Ontario’s Colleges are eligible to apply. Visit the web site at http://www.gwmsc.ca for details and an application.
In addition, the Government of Ontario provides financial assistance through other programs such as: