Scholarships for Ontario Students: How to Find and Apply

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Scholarships are a vital resource for students in Ontario, as they can help to offset the cost of tuition and other expenses related to higher education. There are many different scholarships available for students in Ontario, each with its own unique eligibility criteria and application process. In this article, we will take a closer look at some of the most popular scholarships for Ontario students, including information on how to apply and what you need to know to be eligible.

However, I can give you a list of scholarships available for Ontario students:

1. Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) – The Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) (French: Régime d’aide financière aux étudiantes et étudiants de l’Ontario (RAFEO)) is a provincial financial aid program that offers grants and loans to help Ontario students pay for their post-secondary education. OSAP determines the amount of money that a student is eligible to receive by considering factors such as tuition, course load, and the financial resources of the student. More than 380,000 students – more than half of all full-time students –received student financial aid in 2014-15.
2. Trillium Scholarship – Ontario Trillium Scholarship is an initiative by the Ontario government to help international students pursue a Ph.D. degree at one of the top universities in Ontario. Various eligible universities in Ontario select candidates and award scholarships on the basis of program criteria and candidates’ merit supporting their education and academic development in the Canadian province.
3. Loran Award – The selection of a Loran Scholar is unique in its attention to a young person’s character. We believe that integrity, courage, grit, and personal autonomy are better indicators of overall potential than standard academic measures. To discover these traits, we administer the most comprehensive and thorough scholarship selection process in Canada. Tenable at 25 partner universities, the Loran Award is valued at $100,000 over four years, including mentorship, funding for summer internships, and participation in an extensive network of past and present scholars. This year, we are offering up to 36 Loran Awards. In addition, we are granting up to 120 finalist and provincial & territorial awards ($5,000 or $2,000 each, respectively) to promising candidates.
4. Schulich Leader Scholarship – Schulich Leader Scholarships are Canada’s most coveted undergraduate STEM scholarships. One hundred is awarded to entrepreneurial-minded high school graduates enrolling in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math program at 20 partner universities across Canada. Half are valued at $120,000 for engineering scholarships and half are valued at $100,000* for science and math scholarships. Every high school in Canada can nominate one graduating student each year to apply for the scholarship.
5. Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) – Students in graduate studies at the master’s and doctoral levels can apply for a merit-based scholarship through the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) Program. Awards are available to graduate students for all disciplines of academic study at participating schools in Ontario. Each award is jointly funded by the Province of Ontario (two-thirds) and the school offering the award (one-third).
6. Ontario Post-Secondary Student Support Program (OPSSP) – Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) provides financial assistance to First Nations students who are enrolled in eligible post-secondary programs.
7. Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation Bursary – The Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation was a private, independent organization created by an act of the Parliament of Canada in 1998. It received an initial endowment of $2.5 billion from the federal government to provide awards annually for ten years. The foundation distributed $325 million in the form of bursaries and scholarships each year throughout Canada in support of post-secondary education. As well, the foundation conducted research into post-secondary access, via the Millennium Research Program.
8. Ontario Arts Council Scholarships – The Ontario Arts Council (OAC) provides grants to Ontario-based individual artists and arts professionals, ad hoc groups, collectives, and organizations. Grants support a range of arts activities and disciplines.
9. Ontario Centennial Scholarships – Centennial College offers hundreds of different Scholarships to international students. Scholarships are financial awards given to recognize academic achievement, leadership, community involvement and student success.
10. Ontario Professional Engineers Foundation for Education (OPEFE) Scholarship – Each year, the Engineers Foundation provides $153,000 in scholarship funding to 15 accredited engineering programs in the province of Ontario.

You can find more information about these scholarships and others by visiting the website of the Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities of Ontario, or by checking with the financial aid office of the post-secondary institution you plan to attend.

The Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) is one of the most popular scholarships available to students in Ontario. It is a needs-based program that provides financial assistance to students who are in financial need and are enrolled in post-secondary education. The program provides a combination of grants and loans to help students cover the cost of tuition, books, and other expenses related to their education. To be eligible for OSAP, students must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or protected persons, and must be enrolled in a full-time or part-time program at an eligible post-secondary institution.

Another popular scholarship option for Ontario students is the Ontario Trillium Scholarship (OTS). The OTS is a prestigious scholarship program that is awarded to top international and domestic students who are entering their first year of doctoral studies at an Ontario university. The scholarship provides a total of $40,000 per year for up to four years of doctoral studies. To be eligible for the OTS, students must have a minimum grade point average of A- or equivalent and must have completed an undergraduate degree at an eligible institution.

The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) program is another excellent scholarship option for students in Ontario who are pursuing graduate studies. The program provides financial assistance to students who are enrolled in a master’s or doctoral program at an Ontario university. The scholarship provides a total of $15,000 per year for up to two years of graduate studies. To be eligible for the OGS, students must have a minimum grade point average of B+ or equivalent and must have completed an undergraduate degree at an eligible institution.

The Queen Elizabeth II Aiming for the Top Scholarship (QEII-GSST) is another scholarship option for students in Ontario who are pursuing graduate studies. The scholarship is awarded to students who are enrolled in a master’s or doctoral program at an Ontario university and who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement. The scholarship provides a total of $15,000 per year for up to two years of graduate studies. To be eligible for the QEII-GSST, students must have a minimum grade point average of A- or equivalent and must have completed an undergraduate degree at an eligible institution.

The Canada Graduate Scholarships-Master’s (CGS M) program is also available for students in Ontario who are pursuing graduate studies. The scholarship is awarded to students who are enrolled in a master’s program at an eligible Canadian university. The scholarship provides a total of $17,500 per year for up to 12 months of graduate studies. To be eligible for the CGS M, students must have a minimum grade point average of A- or equivalent and must have completed an undergraduate degree at an eligible institution.

Eligibility Criteria for scholarships for students

The eligibility criteria for scholarships for students in Ontario can vary depending on the specific scholarship. However, common criteria include:

• Being a resident of Ontario
• Being a full-time student at an accredited post-secondary institution in Ontario
• Having a certain level of academic achievements, such as a minimum grade point average (GPA)
• Demonstrating financial need
• Being from a specific demographic or belonging to a specific group, such as Indigenous students or students with disabilities
• Being enrolled in a specific program of study or field of study
• Meeting other specific requirements as determined by the scholarship provider

It’s worth noting that some scholarships may have additional or different criteria, so it’s important to carefully read the requirements for each scholarship you’re interested in applying for.

Application Procedure

The application procedure for scholarships for students in Ontario can vary depending on the specific scholarship. However, common steps in the application process include:

1. Research and find scholarships that you are eligible for and interested in applying for.
2. Review the application requirements and deadline for each scholarship.
3. Prepare the required documents such as transcripts, reference letters, essays, and other materials as required.
4. Fill out the application form, including any necessary essays or personal statements.
5. Submit the application, along with any required supporting materials, by the deadline.

It’s important to note that some scholarships may have additional or different application requirements and steps, so it’s important to carefully read the instructions for each scholarship you’re interested in applying for.

Additionally, you may consider looking for scholarships through your school’s financial aid office, as they may have information about scholarships for students in Ontario and may also assist you in the application process.

In addition to these scholarships, there are also many other scholarships available for students in Ontario, including scholarships that are specific to certain fields of study, such as engineering, business, and the arts. Some scholarships are also available to students who are entering their first year of university or college, while others are available to students who are already enrolled in a post-secondary program.

To find scholarships that are available to you, it is important to do your research and explore the various options that are available. You can start by visiting the websites of the universities and colleges you are interested.