Graduate Student Contingency Bursary

Award type:
Financial need awards/bursaries

Award description:
The Graduate Student Contingency Bursary (previously known as the Millennium Graduate Bursary) is available to international students registered full-time in a graduate program at the University of Waterloo who have demonstrated financial need resulting from extenuating circumstances* that have occurred since starting their graduate program.

The funding provided is to assist with students’ reasonable living and educational expenses only and is normally given to students in term 4.0 or beyond of their academic program (students in the first term of their program are not eligible).

Graduate Students who are Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents of Canada and require financial assistance must apply for a bursary through the The Centre Student Bursaries site.

*Defined as events or situations that could not have reasonably been predicted or expected and/or were beyond the student’s control.

Value description:
Varies but will be restricted to a maximum based on the student’s situation.

Eligibility & selection criteria:

Applicants must:

  • Be an international student registered full-time in a graduate program.
  • Normally be in term 4.0 or beyond of their academic program; students in the first term of their program are not eligible.
  • Have demonstrated financial need resulting from extenuating circumstances* that have occurred since starting their graduate program+.
  • Provide written confirmation that they are seeking support elsewhere and identify how they are covering any shortfall; written confirmation must also include a concrete plan to explain how they will financially support themselves in future terms.

*Defined as events or situations that could not have reasonably been predicted or expected and/or were beyond the student’s control.

+Bursaries are not guaranteed; because of limited funding available, reasons why a student received a bursary in the past does not guarantee they will receive a bursary for the same reason again.

Level:
Masters, Doctoral

Program:
Open to any program

Citizenship:
International/study permit student

Selection process:
Application required

Term:
Winter, Spring, Fall

Application details:
  • Award/bursary application
    • Complete the appropriate Graduate Student Contingency Bursary Application
    • Attach required documentation (as per application form)
    • Submit your complete application package to Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA) by the appropriate term deadline

Additional instructions:
Where the advertised deadline falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the deadline date will be the following Monday. Applications will be processed in date order as they are received. The application form will be closed following the advertised deadlines.

If an applicant does not qualify/is not approved for the Contingency Bursary or they have an emergency and the application form is closed, they may consider applying for an emergency loan (providing they have a concrete form of repayment), contact their department graduate coordinator and/or review the “Additional resources” section on the External awards page.

Application Deadlines: 
September 15, January 15, May 15

Contact person:
Additional Information
Category: Faculty: