Bursaries and Educational Opportunities

Living and Learning Grant

Individuals (23-26 years of age) who left the care of an Ontario Children’s Aid Society and received Ready Set Go program financial support may be eligible for a. This grant provides additional funds above the regular full-time OSAP funding limits. You’re automatically considered for this grant when you submit an OSAP Application for Full-Time Students. Supporting documents may be required to confirm your eligibility.

Individuals 18 to 26 years old as of the start of their study period who are in or were formerly in the care of an Ontario Children’s Aid Society and are not receiving Ready Set Go program financial support may also be eligible for the Living and Learning Grant. Eligible individuals include those currently or formerly:

·       in extended society care in Ontario

·       subject to a customary care agreement in Ontario

·       subject to a protection custody order

·       receiving support under a Voluntary Youth Services Agreement

Individuals who were formerly in care and were adopted on or after August 1, 2013, may also be eligible. Contact the financial aid office at your postsecondary institution for details on the review process to be considered for this grant.

Refund application fees – (please note that some university and colleges can provide you with a code so that you would not have to pay the application fee.)

If you are currently or were formerly in extended society care in Ontario — regardless of age, income or adoption status — you can get a refund for the fees you pay when you apply to:

·       an approved program at a college, university or Indigenous Institute

·       a first postsecondary degree, diploma or certificate

You can apply for a refund for your current academic year as well as for application fees you paid for the 2 previous academic years.

You need to apply for the refund.

·       print an Ontario Postsecondary Application Fee Reimbursement Program form

·       complete and sign the form (it includes information about your status and education)

·       mail the form to the address in the application

The refund amount depends on the school(s) you applied to.

Learn more: Ontario Postsecondary Application Fee Reimbursement Program

OSAP for under-represented learners | ontario.ca

1.     Indigenous students

2.     Individuals in or formerly in society care (previously known as Crown wards)

3.     First-generation students

4.     Students with disabilities

5.     Students who are Deaf or hard of hearing

6.     Ontario Disability Support Program 

7.     Ontario Works

Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada

Jasmine Yiweza, Program Coordinator
(416) 923-0924, ext. 246

jyiweza@cafdn.org

Career and Academic Funding – cafdn

Scholarships

Ranging from $2,500 to $5,000 and available once a year through a competitive process. Applications will open in January for the academic year beginning in September, or January. To be eligible for a scholarship, applicants must be:

·       A permanent ward, or were a permanent ward of a Child Welfare Agency for at least 12 months, or are/were eligible for a provincial or territorial extended care program, such as Continued Care and Support for Youth (CCSY), or Voluntary Youth Services Agreement (VYSA)

·       Be age 18 or be under the age of 30 when starting or continuing in your program

·       Are planning to attend a program at a post-secondary institution either full-time or on a reduced schedule due to an accommodation, for a full academic year starting in September or January

If you have questions about eligibility, the online form and its questions, or the supplementary documents detailed on the application form, please contact grants@cafdn.org.

Bursary

Bursary awards are available throughout the school year to full- and part-time post-secondary students who meet the eligibility criteria. Bursaries are for a maximum of $2,000 for full-time students and up to $200 per course for part-time students.

To be eligible for a bursary, applicants must be:

·       Not currently receiving a Foundation Scholarship or bursary

·       Have been or will be in the temporary or permanent care of the Ministry or Department responsible for child protection services up until your age of majority birthday or had been in permanent care of the Ministry or Department responsible for child protection services for at least 12 months. More Details.

·       Are under the age of 30 if you have or are currently receiving Foundation supports; or

·       Are over the age of 30 and have not received a Foundation Scholarship or Bursary before

Graduation Award!

Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada scholarship or bursary recipients who have completed the programs they received support for, are eligible to apply for a Foundation Graduation Award which grants $500 for each year of their program length (to a maximum of $2000).

Apply today, whether you have already graduated, or anticipate graduating this year. For more information, and the application link, visit our website for more info and scroll down to “Apply for a graduation award”.

Child Welfare Political Action Committee (PAC) Canada
Our Work | Child Welfare PAC

Free tuition at 48 post-secondary schools across 8 provinces. Their website will list the university/colleges, contacts, eligibility and number of spaces available at each institution.

Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies (OACAS)

Clark Bursary Award (check on the site during the summer months)

Clark Bursary Award Program – Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies

Applicants may be eligible to receive a $2,000 Clark Bursary Award, paid in one lump sum. Check the website for when applications are open.

Eligibility Criteria:

§  Be 30 years of age or under at the time of application.

§  Be/have been in the care of an Ontario children’s aid society or an Indigenous Child and Family Well-Being Agency (Crown Wards/Extended Society Wards, those under Voluntary Youth Services Agreements (VYSA) and those in Customary Care. At this time, those in Kinship Service and Care, adoption or interim society care will be considered not eligible)

§  Be in, entering or graduating from a post-secondary educational activity (trade, apprenticeship or university of college program) OR

§  Be 18+ and completing secondary school credits through an adult learning centre or credit completion program.

§  Provide proof of educational activity (class schedule, transcript, graduation diploma, certificate, invoice, or other proof of an expense related to education, training, or certification). The activity must be current, planned for the next semester or within the 12 months prior to submission.

Hamilton Community Foundation:

Scholarships and Bursaries — Hamilton Community Foundation 

Geritol Follies (October deadline) – Students interested in pursuing studies in the performing arts (voice, drama, dance or musical instrument).  Student must be a graduate of a publicly funded high school in Hamilton or Burlington.

Chaney Ensign (October and February deadlines)
The Chaney-Ensign Bursary Fund provides educational bursaries to students who demonstrate financial need and who have graduated from a publicly funded Hamilton high school. Students must attend an approved college or university in Canada or, for specialized programs, in the United States. Students must have applied for OSAP funding to receive this bursary. Students submit a budget and funds are allocated accordingly.

David Davis Memorial Bursary (October deadline)

For students pursuing a music degree.

HCF also offers several student awards through post-secondary institutions. In most cases, students apply through their financial aid office for consideration. Preference is often given to students graduating from a Hamilton high school. For more information go to McMaster University: Student Financial Aid & Scholarships – McMaster University – Modern

McMaster Bursaries:

Ross F. Webb Bursary

Russell & Elizabeth Lindley Bursary

Business, Commerce or Management (available for students in the DeGroote School of Business)

Bernie Morelli Memorial Bursary

Music   Hamilton Community Foundation Music Bursary

Undergraduate Medical (available for students in the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine)

McMaster Scholarships:

Rundle Foreign Study Scholarship (supports studies outside North America

(where English is not the first language)

E.B. Eastburn Postdoctoral Fellowship Fund (supports a full-time, post-doctoral student in the sciences at McMaster University)

·       Mohawk College: How to Apply for Full-time Student Awards | Mohawk College

Charlie and Mabel Duncan Memorial Bursary (Child and Youth Care, Early Childhood Education, Educational Support, Social Service Worker, various Engineering programs)

·       Awards selected by faculties:

McMaster University: Manufacturing Engineering – Grace Dorothy & William P. Carpenter scholarship award

Mohawk College: Tool and Die Design- Grace Dorothy Carpenter Award and

William P. Carpenter Award, Mechanical and Industrial Technology- Phyllis Mary Carpenter Award

University of Guelph: Environmental Engineering -Phyllis Mary Carpenter Award

McMaster University Access Award:

Contact Jen Pearson at access1@mcmaster.ca

Deadline: February (References required)

The Access Award provides up to $20,000 per year for four years of post-secondary education at McMaster. Plus, student receives mentorship, guaranteed employment opportunities, and academic supports to set them up for success.

This award’s for academically qualified students from equity-deserving and historically under-represented groups in Hamilton and the surrounding area.

YESC Bursary:

Contact Jen Pearson at access1@mcmaster.ca

Deadline: May

A variable amount of aid and award bursary funding is available towards tuition and compulsory fees for students at McMaster. This award covers student tuition fees for students who will or have expired out of extended society care in Ontario (not publicly adopted) in the Greater Golden Horseshoe Area with a minimum of one year in extended society care. **Often students are identified through OSAP applications but it is helpful to directly apply.

Dundas Valley School of Art (DVSA):

https://dvsa.ca/full-time-bursary/

Offering a 3-year bursary that covers the full cost of tuition for a student entering their Diploma in Fine Art Studio Practice and Theory program.  DVSA’s full-time, 3-year college diploma program is dedicated to the study and practice of contemporary art in a multidisciplinary environment. Students will gain the skills and knowledge they need to move forward as professional artists and/or work in the visual arts industry.

The 3-Year Bursary is intended to support folks from marginalized or equity-seeking communities including, but not limited to folks living in poverty, Black, Indigenous and People of Colour, disabled folks and 2SLGBTQIA+. Applicants must able to demonstrate financial need and must also apply to the diploma program. Only successful program applicants will be considered for the bursary.

For questions about the bursary process, please contact our Executive Director, Kathron Hann. kathronh@dvsa.ca

Indspire

https://indspire.ca/programs/students/bursaries-scholarships/

Indspire’s Building Brighter Futures: Bursaries and Scholarships (BBF) program opens doors through education for First Nations, Inuit and Metis students attending full and part time studies in college, university, skilled trades, apprenticeships, and technology programs. There is one application for all of Indspire’s bursaries and scholarships (with a few exceptions). Only one application needed to be considered for all applicable bursaries and scholarships.

Deadlines: August 1, November 1, February 1 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Post-Secondary Skilled Trades: part-time or full-time certificate or diploma programs (1 month to 4 year programs)

Deadlines: August 1, November 1, February 1 at 11:59 p.m. EST

Métis Nation of Ontario

MNO Métis Student Bursary Program – Métis Nation of Ontario

The Métis Student Bursary Program provides bursaries to Métis students at 43 Ontario post-secondary institutions (see website for a list). Bursary applications are available to students following registration in the fall.

Deadlines are school-specific, and bursary recipients are announced in the winter. Students may reapply for bursaries and/or scholarships each year (September) when they register for school. The funding amount of the bursaries will vary based on the funding available each year.

To qualify for the MNO Métis Student Bursary Program applicants must:

·       Be a verified MNO citizen

·       Be a current student enrolled at one of our 43 partner post-secondary institutions in Ontario

·       Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident

·       Be an Ontario resident for at least 12 months before the start of your studies

·       Demonstrate financial need

Metis Authority

Scholarships & Bursaries – Métis Child and Family Services Authority

Provides links to various scholarships, bursaries, awards and fellowships available to Indigenous students across Canada.

Autism Ontario:

https://www.autismontario.com/programs-services/adults/awards-and-funding/scholarships

Each year, Autism Ontario awards scholarships to outstanding students entering their first year of a post-secondary program across Ontario. The deadline is end of April each year. Visit the website for more information and application links.

Easter Seals Ontario:

https://services.easterseals.org/other-programs/scholarships/

The focus is on physical disabilities and involvement with Easter Seals. There are 10 different bursaries offered.

John C Holland awards

http://www.johnhollandawards.com/applications

Twelve secondary school awards and four post-secondary school awards granted to self-identified persons of African or Caribbean descent, 16 –  24 years of age, Canadian citizens, permanent residents or convention refugees, and residing in Hamilton. Scholarships range from $100 – $2000, and bursaries are $500. For descriptions of all scholarships and bursaries, please visit their website.

McMaster University Aid and Awards for Black Students

Aid & Awards for Black Students | Office of the Registrar | McMaster University

Go to the website to view entrance scholarships, in-course scholarships and external scholarships applied for through McMaster.

Scholarship categories

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