McMaster Bursary Program

A bursary is a non-repayable grant for students who demonstrate financial need. The bursary program is funded through donor contributions to the University ‘donor bursaries’ and through tuition reinvestment. Bursary funds are limited and are not intended to fund a student’s full deficit. The Office of Student Financial Aid & Scholarships (SFAS) will provide bursary assistance related to tuition, books, compulsory fees, equipment and supplies after a student’s own contribution has been assessed and after OSAP (or out-of-province loan) has been assessed. Students who lack resources to cover living and other education-related costs during their study period should apply for bursary assistance.

The goal of the McMaster bursary program is to fund students with the highest financial need. Bursary applicants must first access the OSAP program (or government funding from their home province, if not residents of Ontario) in order to be considered for a McMaster bursary. Students who are in receipt of OW/ODSP and/or are unable to apply for OSAP or other government funding (i.e. due to restrictions, etc.) are able to use the online bursary application and should describe their special circumstances by letter.

Students must be fully registered at the time of application/assessment and payment.

  • Application Details
  • Undergraduate
  • MBA
  • OT/PT
  • Medicine
  • Physician
    Assistant
  • Graduate
  • Part-Time and CCE

Application Details

Find the application through MUGSI by clicking the "My Financial Aid & Scholarships" link and then select "Bursary Application Form". All application steps must be completed by 4:30pm on the bursary deadline date.

Bursary payments for eligible fully registered students will be made directly to student accounts. Refund cheques will be issued if the bursary amount exceeds the balance owing on the student account.
ALL BURSARY AMOUNTS ARE FINAL.

Check MUGSI to monitor the status of your bursary.

More questions about the bursary program?

See our Bursary FAQ Sheet (Frequently Asked Questions) OR

  

ask McMaster


Undergraduate Bursaries

Bursary applications are available to fully registered undergraduate degree students from September 15, 2012 to January 11, 2013.

To be eligible for consideration, you must have received all available OSAP (or out-of-province) funding for the current academic year or have otherwise demonstrated financial need.

The First Generation Bursary, funded by the Ministry of Training, Colleges & Universities, is for students whose parents did not attend post-secondary studies (college and/or university). The bursary can be accessed through McMaster’s general bursary application process on MUGSI. On the application you will be asked to select ONE statement that best describes you (this step is optional and does not affect your bursary eligibility and/or the amount of bursary you may receive).  If you wish to be considered for the First Generation Bursary you can select “I am a student whose parents did not attend post secondary studies”.

International undergraduate students in levels 3, 4, and 5 are eligible to apply online for bursary support. International students in levels 1 and 2 are not considered for undergraduate bursary funding.

Bursary payments to eligible students will be made by the end of January 2013.

Students with extenuating circumstances who require financial assistance are asked to see a Student Loans Officer in GH-120 during drop-in counselling hours.

For a listing of bursaries supported by donors to McMaster, please see the most recent copy of the Undergraduate Calendar under 'Financial Information' then 'Student Financial Aid'.

MBA Bursaries

Bursary applications are available to fully registered MBA students online via MUGSI from September 15, 2012 to
January 11, 2013. The online application will feed both the MBA Entrance and In-Course bursary process, as
well as the Office of Student Financial Aid & Scholarships (SFAS) bursary process. Only one online
application is required! Logon to MUGSI, access the Financial Aid & Scholarships screen and follow
Quick Link “Bursary Application Form” to start the application process. Students who wish to be
considered for the MBA Entrance and In-Course Bursaries must apply via MUGSI by October 15th and
must submit the required supporting documentation listed for the specific bursary (see Tuition, Awards
and Financial Assistance section of the MBA Academic Calendar
http://www.degroote.mcmaster.ca/MBA/registration.html and
http://www.degroote.mcmaster.ca/MBA/scholarship.html for further information).

In order to be eligible to be considered for a bursary, students MUST first have APPLIED for government
student loan assistance through their home province for the current year (this includes receiving all
available funding), provided any required bursary supporting documentation, met published bursary application deadline dates and demonstrated financial need in excess of government student loan funding.

MBA students who are not in receipt of OSAP, (e.g. out-of-province loan applicants, OSAP loan
applicants with no financial need, etc.) must outline the reason for their bursary request and demonstrate
that they have immediate, unexpected financial need.

Bursary amounts vary from year to year. MBA Entrance and In-Course bursary payments, for students
who completed the application process by October 15th, will be made by mid-December. Most SFAS
bursary payments will be made to students who apply by November 15th, before the end of the fall term.
The remaining SFAS bursary payments will be made by the end of January.

OSAP recipients, who receive bursary assistance from a source external to McMaster University, must report the bursary amounts on their OSAP application. Please send an e-mail with your surname, given name, McMaster student number, bursary name and amount to osap@mcmaster.ca.

Students with emergencies and International students with extenuating circumstances who require financial assistance are asked to see a Student Loans Officer in GH-120 during drop-in counselling hours.

OT/PT Bursaries

Bursary applications are available to fully registered OT/PT students from September 15, 2012 to January 11, 2013.

To be eligible for consideration, you must have received all available OSAP (or out-of-province) funding for the current academic year and provided any required supporting documentation, met published bursary deadline dates and demonstrated financial need in excess of government student aid funding.

Bursary payments to eligible students will be made by the end of January 2013.

OT/PT students who are not in receipt of OSAP, (e.g. out-of-province loan applicants, OSAP loan applicants with no financial need, etc.) must outline the reason for their bursary request and demonstrate they have immediate, unexpected financial need.

Students with emergencies and International students with extenuating circumstances who require financial assistance are asked to see a Student Loans Officer in GH-120 during drop-in counselling hours.

School of Medicine Student Bursaries

Bursary applications are available to fully registered Medical students from October 15, 2012 to October 31, 2012 at 4:30 p.m

To be eligible for consideration, you must have received all available OSAP (or out-of-province) funding for the current academic year and provided any required supporting documentation, met published bursary deadline dates and demonstrated financial need in excess of government student aid funding. ALL steps must be completed by October 31, 2012 @ 4:30 p.m. (no exceptions).

Bursary payments will be paid directly to fully-registered, eligible students via student accounts by November 30th.

OSAP recipients who receive bursary assistance from a source external to McMaster University, must report their bursary amount on their OSAP application. Please send an e-mail with your surname, given name, McMaster student number, bursary name and amount to osap@mcmaster.ca.

For more information, contact Cathy Oudshoorn, Program Administrator, Undergrad M.D. Program, at ext. 22141.

Students with emergencies and International students with extenuating circumstances who require financial assistance are asked to see Cathy Oudshoorn.

Physician Assistant Bursaries

Bursary applications are available to fully registered Physician Assistant students from October 15, 2012 to October 31, 2012.

To be eligible for consideration, you must have received all available OSAP funding for the current academic year by October 31st and provided any required supporting documentation, met published bursary deadline dates and demonstrated financial need in excess of government student aid funding.

Bursary payments will be paid directly to fully-registered, eligible students via student accounts by November 30th.

OSAP recipients who receive bursary assistance from a source external to McMaster University, must report their bursary amount on their OSAP application. Please send an e-mail with your surname, given name, McMaster student number, bursary name and amount to osap@mcmaster.ca.

Students with emergencies/extenuating circumstances who require financial assistance are asked to see Nancy Weller, Program Administrator, Physician Assistant Program.

Graduate Student Bursaries

Bursary applications are available to fully registered Graduate students from September 15, 2012 to January 11, 2013.

To be eligible for consideration, you must have received all available OSAP (or out-of-province) funding for the current academic year and provided any required supporting documentation, met published bursary deadline dates and demonstrated financial need in excess of government student aid funding.

Bursary payments to eligible students will be made by the end of January 2013.

Graduate students who are not in receipt of OSAP, (e.g. out-of-province loan applicants, OSAP loan applicants with no financial need, etc.) must outline the reason for their bursary request and demonstrate they have immediate, unexpected financial need.

Students with emergencies and International students with extenuating circumstances who require financial assistance are asked to see a Student Loans Officer in GH-120 during drop-in counselling hours.

Bursaries for Part-time & CCE (Continuing Education) Students

Part-time student assistance programs are made available through the federal and provincial governments and through the generosity of McMaster's many donors and tuition reinvestment funds. Bursaries established by donors are detailed in the most recent copy of the Undergraduate Calendar under 'Financial Infomation' then 'Student Financial Aid'.

More information on bursary programs for part-time and CCE students can be found on our Facts & Forms for Part-Time Students webpage,