Paying for your education
Students in the professional Master of Science in Biomedical Communications program self-fund their education through various means including student loans, student lines of credit, personal savings and employment income. For more information, please see “How Funding Works: Professional Programs.” https://www.sgs.utoronto.ca/awards-funding/how-funding-works-professional-programs/
Student funding is not guaranteed through the Biomedical Communications program. Students admitted into the program are eligible to apply for paid teaching assistantships and work study jobs. Students may be hired for independent contracts. Some students find summer employment between first and second year. (Please see “Work with Us.” https://bmc.med.utoronto.ca/work-with-our-students) In second year, some of the master’s research projects come with funding from $5,000 to $15,000.
Listed below are links to a variety of resources offering funding and loan programs for which you may be eligible.
University of Toronto and Associated Awards
School of Graduate Studies financial aid
Information may be researched through the School of Graduate Studies website. BMC domestic students are eligible for the Agnes M. Ireland Award and the Scace Graduate Fellowship.
The SGS Conference Grant provides modest financial support to eligible students who will be actively presenting their research at an academic conference.
Graduate Students Union funding opportunities
The Graduate Students Union provides information on funding opportunities, grants and bursaries available to graduate students at the University of Toronto.
Student Workers Assistance Fund (SWAF)
CUPE 3902’s SWAF provides funding support to students not in the funded cohort who received less than $15,000 of funding a year. Further information can be found here: https://www.cupe3902.org/unit-1/benefits/student-workers-assistance-fund-swaf/.
Opportunities for International Students
International students can also research the Centre for International Experience at the St. George Campus or the International Centre at the Mississauga campus for opportunities.
CUPE 3902’s International Health Plan Assistance Fund (IHPAF) is for Unit 1 members who, because of their international status, must pay for their UHIP expenses, for themselves, their spouse or their dependent children.
Provincial Awards
Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)
For information about post-secondary school funding options, loan terms and conditions, online applications and forms, visit the OSAP website .
Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)
Before entering the program, students, including international students, with an overall average of at least A- or its equivalent on the last 20 one-term/semester courses can apply for this scholarship. There are different submission dates for domestic and international applicants.
Students are eligible for a lifetime maximum of six (6) years of government-funded awards (including previous OGS, CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC awards, etc.)
Students must submit an OGS application to each institution to which they are seeking admission. OGS awards are no longer transferrable from one university to another.
The Institute of Medical Science administers the Biomedical Communications program’s OGS applications: https://ims.utoronto.ca/current-awards-competitions.
International Awards
Vesalius Trust Student Research Scholarships
Year II BMC students only (deadline is around the first week in November). More about the Vesalius Trust Student Research Scholarships.
Vesalius Trust Inez Demonet Scholarship
Year II BMC students only (deadline is around the first week in February). More about the Vesalius Trust Inez Demonet Scholarship.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Applicants who are U.S. citizens may be eligible for federal student aid programs. More about FAFSA.
General AwardS
Loan Programs
Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)
A loan for Ontario students only. More about OSAP applications.
Private Loans
Domestic students have the option of borrowing funds from Scotiabank through either the Scotia Professional Student Plan (SPSP) OR ScotiaLine for Students (ScotiaLine). Whether a student is eligible to apply for SPSP or ScotiaLine depends on the student’s program of study and year of study.
Students interested in the lending products offered by Scotiabank should contact the Queen and McCaul Branch, Georgios Stathopoulos at georgios.stathopoulos@scotiabank.com or 416-866-3940 ext. 4209 to set up an appointment.
Note: University of Toronto students are not required to use Scotiabank as a lender. Students are free to pursue funding options at the financial institution of their choice.