Emergency Bursary (EB)
Do you have a financial emergency? You may qualify for the Emergency Bursary.
Emergency Bursary funding is only for currently enrolled, domestic students who encounter an unforeseen financial crisis. This financial crisis must result in a verifiable need that has a direct material impact on a student’s ability to successfully complete their semester. Students must be active in their course(s) at the time the unforeseen financial crisis occurred.
Note: Effective winter 2022, International Student Support (ISS) will adjudicate all emergency bursary requests for international students.
International students experiencing a financial crisis may review the relevant details under the "Emergency Bursary for International Students" on ISS Financial Assistance.
This bursary is only available in the fall and winter semesters. Typically, it becomes available during, or the week after, Reading Week. Once available, it can be found on the university's scholarship management platform, AwardSpring, external link, opens in new window. Please refer to your AwardSpring profile during the specified time to apply.
This bursary is not available in the spring/summer semester.
Before applying for an Emergency Bursary, students must first speak to a Financial Assistance Advisor via the ServiceHub.
It is expected that students first apply for government financial aid (e.g. OSAP, U.S. student loans, or out-of-province funding) to ensure funding is maximized. Our financial assistance advisors may also recommend alternative, external support and resources that may meet your needs instead of the Emergency Bursary.
If you still have an unexpected financial emergency, and meet the eligibility criteria and assessment guidelines, our office will help direct you to apply for an Emergency Bursary through AwardSpring.
Please note that an application to the Emergency Bursary is a request, not a guarantee. Once submitted, your application is assessed by a committee.
International students are not eligible for the Emergency Bursary. International students experiencing a financial crisis should review the relevant details under ‘Emergency Bursary for International Students’ on ISS Financial Assistance.
The Emergency Bursary is for domestic students who encounter an unforeseen financial crisis. This financial crisis must result in a verifiable need that has a direct material impact on a student’s ability to successfully complete their semester. Students must be active in their course(s) at the time the unforeseen financial crisis occurred.
Emergency Bursary applications submitted by those experiencing financial hardship as a direct or indirect result of COVID-19 (including but not limited to loss of employment, wifi upgrading, purchasing of equipment to work from home, etc.) cannot be considered. The university’s resources are limited and are unable to support students negatively impacted by COVID-19; however, government programs and support are available.
If you are experiencing financial hardship as a result of COVID-19, please review other financial aid opportunities for which you may qualify on COVID-19 supports. For more support, we also encourage you to check out Additional Resources.
Eligible Emergency Bursary recipients will receive their funds by an electronic payment tool, PayMyTuition.
- The Emergency Bursary is exempt as study period income. A student’s OSAP entitlement will not be impacted if they are the successful recipient of this bursary.
- If you are the successful recipient of the Emergency Bursary, please do not report it on your OSAP application. Our Student Financial Assistance team reports all awards, scholarships, and bursaries administered by the university onto your OSAP application.
Accidentally reported your bursary on your OSAP application? Learn more about how to update this information under the Scholarship, Award, and/or Bursary Recipients tab on Information by Student Group.
We know that financial challenges sometimes come with other personal struggles, and the institution has a number of resources to support you and your well-being:
- Financial Literacy (FinLit), opens in new window – An online guide that provides a general overview of financial literacy, including reading materials, videos and personal finance workshops available at the university.
- The Good Food Centre, external link, opens in new window – They offer hunger relief to help you through a difficult period.
- Development and Counselling, opens in new window – Counsellors can meet with you one-on-one to discuss a wide variety of personal concerns or crisis situations.
- Study Skills and Transition Support, opens in new window – Could your study skills use some work? Learn new strategies and tools including specialized support for writing, math and English.
- Academic Accommodation Support, opens in new window – Accommodations are available for temporary or permanent disabilities including assistive technology, academic arrangements, financial assistance and more.
- Student Wellbeing, opens in new window – If you’re looking for help making healthy lifestyle changes, check out the many programs, resources and services to help you thrive.
The Emergency Bursary
The Emergency Bursary is intended to provide students with financial assistance as a result of sudden or unexpected circumstances/emergencies for which they could not have planned. It is not meant to address funding shortfalls where government financial aid (e.g. OSAP, U.S. student loans, or out-of-province funding), government assistance, savings, or employment income is insufficient to cover educational expenses. Should students obtain a bursary, it should not be relied on as a consistent source of income.
An Emergency Bursary is not guaranteed for each student that applies; bursary applications are assessed individually by looking at each student’s financial situation (budget form) and circumstances. It is expected that students exhaust all other forms of funding before seeking bursary assistance. For instance, if a student is eligible to receive a government loan, but declines it, this would undermine their eligibility to receive a bursary.
The University believes that funding a student’s education is a shared responsibility, and thus, it is expected that students are able to contribute financially to their education.
Information submitted in bursary applications will be verified; the misrepresentation of information may result in the disqualification of your application.
Values Subject to Change
The availability and monetary value of bursaries is subject to change. The University reserves the right to change the amount disbursed for a given bursary in light of new information which was not available at the time of disbursement (e.g. change in course load, withdrawal from a program, new disbursement of a scholarship/award or government financial assistance, etc.)
Bursary recipients are responsible for notifying the Student Awards and Scholarships Office (SASO) of any changes to their particular situation (i.e. students drop courses, OSAP funding comes through, situation is remedied prior to bursary assistance being granted, etc.).
Given the situational nature of bursary assistance, SASO reserves the right to reassess or adjust any funding granted, should the conditions under which the funds were granted change. Students will be contacted via their University email should their bursary amount be adjusted.
Request for Reconsideration and Discretion of the University
Every attempt has been made to be clear in the communication of the terms and conditions outlined in this document. In the event of any interpretive disputes, the University reserves the right to render a final determination on eligibility for bursary funding. Interpretation of information provided in bursary applications is solely at the discretion of the University.
Clarifying amendments to the terms and conditions for bursaries may be made by the University without notice.