Fanshawe College Joyce Family Foundation Bursary

What you will need

• ✓ Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person/refugee
• ✓ Be a resident of Ontario
• ✓ Have graduated from an Ontario high school within the last three years
• ✓ Be enrolling full time in the first term of a Fanshawe College post-secondary program
• ✓ A letter of reference from someone who knows your personal circumstances and can speak to your resilience and potential for success
• ✓ Fanshawe College login credentials (requires prior submission of a college application)

About this award

You can receive a tuition payment of $1,500 per academic term, up to a maximum of $5,000 annually. This is a bursary, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. There is a total of $60,000 available to be shared among students each year. This is for you if you have faced significant financial barriers or adversity in your life and have shown the strength to overcome those obstacles to pursue your education. The application period is March 14 to June 30. The window posted on the official page was for programs starting in fall 2026 and has passed, so check the award's official page for the next one. No specific notification date is posted publicly — when you apply, ask Fanshawe College / Joyce Family Foundation how and when you will hear back about your application. To be considered, you must show financial need as determined by the College's Student Awards office and provide a letter of reference from someone who knows your personal circumstances and can speak to your resilience in the face of adversity and your potential for success in post-secondary studies. The money is paid as a tuition payment of $1,500 each academic term. To keep the bursary, you must commit to working with a mentor each year throughout your program. You will need to submit a brief report on your mentorship involvement every year before you qualify for renewal.

Who qualifies

You must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or a protected person/refugee (someone with official refugee status in Canada). You must be a resident of Ontario and have graduated from an Ontario high school within the last three years. Additionally, you must be enrolling full-time in the first term of any post-secondary program at Fanshawe College starting in fall 2026. Finally, you must demonstrate financial need as determined by the Fanshawe College Student Awards office.

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, protected person or refugee
• ✓ Open to high school students
• ✓ Resident of Ontario

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

   Deadline: June 30

   June 30 has already passed this year. The award's official page gives the date without a year, so check there when the next round closes before you prepare anything.

Tips for applying

• ReferenceAvoid providing a generic character reference. Instead, ensure your referee specifically describes your personal circumstances and speaks to your resilience in the face of adversity. Ask your referee to provide a concrete example of how you overcame a challenge.
• SupportAvoid submitting your application without first applying to the college. Instead, complete your Fanshawe College admission application first. You will need your college login credentials to fill out the bursary form.
• StrategyAvoid focusing only on your financial need. Instead, balance your application by highlighting your potential for success in post-secondary studies. Show that you are prepared for the academic rigour of your program.
• RealismAvoid assuming you will receive this award just because you meet the basic criteria. Instead, remember that there is a set pool of $60,000 distributed among many students. Focus on making your letter of reference as strong as possible to stand out.

Questions students ask

Similar awards

• University of Toronto (Rotman Commerce)U of T International Scholar Award — Rotman Commerce$100,000
• McMaster University — Faculty of EngineeringClass of 1952 Mel Hawkrigg Honour Award$4,500
• BC Ministry of Education and Child CarePathway to Teacher Education Scholarship$5,000
• Greater Saint John Community FoundationThe Suzanne Doyle-Yerxa Award$500
• University of SaskatchewanUniversity of Saskatchewan Entrance Scholarship (Best and Brightest)$30,000
• University of British Columbia — Vantage CollegeVantage One Excellence Award
• University of WaterlooUniversity of Waterloo International Student Entrance Scholarship$10,000
• University of TorontoU of T President’s Scholars of Excellence Program (PSEP)