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. Contact the Student Awards and Financial Aid (SAFA) if you have questions about your bursary decision. 
  • Applicants can resubmit their application (in Quest) one time per term if they are able to provide new, relevant information and supporting documentation. 

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.
• Be fees arranged for the current term (preferred but not required).
• Be in satisfactory academic standing.

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 fees arranged for the current term (preferred but not required).
• 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 in satisfactory academic standing.
• Be fees arranged for the current term (preferred but not required). 
• Have financial need due to exceptional or unexpected circumstances.
• Be able to provide a detailed explanation and supporting documents regarding the lack of financial assistance from your home country.
• Provide all necessary documentation required to process the application.
  • A copy of your study permit
  • Proof of your parents, spouse’s, or sponsor’s 2023 income translated into English. This can be a letter from their employer, last paystub for 2023 with Year To Date, or similar documentation. The income on the application should be converted to Canadian dollars.
  • Receipts for any exceptional expenses reported on the application. 

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

New maximums due to funding limitations are effective for Fall 2023 and onward.

• 60% course load - $1000
• 80% course load - $1500
• 100% course load - $2000
• Fiscal Year Maximum - $2000 (May 2024 – August 2025)