The GSA offers several different awards and bursaries for students in financial need.

Only GSA members will be eligible to apply for grad student funding.

GSA University Graduate Student Compassionate Bursary Fund

This bursary is administered by the Office of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies. The fund normally provides up to $2,000 for expenses that are incurred due to extenuating circumstances.

Typical examples include: travel expenses due to a death or illness of an immediate family member (spouse/common-law partner/child/parent/sibling); travel to arrange a permanent change in parental obligations, including adoption; emergency living costs during family breakdown/dissolution; emergency food, living and/or school supplies required as a result of a delay in external agency support; emergency surgery for self or immediate family member (spouse/child); uninsured loss due to fire, theft, or accident. Students are encouraged to apply with any emergency situation.

Any registered student may contact a Graduate Scholarships Officer in the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (OGPS), prior to making an application for support. The Graduate Scholarships Officer will assist students in finding any other possible sources of support as well as making an initial determination of the amount of support available from this fund.

GSA Travel Grant

Students who have presented at conferences, workshops, or seminars in their previous semester may be eligible to receive a travel grant up to $500 (once for masters and twice for Phd during their grad studies career). The student must have been registered as a graduate student in the term that student has presented. Please note that boarding passes are required in order to claim flight expenses.

Pre-approved applications are no longer accepted.

GSA Activities Grant (PDR)

Priority is given to events that directly enrich the graduate community. PDRs are due on the first day of each month.

After completing the online form, contact Office Manager at [email protected] to reserve a spot for the meeting.

GSA Child Care Bursary

A Child Care Bursary is available for graduate students who demonstrate financial need, once during their grad study degree.

DEI Bursary

All the Black, Indigenous, LGBTQIA2S+, specially-abled, and international graduate students who have faced any emergency circumstances in their previous/current semester may be eligible to receive a DEI bursary of up to $200 (once during their grad studies career). The student must have been registered as a graduate student in the term. Please note that the committee might ask for additional documents. 

Please send your documents along with the complete application form to [email protected]

Last date for the application for W25: 14th April 2025