McMaster Graduate General Bursary

What you will need

• ✓ Completed application submitted via AwardSpring by the deadline
• ✓ Be enrolled at McMaster University
• ✓ Accepted loan and grant portions of OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Program)
• ✓ For OSAP students: completed income update requests by the specified deadline
• ✓ Without an OSAP application, you are considered only if you are an Indigenous student, have an OSAP government aid restriction (academic progress, income verification, provincial and/or federal default, or credit check), are a student with a disability taking a reduced course load, have out-of-province student aid, are a part-time master's or PhD student, or receive social assistance

About this award

You can receive up to $2,500 through this bursary. As a bursary, this money is yours to keep and you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you are a graduate student at McMaster University who is facing financial challenges while completing your degree. The application opens mid-August each year in AwardSpring (the university's online scholarship portal). No specific closing date is posted publicly — before you start your application, check McMaster University's program page or call their office to confirm when applications close this year. You will receive your funding in mid-February. Selection is based solely on your financial need. Selection criteria aren't published — ask McMaster University how they prioritize applicants and roughly how many students receive this funding so you can judge your odds. Ask McMaster University 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. To keep this funding, you must continue to demonstrate financial need throughout your study period. Renewal conditions aren't listed — if you're counting on this for multiple years, confirm with McMaster University whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

You must be enrolled at McMaster University. It is not open to international students enrolled in graduate studies, MBA, medicine or physician assistant programs. To qualify, you generally need to apply for OSAP (the Ontario Student Assistance Program — the provincial office that provides loans and grants) and accept both the loan and grant portions. However, you can still be considered for a bursary without an OSAP application if you fall into one of these specific groups: Indigenous students, students receiving social assistance, part-time students in a masters or PhD degree program, students with out-of-province student aid, students with a disability taking a reduced course load, or students with OSAP government aid restrictions (such as academic progress, income verification, credit check, or provincial/federal default restrictions).

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 graduate students

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

   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 simply stating you need money. Instead, ensure your OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Program) application is fully updated and that you have accepted all offered loans and grants. Double-check that your income information is current to prove your need accurately.
• SupportAvoid ignoring the income update requests from the government. Instead, complete any OSAP income update requests immediately by the stated deadline. This ensures your financial data is verified and ready for the university to review.
• StrategyAvoid applying only to this one bursary. Instead, use the AwardSpring portal to look for donor bursaries and academic grants. Since you are automatically considered for some of these when you apply for the General Bursary, take the time to manually apply for any others that match your research area.
• RealismAvoid assuming your eligibility stays the same if your status changes. Instead, remember that if you graduate, withdraw, or take a leave of absence, your eligibility may be affected. Plan your budget knowing that your funding depends on your active enrollment status.

Questions students ask

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