Scholarships and loans
Want to continue your education after high school? Many students use various scholarships and loans to pay for their education.
Scholarships
A scholarship is an amount of money given by an institution to help a student continue his or her education. There are several types of scholarships, but they generally fall into two categories.
- Scholarships for academic excellence are non-repayable awards given to recognize the high level of excellence a student has achieved in their studies.
- Scholarships are non-reimbursable prizes awarded on the basis of financial need and without regard to academic achievement.
Types of grants
Entrance Exchange Entrance Scholarships: offered automatically by post-secondary institutions. Entrance scholarships are monetary awards given by post-secondary institutions to students who demonstrate one or more of the following: academic excellence, leadership abilities, participation in extracurricular activities and research proposals. No application is required by the student.
Internal scholarships These scholarships are offered by the school and the Board. They will be presented to students and interested students will be invited to fill out the forms to apply.
External scholarships and community grants Scholarships: These scholarships are made available through the generosity of community organizations or organizations external to the school and the Board. These scholarships have various eligibility criteria and all students are eligible to apply. Some scholarships require a high academic average, some require that applicants be selected by the school, and some are not based on academic merit. The student will need to apply by the deadlines and requirements established for each scholarship in question.
Academic Excellence Scholarships Academic Excellence Scholarships: As elaborated above, the Academic Excellence Scholarships are awarded to recognize the high level of excellence that a student has achieved during his/her studies. The student's application is sponsored by the school.
Student loans
Student loans help students pay for post-secondary education and must be repaid by the student.
The Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) External link is the government agency that handles student loans in Ontario. Many banks also offer student loans. For more information, contact your financial institution directly.
Where to start?
- View the list of scholarships from the school's guidance department. (The list is not complete, but it is a good start).
- Prepare a list of potential scholarship sources. Each college and university offers a variety of scholarships. Check the websites of these institutions for more information.
- Prepare a budget to better plan your financial needs for your post-secondary education. See the Student Budget Grid External link of the Government of Canada.
- Ask for letters of recommendation from your teachers, guidance department, school principal, community service supervisor, etc. (Remember to allow them at least two weeks to prepare your letters).
Post-secondary education
Continuation of studies
- Info-UO External link is the guide to Ontario universities for Ontario high school students and guidance counsellors. It provides information on programs, admission requirements, and more. Info-UO is intended to be a starting point for researching your university options.
- Ontario's colleges are at the forefront of technology, innovation and workforce development and are preparing students to succeed in tomorrow's leading-edge careers. The site Ontario Colleges External link is your starting point for your college options.
Applications for post-secondary education
Ontario Universities Application Centre (OUAC) : Apply to a university External link
Ontario Colleges: Ask a college External link
Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP): Communicates with a regional coordinator External link
Other resources
"I've applied to a university in Ontario - what's next?"
This document includes links to promotional materials on the next steps in the application process that you can post for your Grade 12 students, as well as other important information, such as deadlines, online resources and how to respond to an offer of admission.