Financial Support

Depending on your program of study, there are a number of sources of support for OISE students.

OISE Graduate Funding Package

OISE offers funding packages to registered students in the first year of full-time non-professional MA programs and for the first four years* of study in the PhD program (excluding the Flexible-time PhD).  This financial package is part of OISE’s ongoing commitment to support students to be successful, and is intended to help offset the costs of graduate education.

It is currently estimated that the minimum value of the 2022-23 funding package will be at least $24,980 (including tuition and incidental fees); in the case of international students, UHIP will also be covered.

This Funding Package may be comprised of external scholarships, OISE fellowships, funding grants, and/or employment opportunities.  Funding packages are subject to terms and conditions. It is a student responsibility to ensure that they are fully aware of the terms, conditions and procedures pertaining to the Graduate Funding Package as found on the OISE Graduate Student Funding website. 

*NOTE: Students in years one and two of the MA in the School and Clinical Child Psychology (SCCP) program in the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development will receive funding for the first two years of the MA, but are then eligible for funding in years one to three only of their PhD programs. Admission applicants are strongly encouraged to apply for the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) scholarships as eligible simultaneously with their applications. Please refer to the section below for further details on these awards.

Scholarships, Awards and Bursaries

Notices pertaining to awards, other than those listed here, are posted on the OISE Graduate Student Funding website. In addition, a comprehensive listing of University of Toronto award opportunities is available on the Award Explorer website.

OISE Awards Available Faculty-Wide

For information about eligibility, applications and deadlines for the following Faculty-wide awards, and for a list of awards available to specific departments, please visit the OISE Tuition and Financial Support website.

• Alexandra & Leonid Semeniuk Award
• Azim Premiji Foundation Fellowship
• Christopher Parker Memorial Fund
• Burstow Scholarship for Research in Antisemitism
• Hetty C. Chu Memorial Fellowship
• OISE Scholarship Program for Indigenous Students
• Indigenous Students Bursary Fund
• Keith A. McLeod Bursary
• Margaret I. Hambly Memorial Scholarship
• Mary Stager Graduate Student Award
• OISE Alumni Association Doctoral Fellowship
• Wilfred Rusk Wees Fellowship
• William Waters Scholarship in Urban Education
• William Pakenham Fellowship

External Scholarships

Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program (OGS)

Ontario Graduate Scholarships are available to students with a high level of academic achievement. A Scholar receives $5,000 per session.  Awards are for two or three consecutive sessions. International students are eligible for this scholarship.

Application forms, as well as detailed information on eligibility and terms and conditions of the award can be obtained from the School of Graduate Studies website.

Students currently enrolled in a graduate program, must submit the application to their department by the deadline. Prospective students must submit an application to each institution for which they are seeking admission. OGS awards are no longer transferrable from one university to another.

The deadline will be announced in early Fall on the OISE Graduate Student Funding website. 

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Doctoral Fellowships (SSHRC)

Awards offered by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada are available to Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada living in the country at the time of application. Scholarships are currently valued at $20,000.  Scholarships of $35,000 are also available to students with high academic merit.

Application forms are available at SSHRC website. 

1. For students currently enrolled in a graduate program, applications must be submitted to your department by the deadline. The deadline, usually early October for the following academic year, will be announced in early fall on the OISE Graduate Student Funding website.
2. For prospective full-time students, please refer to the SSHRC website.

Fulbright Student Awards

These awards are intended for Canadian and American graduate students and junior professionals who wish to enrol in a graduate studies program or continue their current course of graduate study and/or research at a university or research centre in the United States or Canada, respectively.

Students must apply for this award prior to acceptance to their graduate program. The application deadline is usually in the early Fall. For complete information, please refer to the Fulbright website.

Other External Student Awards

Information about other external awards can be found at the OISE webpage: External Graduate Funding. 

Information about awards offered by external agencies for teacher education students can be found at the OISE webpage: External Awards for Teacher Education Students. 

Student Employment Opportunities

OISE offers students four types of employment opportunities that provide financial assistance and experience in the research and teaching fields. Detailed information is available on the website for OISE Graduate Student Funding website about student employment.

OISE Graduate Assistantships

Graduate Assistantships (GAs) are placements for students engaged in research and/or field development projects that contribute to their academic and professional development. GAs are unionized positions represented by CUPE 3902, Unit 7. As a member of CUPE 3902, Unit 7, you will have access to benefits, including a Top-up Health and Dental Plan.

Note: Students holding a Fall/Winter GA, while also receiving a funding package will hold their GA as part of their funding..

Teaching Assistantships

Teaching Assistantships (TAs) are supervised and mentored by an OISE faculty member. TAs are given opportunities to assist in teaching and course activities, including; lecturing, facilitate class discussions, organizing group work. TAs may also gain experience in student evaluation and supervision of students in the field. TAs are unionized positions represented by CUPE 3902, Unit#1. As a CUPE3902, Unit #1 member, you will have access to benefits, including a Top-up Health and Dental Plan.

Note: Students holding a Fall/Winter TA, while also receiving a funding package will hold their TA as part of their funding. 

Research and Development Graduate Assistantship (R&D GA)

Research and Development Graduate Assistantships (R&D GAs) are placements for students engaged in research and/or field development projects contributing to their academic and professional development.

Note: Students holding a Fall/Winter R&D GA, while also receiving a funding package will hold their R&D GA as part of their funding. R&D GAs are unionized positions represented by CUPE 3902 Unit 7.

Course Instructor (CI)

Course Instructors (CIs) are graduate students or post-doctoral fellows hired to teach and lead course activities. CIs are responsible for preparing courses material, lecturing, as well as supervising and evaluating student performance.

Note: Students holding a Fall/Winter CI, while also receiving a funding package will hold their CI as part of their funding. CIs are unionized positions represented by CUPE 3902, Unit 1.

Financial Assistance Programs

OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Program)

The Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) is a government financial aid program that assists eligible Ontario residents attending university through a combination of loans and grants. Students from outside Ontario who are Canadian citizens, permanent residents or protected persons may be eligible for financial assistance from their provincial or territorial governments.

Application processing time

OSAP processing time can vary from 3 to 8 weeks depending on the time of the year and the nature of the student’s application. Errors, outstanding documents, and missing information related to the student’s application can lengthen the processing time, so apply early.

Loan status

Students can check the status of their loan processing by logging in to the website of the National Student Loans Service Centre or by phone at 1-888-815-4514.

Application deadline

The deadline for submission of an OSAP application is 60 days prior to the end of the study period (for two terms). For a one term enrolment the application deadline is within the first 30 days after the start of classes.

NOTE: Part-time students can apply for OSAP support to help cover the cost of tuition.

Professional Masters Financial Aid (PMFA)

Once OSAP assesses financial need and awards assistance to students up to their maximum allowed, students may have an "Unmet Financial Need".

For full-time students in MEd, Master of Teaching or MA-Child Study and Education programs, any assessed need which remains unmet above the OSAP maximum, is expected to be covered by a combination of non-repayable grants from the University of Toronto [OISE's Professional Masters Financial Aid (PMFA)] and other forms of loans or lines of credit.

Full-time students who are Ontario residents and receiving OSAP are automatically considered for PMFA. Students will be notified in the fall of any grant for which they may qualify.

The PMFA covers a portion of this unmet financial need as assessed by OSAP. Students are expected to cover the remainder by other means. To assist students in covering this unmet need, students have the option of borrowing funds from Scotiabank the ScotiaLine for Students.

Students interested in the lending products offered by Scotiabank should contact the Queen and McCaul Branch, Georgios Stathopoulos at georgios.stathopoulos@scotiabank.com or 416-866-3940 ext. 4209 to set up an appointment.

Students admitted to Professional Masters programs will be encouraged to apply for the Scotiabank Line of Credit before the beginning of school in September as part of financial planning for their studies.

Note: Out-of-Province students can apply for UTAPS (see below) through a new online process. The application can be found at the U of T website under UTAPS Application Procedure for Current U of T Students. 

University of Toronto Advance Planning for Students (UTAPS)

This is a grant awarded to full-time students in EdD and PhD and research MA programs whose financial need exceeds the OSAP maximum. Students who are Ontario residents do not need to apply as they will be considered automatically if they receive OSAP. Out-of-Province students can apply for UTAPS through a new online process. The application can be found at the U of T website under UTAPS Application Procedure for Current U of T Students. 

OISE Bursary Program

This program provides non-repayable grants to full-time OISE graduate students who have unanticipated personal living expenses and education related expenses. For information about eligibility or to apply, visit: www.uoft.me/oisebursary

Emergency Student Loans

OISE has a small short-term loan fund for full-time students experiencing an unexpected emergency financial situation. Students must be able to demonstrate that their need is urgent, of an unanticipated nature, and from what resources the loan would be repaid. Emergency loans are not awarded in order for the student to pay another outstanding debt to the University, such as tuition or library fines.

For further information about financial assistance options, contact:
Email: oise.financialaid@utoronto.ca