Funding Your Studies

Financial planning is important to ensuring success in your graduate degree. Being financially ready will help you focus on your research, classes, studio work, and getting the most out of your time at OCAD U.

There are many funding options for you here at OCAD U and externally. Here's what you need to know about getting funding:

  • 2/3 applicants will receive funding from OCAD U to help offset tuition or living expenses.
  • Funding packages are typically sent out alongside an offer of admission.
  • If you don’t receive funding with your offer of admission, you can apply for scholarships and other funding opportunities during your studies.

To put yourself in the best position to receive funding apply to your program by our Priority Consideration for Funding Deadline in mid-January.

Read on for resources to help you get financially ready for your graduate degree. 

All applicants to full-time programs can opt-in to consideration for internal entrance scholarships when they apply to graduate studies. Ranging from $1,000 to $18,750, these competitive scholarships are awarded to applicants with strong GPAs, professional/academic backgrounds, and research proposals. 

The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) scholarship is valued at $5,000 per academic term for either two or three consecutive terms.

  • Deadline: January 15, 2025
  • Eligibility: Canadian citizens, Permanent Residents of Canada, and protected persons

Eligibility Requirements:
To be eligible to apply for an OGS scholarship, you must:

  • be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada, or an international student in Canada on a student visa
  • be a full-time student in, or have applied for full-time admission to, one of OCAD University’s master’s programs
  • have a GPA of 80% or an A- in each of your most recent two years of full-time academic study
  • be in good standing with Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)
  • have not exceeded the maximum support restrictions: two years of OGS support at the master’s level and/or six years of government-funded awards which include: Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program (OGS), Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology (QEII-GSST) (formerly OGSST), Ontario Trillium Scholarships (OTS), Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR), Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS)

Application Process:

  1. Review the eligibility criteria listed above. 
  2. Complete your OGS application through the OCAD University Application Portal by the deadline.

External scholarships, awards and grants require additional separate applications. Here are just a few external scholarships and resources you might be interested in:

  1. Canada Graduate Scholarships - Master's (CGS-M)
    • Deadline: December 1, 2024
    • Eligibility: Canadian citizens, Permanent Residents of Canada, and protected persons
  2. International students, check out the government of Canada resource page to see if there are scholarships for you!
  3. Scholarshipscanada.com – A database of internal and external scholarships available for students studying at Canadian schools.

Assistantships: These are paid opportunities that offer you a chance to build your resume through teaching or research activities at OCAD U. Assistantships usually range from $2,000 to $4,500 per appointment. You may be offered a position with your offer of admission, but you can always seek out and apply for others during your studies, which will be posted on our Employment Opportunities page. 

Work-Study: OCAD U offers on-campus employment opportunities to students through the Institutional Work-Study Plan and Campus Employment Program for International Students. These programs provide eligible students with financial assistance through part-time paid employment on campus at OCAD U and an opportunity to gain and enhance skills while obtaining work experience. 

Loans: Government programs like the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) provide financial aid to students. 

Out-of-Province Students: Information on applying for assistance or renewing student loans previously issued through another province or territory can be found on the following provincial/territorial websites:

Alberta
British Columbia 
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland and Labrador
Nova Scotia
Northwest Territories
Nunavut
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
Yukon

Project and Travel Grants: Project and travel grants of up to $2,000 per year are available to OCAD U graduate students to support their practice and research activities. An application is required.

Bursaries: There are various bursary programs available to OCADU students generated through government, donations, endowments, tuition revenue or external agencies. More information can be found here. 

The Ontario Bursary for Students with Disabilities (BSWD) and the Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment – Students with Disabilities (CSG-DSE) help eligible full-time and part-time students pay for eligible disability-related services and equipment needed to participate in postsecondary studies.

If you have a verified permanent disability or a verified persistent or prolonged disability, you may be considered for BSWD and CSG-DSE funding.

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Tuition & Fees
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Canada Graduate Scholarships - Master's (CGS-M)

Applications closed. 

Link to Canada Graduate Scholarships - Master's (CGS-M)
Graduate Funding & Financial Aid Online Information Session

Graduate Funding & Financial Aid Webinar Recording

Being ready financially will help you focus on your research, classes and getting the most out of your time at OCAD U. There are many funding options for you here at OCAD U and externally. Watch the recording of this online information session to learn more!
Watch here