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.

Domestic:

For Ontario domestic students, the maximum bursary funding available each term: $3,000

For out-of-province domestic students, the maximum bursary funding available each term:

• Undergraduate students: $1,200
• Second entry (OPT, PHARM): $1,700
• Graduate students: $2,000

Release of funding:

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.
  • Students must accept both grant and loan funding. 
• Bursary offers will expire at the end of term if you have not become fees arranged.

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.
  • Students must accept both grant and loan funding. 
• Be in satisfactory academic standing.
• Bursary offers will expire at the end of term if you have not become fees arranged.

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.
• Bursary offers will expire at the end of term if you have not become fees arranged.

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