In this week’s blog, I’d like to continue with the theme of financial aid and discuss scholarships, awards and bursaries. We’ve all heard of them, but what exactly are they and how do you receive them? Here the answers to some of the questions I had in my first year:
What’s the difference between scholarships, awards & bursaries?
Scholarships and awards are based primarily on academic performance. Higher academic achievement and/or community involvement will increase your chances of receiving this type of aid. Bursaries are needs-based and eligibility will depend on your financial situation.
Are entrance scholarships available to mature students?
York offers 2 types of entrance scholarships: those for which you must apply through the Student Financial Profile (I’ll get to that in a minute), and those for which you will be considered automatically. Some of these are awarded specifically to mature and international students:
| Awarded Automatically: | Mature Students | International Students |
| Application Required: | Mature Students | International Students |
Click here for more information on international student aid. You can also visit the York International website.
Are there mature student or single parent scholorships?
Yes, there are! Go to the online awards search tool and use keywords like “mature student” or “single parent” for a complete list. Unless otherwise stated, all full-time, part-time and mature students are eligible for all the awards in the system as long as they meet the published criteria. You must specifically apply for these scholorships through the Student Financial Profile.
What is the Student Financial Profile?
The Student Financial Profile is an online application system that allows you to apply for scholarships, awards, bursaries and on-campus employment. The system prompts you with questions designed to assess your unique financial situation and then allows you to select exactly the awards for which you wish to apply. One-stop shopping! You will need to fill out your Student Financial Profile at the beginning of each academic session (once for Fall/Winter and once for Summer). Click here to see the deadlines and begin filling out your SFP!
- Click the “Save Work” button regularly to ensure you don’t lose your application (Passport York will automatically log you out after 90 minutes).
- You can make changes to your SFP up to 6 six weeks after submission by logging back into the system.
- Some awards require supporting documents, such as an essay or reference letter – read the details for each award carefully!
In my opinion, submitting the Student Financial Profile is crucial. By spending 20 minutes or so each academic session, money has landed directly into my Student Account, and it has qualified me to work at extremely flexible jobs on campus. For more information, watch this tutorial!
As a final note, I’d recommend applying for every scholarship and award you can (but do make sure you’re eligible). The money is there and it never hurts to try. Just make sure you submit any required supporting documents! Next week I'll tell you how to get those flexible jobs on campus!
