How do university bursaries work in Ontario?
Bursaries are assessed on financial need rather than marks, and they run on a different clock from scholarships — most open in the autumn of first year and pay out in the winter, well after you have accepted an offer.
Every answer below is what the university tells Ontario guidance counsellors, quoted from the OUAC guide for September 2026 entry. It isn’t published on their student pages. Rules like this change rarely; dates don’t — check any date here with the university. Where this comes from.
What each of the 22 universities says
We offer a number of bursaries for students through the Financial Aid Office and the Scholarships and Awards Office.
Bursaries have fall application deadlines and we issue them in the winter.
Students can apply through their student portal.
Students may qualify for an entrance bursary valued up to $3,000.
Students must complete the OneApp (1 application for hundreds of awards and bursaries) to access all donor awards and bursaries. https://brocku.ca/safa/awards-and-bursaries/oneapp
https://carleton.ca/awards/bursaries/entrance-bursaries
Up to $3,000 for the Destination Lakehead Bursary for students entering postsecondary studies for the first time.
Application deadlines are April 15 and June 30, 2026. Students can apply through their student portal.
We will notify students of the scholarship application deadline in their https://my.laurentian.ca portal.
Students may apply for additional bursaries throughout the year once they begin their program.
General Bursaries are available once a student is enrolled at the university. Applications open in August 2026. https://registrar.mcmaster.ca/entrance-awards
www.nipissingu.ca/financialaid
Bursaries are available based on financial need once a student is enrolled at the University. https://admissions.ocadu.ca/afford/funding-options
A variety of bursaries are available based on financial need, including the Indigenous Student Bursary, Ontario First Generation Bursary, Bursaries for Students with Disabilities and more. https://safa.ontariotechu.ca/ awards-bursaries-and-scholarships/bursaries.php
The recommended deadline to submit the Financial Aid and Awards Profile was February 15, 2026 (past).
Students who are citizens or permanent residents (landed immigrants), or protected persons are eligible for bursaries.
By submitting a Queen's Financial Aid and Awards Profile, students will automatically be considered for most of the awards included in our financial aid package, including the Major Access Award ($40,000 - $72,000 over 4 years of study), the Commitment Bursary and named admission bursaries.
Financial Aid and Awards will accept Financial Aid and Awards Profile submissions past the recommended deadline into mid-July.
https://ustpaul.ca/en/scholarships-2
Domestic undergraduate students receiving full-time OSAP may qualify for the Student Access Guarantee (SAG), a bursary to assist with educational costs, such as tuition, books, compulsory fees, equipment and supplies.
Bursaries are also available to eligible students. www.torontomu.ca/student-financial-assistance
We grant entrance bursaries of $500 and $1,000 to students entering postsecondary studies for the first time. Beginning in June, the application is available in the myTrent student portal, under the Finances tab. The deadline to apply is July 30, 2026.
An extensive in-course bursary and award program is available for students with additional financial need. Students complete 1 application at the beginning of each term to be assessed for all bursary funding. The application is available in the myTrent student portal, under the Finances tab. | www.trentu.ca/financialaid
The Financial Need Assessment Form for Entrance Awards is due April 15, 2026. An offer of admission is not required to apply. www.uoguelph.ca/registrar/studentfinance/osap_naf
Registrar's Need-Based Entrance Bursary or Diversity Entrance Bursary ($2,000).
Based on demonstrated financial need.
Students must complete an application on our website by April 15, 2026 (past), for fall admission.
New scholarship search portal: www.uottawa.syntosolution.com/general-directory.
French Studies Bursary ($1,000 per year): Awarded automatically to Canadian students taking at least 3 courses taught in French per term (2 if enrolled in French Immersion Stream).
Bursary for Postsecondary Studies in French as a Second Language ($3,000). Application due: March 31, 2026.
Differential Tuition Fee Exemption Scholarship for international students studying in French or French Immersion (between $25,000 and $36,000 per year).
Students applying directly from high school should apply in January of their Grade 12 year to ensure we consider them for needs-based admission awards. | https://uoft.me/utaps
Each year we award Waterloo Entrance Bursaries, valued from $1,000 to $5,000, to Ontario students with demonstrated financial need who are entering their first year of postsecondary studies.
April 15, 2026, is the application deadline. www.uwaterloo.ca/future/financing/bursaries
Students can apply for scholarships and bursaries by completing the UWinAward Student Profile on the UWinsite student portal. Drop-in sessions to support students are available.
Deadline: April 30, 2026. Automatic Open Entrance Scholarships
We guarantee financial support in the form of scholarships and/or bursaries to students with a minimum entering average of 85%, regardless of the first-entry undergraduate program they select.
The minimum entering average is based on the student's top 6 qualifying 4U/M interim and final grades available in May.
A scholarship offer may increase based on a review of final grades. Scholarship offers are not adjusted down based on final grades.
We send early financial aid offers at the time of admission based on a student's admission average; however, our offer may be conditional if a student's admission is based on Grade 11 or minimum three 4U/M grades.
https://registrar.uwo.ca/student_finances/ bursaries_workstudy.html
Bursary supports are available for first-year, upper-year and transfer students, based on financial need, with opportunities to apply throughout the academic year. Application required.
The Laurier Tuition Bursary is available for upper-year and transfer students. We assess students based on financial need. To be eligible to apply, students must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents (landed immigrants).
York bursaries are worth up to $2,000 and help cover costs such as books and supplies.
Students must complete the Scholarships, Awards & Bursaries Application. | http://futurestudents.yorku.ca/funding
Other things students ask
- Do night school, summer school and online courses count for university admission?
- Do Grade 11 marks matter for Ontario university admission?
- If you repeat a course, which mark do universities use?
- Does the order you rank programs on OUAC matter?
- What happens if you don't get into your first-choice program?
- Which Ontario universities require a supplementary application?
Policies decide whether a mark counts. Your average decides where it gets you.