Overview
York University and the Faculty of Graduate Studies provide bursaries to assist eligible graduate students with financial need.
Some bursaries are administered by Student Financial Services (SFS), others by the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
All bursary applications require students to complete a profile in the Financial Aid, Awards and Scholarships (FAAS) portal.
Available Bursaries
Bursaries administered by the Faculty of Graduate Studies
For bursaries administered by the Faculty of Graduate Studies, the SFP for the Fall/Winter 2024–2025 application cycle will be available from September 1, 2024 to January 31, 2025. Submissions received after the deadline will be deemed ineligible.
Graduate students who complete an SFP will be automatically considered for the following FGS–administered bursaries/awards, where eligible.
- FGS Tuition Fee Bursary
- CUPE 3903 – Unit 1 Graduate Student Bursary Fund
- CUPE 3903 – Unit 3 GA Bursary Fund
- Bank of Montreal Award
- Margot Franssen and Quig Tingley Award for Graduate Studies
- Franc & Mary Joubin Bursary Fund
- Samuel R. McLaughlin Foundation Scholars Award
- Chancellor Bennett Bursary
- Senior Anthropologist Graduate Bursary
- William Dimma Bursary
- Fiera Sceptre Inc. Bursary
- General Motors of Canada Limited Bursary for Graduate Students in Computer Science
- Arden Haynes Emergency Bursary Fund
- Royal Bank Emergency Bursary Fund
- Canadian Federation of University Women — North Toronto Branch
- Andrina and Frank Lever Award
- The Bennett Family Graduate Bursary (open to full-time and part-time students)
Awards for students with disabilities are administered by Student Financial Services. Graduate students should complete their profile during the Fall/Winter application cycle noted above.
Eligible Applicants
- Registered, full-time fee–paying York graduate students with demonstrated financial need;
- Excluding students registered in programs with program-specific bursaries (generally, professional programs and programs affiliated with the Schulich School of Business—unless they secure a CUPE 3903 assignment).
Bursary Allocations will be prioritized for students who have not already received a bursary in the current Academic year.
Amount of Allocations
- Allocation amounts may vary based on the volume of applications and the number of high–need applications in any given application cycle;
- Allocated funds are posted to the student account (STAC) of each successful applicant after adjudication in the Winter/Summer term;
- Students are required to notify FGS as soon as possible if there is a change to their financial need. Allocation amounts may be adjusted accordingly.
How to Apply
- Students must apply through the Financial Aid, Awards and Scholarships (FAAS) system.
Contact
- If you require further assistance, please contact our Scholarship & Awards Coordinator by visiting our FGS Staff Directory.
The Financial Aid, Awards and Scholarships (FAAS) system for the Summer 2025 application cycle will be available as follows:
Summer 2025— from May 1, 2025 until the deadline of May 31, 2025.
Students applying for Summer 2025 will be considered for the following bursaries/ funds where eligible:
1. Graduate Studies Bursaries
Students must be registered full–time in a degree program and paying fees to York University. Bursary funding is provided to assist with the payment of fees for full–time students in need. Financial need is determined by considering the following factors:
- Family status (single parent with children, married with children for example);
- Fee status (international vs domestic);
- Special circumstances (medical, personal for example). Please provide information on special circumstances in the freeform section provided.
The adjudication committee consists of the:
- Dean or designate;
- A full–time faculty member; and
- Representative of the GSA.
Please note: All applications from students in the Schulich School of Business will be forwarded to the Student Services Office at the School as they will not be adjudicated by Graduate Studies.
2. CUPE 3903 Unit 1 Masters Bursary Fund
Extract from the Collective Agreement:
“The CUPE 3903 Masters Bursary Fund will be made available in the summer term for bargaining unit members in masters programs, who are registered full–time in the summer term and have no scholarship or other form of funding (excluding bursaries) from or through the University in that term. The first priority is summer funding, on the basis of need, for those bargaining unit members in multi-year masters programs, who held a full teaching assistantship in the previous fall/winter terms, and will return to the second or third year of full–time study in their masters program in the following fall term. The second priority is summer funding, on the basis of need, for those bargaining unit members in master programs who will be entering a Ph.D. program at York University in the following fall term.
Disbursement of the bursary will occur on or after June 15th of the contract year. The bursary will be administered by a four-person committee consisting of two members selected by the Unions, one full–time faculty member selected by the Employer, and the Dean of Graduate Studies or designate, using procedures approved by the Labour/Management Committee.”
Eligible applicants
- Registered, full–time, fee-paying York graduate students with demonstrated financial need;
- Excluding students registered in programs with program-specific bursaries (generally, professional programs and programs affiliated with the Schulich School of Business— unless they secure a CUPE 3903 assignment).
Bursary Allocations will be prioritized for students who have not already received a bursary in the current Academic year.
Applications received after the published deadlines will be deemed ineligible.
Amount of allocations
Allocation amounts may vary based on the volume of applications and the number of high–need applications in any given application cycle.
Allocated funds are posted to the student account (STAC) of each successful applicant after adjudication in the Summer term.
Applications are usually available in early May. To apply after the opening date, complete the Financial Aid, Awards and Scholarships (FAAS) system.
The FGS Emergency Bursary is a bursary for York University graduate students to provide emergency assistance for rent, food and utilities.
Eligibility: Applicants must be current registered graduate students with York University. **Please note that Emergency Bursaries for new graduate students will be reviewed after Funding Packages are posted**
Applying: Contact FGS to request an online application via email at fgseb@yorku.ca.
Schulich Graduate Students can contact SSB directly for an Emergency Bursary via email at: finaid@schulich.yorku.ca.
OPD Students can apply directly for an Emergency Bursary on the Osgoode website.
Receiving the bursary: The funds are posted to the student account and refunded to the linked student bank account. Please ensure you have EFT set up to make the transfer faster. Visit the Requesting a Refund site to set up EFT between a student account and a bank account.
Is a Student Financial Profile required? A completed Student Financial Profile is not required.