Student bursaries

• To be considered for bursary assistance, complete the online application (in Quest). Instructions on how to find and complete the Quest form are available on our bursary application help page.
• Bursary applications are considered one term at a time.
• You will need to apply for a bursary for each term that you wish to be considered for bursary assistance.

• Processing time is approximately three weeks from submission.
• Decisions will be emailed to applicants University of Waterloo email address.
• Successful applicants with outstanding fees will have their bursary funds first applied to their fees.
• When applicant fees are paid in full, remaining bursary funds will be deposited into the applicant's Canadian bank account (see instructions to set up banking details in Quest). 
• Bursary decisions are final. 
• Applicants can resubmit their application (in Quest) one time per term if they are able to provide new, relevant information and supporting documentation. 
• Your bursary may be adjusted if there are any changes to your resources, course load, or program.
• Bursaries are intended to support a modest shortfall of income, not a large portion of your tuition and living expenses.
• Bursary amounts are determined based on the amount of funding available and the level of need of each student.

For Ontario students, the maximum bursary funding available each term (May 2025 - April 2026) is now $3000 for both undergraduate and graduate students.

For Out-of-Province domestic students, the maximum bursary funding available each term (May 2025 - April 2026) is now $1700 for undergraduate students and $2000 for graduate students. 

Undergraduate students: 

Bursaries will be applied to your account early in the second month of term provided your registered status on Quest is "Fees Arranged".

Graduate students:

Bursaries will be applied to your account balance early in the first month of term provided your registered status on Quest is “Fees Arranged".

Applicants must:

• Be enrolled full-time for the current term as an undergraduate or graduate student
  • co-op work terms are not eligible for bursary assistance
• Be a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident.
• Have financial need.
• Have applied for full-time OSAP or another province's student aid program.
  • OSAP applications must be complete (no outstanding documents) and assessed before any bursary application will be assessed.  Make sure you have an OSAP assessment before you submit your bursary application.
  • Students receiving financial assistance from another Canadian province must submit their detailed Notice of Assessment with their online bursary application.

The maximum bursary funding available each term (May 2025 - April 2026) is now $250 for one course and $500 for two courses for undergraduate students, and is $750 per term for graduate students.

To be considered for the part-time student bursary, you must:

• Be enrolled part-time (no more than 40% of a full-time course load) for the current term as an undergraduate or graduate student.
• Be a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident.
• Have financial need.
• Have applied for part-time OSAP or another province's student aid program.
  • ​​OSAP applications must be complete (no outstanding documents) and assessed before any bursary application will be assessed. Make sure you have an OSAP assessment before you submit your bursary application.
  • Students receiving financial assistance from another Canadian province must submit their detailed Notice of Assessment with their online bursary application.
• Be in satisfactory academic standing.

To be considered for the full-time international undergraduate student bursary, you must:

• Be studying at Waterloo on a valid study permit.
• Be a full-time (minimum course load of 60%) undergraduate student in Year 2 or above.
• Co-op work terms are not eligible for bursary assistance.
• Be able to provide a detailed explanation and supporting documents regarding the lack of financial assistance from your home country.

Note: International graduate students must apply through Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs.

Maximums due to funding limitations.

• 60% course load - $1000/term
• 80% course load - $1500/term
• 100% course load - $2000/term
• Yearly Maximum (May to April) - $2000/year