Scholarships, fees, and finances
University can be an expensive but a manageable undertaking if you have a realistic financial plan in place before you begin your undergraduate studies. There are a number of ways to defray some of the costs of university: scholarships, bursaries, government assistance, and co-op.
Scholarships, bursaries, and Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)
You may be eligible to receive scholarship, bursary, and OSAP support in first year.
- The Faculty of Mathematics offers an impressive selection of scholarships for students entering first year.
- The University of Waterloo offers bursaries for students in financial need.
- There are a small number of university-wide scholarships that are available for all first-year students.
- The province of Ontario provides financial assistance (OSAP) for eligible students.
Tuition and other costs
Most students want a clear idea of what their costs will be in first year. These costs include:
- tuition and other fees
- housing or residence (residence is guaranteed to all first-year students)
- meals
- books
- transportation and entertainment
Try the interactive budget calculator to help estimate your first-year costs.
Consider the financial benefit of co-op
Another way to manage your finances while at university is through the co-op system of study. If you're enrolled in one of our co-op programs, you'll have anywhere from 16 to 24 months of paid work experience and, over the course of that period of time, you'll earn from $55,000 to $80,000. For a list of average co-op salary figures by work term, visit the weekly salaries report provided by the Department of Co-operative Education and Career Action.
For Faculty of Mathematics undergraduate scholarships, contact Carolyn Sedore.