Financial need funding

We offer many funding opportunities to graduate students who demonstrate financial need. This funding includes:

• Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)
• Graduate Student Bursary (Managed by Student Awards & Financial Aid)
• Graduate Student Parental Leave Bursary
• Graduate Student Day Care Bursary (Discontinued effective May 1, 2024)
• Graduate Student Medical Leave Award
• Graduate Student Contingency Bursary
• Emergency loans
• University of Waterloo needs-based awards

While these opportunities are ones supported and administered by Waterloo, funding for these programs is limited; as such, students are also encouraged to seek financial assistance through their banks (e.g., student lines of credit), families/friends or through external agencies.

Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)

OSAP provides various types of assistance based on financial need to eligible students. This assistance is intended to supplement, not to replace, the resources of students and their families. Although assistance is not based on academic standing, students are expected to make satisfactory progress in their studies.

Note: Students from provinces other than Ontario must apply for government student aid through their home provinces.

Detailed information including application forms and deadlines is available on the OSAP website or by visiting the Student Awards & Financial Aid (SAFA) Office website.

Graduate Student Bursary (Managed by Student Awards & Financial Aid)

Limited funding is available in bursary support to full-time and part-time Waterloo graduate students who are Canadian or Permanent Residents of Canada and are experiencing short term financial need. These bursaries are meant to financially assist with basic needs and educational expenses only.

For further information regarding these bursary opportunities, please visit the Student Awards & Financial Aid (SAFA) website. 

Graduate Student Parental Leave Bursary

Limited funding for up to eight months (two terms) is available to eligible students who take a parental leave (includes adoption). The bursary, together with any other continuing support, is intended to maintain income at about 95% of the average level of income received by the student during the three previous academic terms, less tuition.  The maximum value of the bursary is $5,000 for the first term and $3,000 for the second term. For further details or to apply visit the Graduate Student Parental Leave Bursary website. 

Graduate Student Day Care Bursary

This program is discontinued effective May 1, 2024. 

Graduate Student Medical Leave Award

Limited funding is available to assist eligible research-based master’s and doctoral students who must go inactive for medical reasons (e.g., physical or mental health) may be eligible to receive a Graduate Student Medical Leave Award, valued at a maximum of $5,000. To initiate the process in order to automatically be considered for this award, students must complete a Change of enrolment status form and submit the appropriate documentation. For further information refer to the Graduate Medical Leave Award description in the Graduate funding and awards database.

Graduate Student Contingency Bursary

Limited funding is available each term to provide short-term financial assistance to eligible international students. To be considered, students must complete a Graduate Student Contingency Bursary application (Graduate Studies forms website) by the advertised deadline (Note: requests to submit applications after the deadlines will not be considered).

Emergency loans

Interest-free emergency loans are available to full-time graduate students who are experiencing short-term financial difficulty. These loans are not meant to provide funding for arranging fees to become registered. Loans must be re-paid by the end of the term, and proof of an acceptable form of repayment must be provided.

To be considered for an emergency loan please complete an Emergency Loan Application form and upload the required documents.

Waterloo needs-based awards

These awards are based partially or solely on demonstrated financial need. Many of these awards were established through generous contributions from private donors.

Applicants must carefully review the award descriptions including eligibility criteria in the database and submit the appropriate application by the advertised deadline.