Ontario Bursary for Students with Disabilities (BSWD)

What you will need

• ✓ Completed BSWD/CSG-DSE application form (.pdf)
• ✓ Supporting documentation verifying permanent, persistent, or prolonged disability for OSAP purposes
• ✓ Information/recommendations from a health care provider (physician or regulated professional)
• ✓ Recommendations from your school's office for students with disabilities/accessibility services office
• ✓ Proof of eligibility for OSAP (Full-Time or Part-Time) or an Institution-Funded Special Bursary
• ✓ For psycho-educational or disability assessments: proof that the assessment took place no more than 6 months before your study start date

About this award

You can receive up to $2,000 per academic year from the BSWD (Ontario Bursary for Students with Disabilities) and up to $20,000 per academic year from the CSG-DSE (Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment – Students with Disabilities). This is a grant, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. Note that eligible service and equipment items are subject to individual caps, so you might not get the full amount or have all your costs covered. This is for you if you have a verified permanent, persistent, or prolonged disability and need specific educational tools or services—like note-takers, tutors, or assistive technology—to succeed in your postsecondary studies. Your application must be received by your financial aid office no later than 60 days before the end of your study period, and all required documents must arrive no later than 40 days before the end of your study period. Receipts for approved items are due by the end of your study period. When you apply, ask your financial aid office how and when you will be notified of the decision. Your application is assessed by your school's accessibility services office and the Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security's Student Financial Assistance Branch. They look at your specific functional limitations and recommendations from your health care provider to decide what to fund. Selection criteria aren't published—ask Government of Ontario how many students typically receive this funding so you can judge your odds. Ask Government of Ontario 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 Government of Ontario whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

To qualify for the BSWD, you must self-identify as having a permanent, persistent, or prolonged disability verified for OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Program — the provincial financial aid system) purposes. You must also be eligible for funding from OSAP for Full-Time Students with at least $1 in calculated provincial need, OSAP for Part-Time Students receiving an Ontario Part-Time Grant, or an Institution-Funded Special Bursary at a public Ontario college or university. For the CSG-DSE, you must have a verified disability for OSAP purposes and be eligible for OSAP for Full-Time Students with at least $1 in calculated federal need, or be an OSAP Part-Time Student. Please note that students in micro-credential studies and students who are receiving only the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant are not eligible for BSWD or CSG-DSE.

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 or permanent resident
• ✓ Open to college, undergraduate, graduate, trades or certificate 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

   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

• EquipmentAvoid buying gear before your application is approved. Instead, wait for the official approval to ensure the cost is covered. Check if your school offers the equipment for free first.
• SupportAvoid submitting medical notes that lack detail. Instead, work with your physician or regulated health care professional to provide a clear rationale based on your specific functional limitations.
• StrategyAvoid waiting until the end of the term to apply. Instead, submit your paperwork early since the deadline is 60 days before your study period ends. This gives your financial aid office time to process your request.
• RealismAvoid assuming every tool you need will be paid for. Instead, remember that each item has a funding cap. Review the individual caps with your accessibility office to see where you might have gaps in funding.

Questions students ask

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