Tips from a current student that will help you pay for university
Let’s face it, university is expensive. Not only do you have tuition, but you have to buy food and pay for accommodations. Plus, what’s the university experience without a bit of fun (which doesn’t always come cheap).
Here are a couple of ways you can fund your way through school!
Government Loans
OSAP is the big one. This is where you can get your Ontario loans, and this should be your first stop when trying to get money to pay tuition. Not only can you get loans, but you can also get grants which don’t need to be repaid, which is awesome. However, OSAP can only take you so far.
If you are an out of province student, there are also loans available to you.
Learn more about out of province student aid
University Scholarships
This is probably your second thought when thinking about financing your education. Lots of students get entrance scholarships, but you might actually qualify for other scholarships as well! It’s definitely worth taking a look at all the available scholarships. Not everyone does their research, which means applying for some scholarships isn’t always competitive. Apply for any that you qualify for to maximize your chances, even if some are longshots!
Information on entrance scholarships
Database for all entrance awards
External Scholarships
Some outside organizations can provide scholarships for university students! An application is usually required, and these can get competitive, but they are certainly worth checking out.
The three sites below will help you research available external scholarships:
Co-op
Co-op is a great way to finance your education. If you’re in a co-op program, you could earn up to $60,000+ throughout your four co-op terms, which is extremely helpful in helping to pay your expenses, all while getting great work experience.
A Part-Time Job
And my last suggestion is a part-time job. Personally, I have worked part-time every one of my study terms, and it has helped me immensely. It can sometimes be a little challenging to balance work and school, but once you get into the groove, it’s not that bad. As a bonus, my job forces me to get my head out of the books.
I hope you found this helpful! Preparing for university can be stressful, and finances can be a huge part of that. Hopefully, this blog helped alleviate some of that stress, and you can now focus on the exciting aspects of starting university!