Durham College Donor Awards Program

What you will need

• ✓ Complete the general bursary application via the MyDC self-service portal
• ✓ Proof of OSAP residency (Ontario resident and Canadian citizen or permanent resident) for applicable awards
• ✓ Proof of full-time enrollment at Durham College
• ✓ Documentation of financial need
• ✓ For the Dr. Kayla Murphy Indigenous Students Award applicants: proof of Indigeneity through an Indian status card, Inuit registry, Metis registry, a letter from an Elder of your recognized community, or self-declaration
• ✓ For the Award for Excellence in the Automotive Technician Program applicants: proof of graduating first in class based on final GPA in the Automotive Technician – Service and Management program

About this award

No fixed dollar amounts are posted for these awards — contact Durham College to confirm the value for your specific award before you apply. As these are bursaries and scholarships, the money is yours to keep and you do not have to pay it back. This program is for you if you are a full-time student at Durham College who needs financial help to complete your studies, particularly if you are in specialized programs like Dental Office Administration, Photography, or the skilled trades. Deadlines are posted on Durham College's Financial Aid Important Dates page — check it before you apply. Durham College says everyone who applies by the posted deadline gets a response by the end of their intake term. Most recipients are selected by the Financial Aid and Awards Office of the college, though some awards are chosen by program committees from the Faculty of Health Sciences or the Faculty of Media, Arts and Design. Each award lists its own criteria on the award's official page — ask Durham College roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask Durham College during your application how the money will reach you — some awards pay students directly, others apply funds to tuition. Confirm this so you can plan your cash flow. Renewal conditions aren't listed — if you're counting on this for multiple years, confirm with Durham College whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain. Note that if you withdraw from your program or drop to part-time studies, it may impact your eligibility for these funds.

Who qualifies

To be eligible for most of these awards, you must be a full-time student at Durham College. Many awards require you to meet OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Program — the provincial government's financial aid system) residency requirements, meaning you must be an Ontario resident and a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and show a demonstrated financial need. Specific awards have tighter bars: the Bill and Barbara Howe Bursary is for two students in financial need with good academic standing in the Photography program; the Black & McDonald Indigenous Award is for full-time skilled trades students with a preference given to an Aboriginal student; and the award for students entering the School of Science, Engineering and Technology gives preference to females. Other awards target specific achievements, such as the Award for Excellence in the Automotive Technician Program for the student who graduates first in their class, or the CINDE In-Course Scholarship for the second-highest student in the second year of the Mechanical Engineering Technician NDE (Non-Destructive Evaluation) program.

This is what the award's official page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm on the award's official page before you apply.

• ✓ Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person
• ✓ Open to post-secondary, certificate, undergraduate or trades students
• ✓ Studying Dental Office Administration, Automotive Technician – Service and Management, Photography, skilled trades, Horticulture Technician, Science, Engineering and Technology, Civil Engineering, Biomedical Engineering Technology, Culinary Skills, Journalism and Creative Writing, Pharmaceutical and Food Science Technology, Environmental Studies, Mechanical Engineering Technician NDE, Preservice Fire Program, Culinary Management, Engineering, Dental Assisting, Dental Hygiene, Police Foundations, Music Business Administration, construction industry, Social Service Worker, nursing, mechanical engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechatronics, Electronics Engineering, Operations Management, Business and Information Technology, Electrical Technician Instrumentation and Control, Electromechanical Engineering Technology, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Techniques (HVAC), Practical Nursing, Business Admin – Human Resources or Mechanical Engineering Technician

How to apply

1. 1

   Read the award's official page

   Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.

2. 2

   Ask for reference letters2 weeks

   Give your referees at least two weeks' notice, and send them your résumé.

3. 3

   Check this year's deadline

   We don't have a confirmed date for this round. The award's official page will have it.

Tips for applying

• Financial NeedAvoid providing vague statements about needing money. Instead, provide clear documentation of your financial situation. Gather your latest tax notices or OSAP assessment to prove your need.
• SupportAvoid using generic character references. Instead, ask a professor from your specific program to highlight your dedication and collaboration skills. This is especially helpful for the Dental Office Administrator's Awards.
• StrategyAvoid applying for only one specific named award. Instead, complete the general bursary application via the MyDC (My Durham College — the student digital portal) self-service portal. Doing this automatically considers you for many donor awards without needing separate applications.
• RealismAvoid assuming you will receive the funds immediately upon applying. Instead, remember that some awards are distributed only in the final semester of your program. Plan your budget around a response by the end of your intake term, not the date you apply.

Questions students ask

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