Financial Aid
Various types of support are available from the university, government, or other sources. All are offered on a competitive basis, except bursaries and OSAP assistance, which are awarded on the basis of financial need. Tuition and accommodation costs are the students’ responsibility.
1. Graduate teaching assistantships or research assistantships;
2. Laurentian Universitys summer fellowships;
3. Laurentian University scholarships;
4. Laurentian University bursaries (criteria: merit and need);
5. The Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP);
6. Open competition awards – government agencies;
7. Open competition awards – non-government agencies.
Internal support
Graduate teaching assistantships/graduate fellowships
Graduate teaching assistantships/graduate fellowships (GTA/GFs) are available to qualified full-time students. The awards are designated partially as employment (54%) and partially as a fellowship (46%). Students who initially register as part-time and then switch to full-time status may not receive the same GTA/GF entitlement as those students who begin as full-time students. If appointed, students are required to work up to ten hours a week in some form of teaching assistance.GTA/GFs are only available to students registered in the first two years of a master’s program and in the first four years of a doctoral program. Nominations are requested annually from coordinators of each program. No additional application is necessary.
The value of the GTA/GF is reviewed annually. For further information, contact the school of graduate studies or the department concerned.
The 2011-2012 value of the GTA/GF is $7,350 for master’s degree students, $12,075 for PhD students, and is subject to review for the coming year(s).
Laurentian summer fellowships
This program was introduced to provide a means for full-time students in thesis-track programs to work full-time on their research in the summer following their first year of study. Students may have other employment for a maximum of ten hours per week while receiving this fellowship. The value of the 2011-2012 summer fellowships is approximately $1,000 and is subject to review.
Research assistants
Faculty holding research grants may provide support in appropriate cases.
Laurentian scholarships
The university has established a number of awards that are designed to recognize both achievement and the financial needs of graduate students.
Only full-time students in the first and second year of graduate study are normally eligible to receive these scholarships. Students applying for these awards must normally have resided in Canada for 12 months and be registered as full-time students prior to the date of application. Details of these awards may change at any time; the most current information, full details and application forms may be obtained from the school of graduate studies except where otherwise noted.
Deadline for application: October 30.
Laurentian Graduate Scholarship
Quantity: one
Value: $5,000
Conditions: academic excellence; first year of graduate study
Application forms are available from the school of graduate studies.
Joseph Errington Graduate Fund Scholarships
Quantity: three
Value: $1,500 (1), $1,000 (2)
Condition: academic excellence
Restriction: may not be held concurrently with a major award (eg. NSERC, SSHRC, OGS)
Application forms are available from the school of graduate studies.
Alumni Association Graduate Studies Scholarship
Quantity: one
Value: varies
Conditions: academic excellence; first year of graduate study
Application forms are available from the school of graduate studies.
Alumni Graduate Studies Bursary
Quantity: one
Value: varies
Conditions: The recipient must be a Laurentian University graduate or a dependant of a Laurentian graduate.
Sudbury 1995: Mining and the Environment Graduate Award
Administered by the Centre in Mining and Materials Research (CIMMR)
Quantity: one
Value: $5,000 to the student and up to $2,000 as research support
Conditions: academic excellence; letters of reference; value of research topic to the broader mining community.
John Carl MacIsaac Foundation Graduate Bursaries
Established by the John Carl MacIsaac Foundation, this bursary is awarded to aid a full-time student enrolled in a post-graduate program, who can demonstrate financial need and is a resident of Ontario, as defined by OSAP. The recipient must show a sincere effort and commitment to their academic endeavors and must supply a letter of recommendation.
Value: varies.
Application required.
CFUW-Sudbury: Grace Hartman Memorial Graduate Studies Bursary
Quantity: one
Value: $1,000
Conditions: academic excellence, female, financial need
Application forms are available from the student awards office.
Father Allaire Scholarship
Awarded by the department of chemistry and biochemistry.
Quantity: one
Value: $1,000
Conditions: academic excellence; preferably to a student entering the M.Sc. in chemical sciences.
No formal application required.
Department of chemistry and biochemistry graduate student award
Quantity: one
Value: $1,000
Conditions: academic standing and financial need; preferably to a student entering the graduate program in chemical sciences
Application form available from the department of chemistry and biochemistry.
Chemical Institute of Canada Wally Pasika Leadership Award
Administered by the department of chemistry and biochemistry.
This award is available to full- or part-time 2nd-year students doing research in chemistry in the M.Sc. in chemical sciences program.
Number: one
Value: $1,000 and a CIC medal
Conditions: academic excellence; demonstrated promise in area of research; demonstrated potential for leadership; financial need may be considered.
Leadership activities may take many forms (see application/nomination form). May be held with other awards. Offered annually if the criteria are met. Should it not be given in any year, its value will be added to the following year’s award or two awards will be given.
Application/nomination forms available in the department of chemistry and biochemistry.
The Ruffed Grouse Society Wildlife and Conservation Bursary
This bursary is administered by the department of biology and the candidate is chosen by a selection committee comprised of members of the department of biology.
Quantity: one
Value: $1,500
Conditions: Available to full-time graduate students in biology with high academic standing. Students must be involved in research in vertebrate biology. Student must be an Ontario resident* as defined by OSAP and demonstrate financial need.
*Ontario resident is defined as a student who has resided in Ontario for at least 12 months prior to start of program.
Applications should be submitted to the chair of the department of biology and should include a letter of intent, CV, official transcript, a reference letter from the supervisor and a completed financial needs bursary application form.
Angus Gilbert Memorial Scholarship
Awarded by the department of history
Number: one
Value: up to $1,000
Conditions: academic excellence; to a student entering the MA in history program.
French River Heritage Fund Scholarship
Awarded by the department of history.
Number: one
Value: up to $500
Conditions: academic excellence in the previous full academic year; to a student in history whose research project deals with the prehistory or history of northern Ontario.
Henrik and Regina Waern Graduate Studies Bursaries
Established by the late Mrs. Regina Waern, two bursaries valued at $1,000 each, and one bursary of $500 are awarded annually to students enrolled in the M.Sc. in chemical sciences. The award is based on financial need, good academic standing, and Ontario residency.
Bursary application forms are required. The recipients are selected from a shortlist of eligible candidates provided to the department of chemistry and biochemistry.
Marita I. Mallory Cancer Research Bursary
This scholarship is administered by the department of biology. The candidate is chosen by a selection committee comprised of members of the department of biology and members of the Mallory family.
Quantity: one
Value: $1,000
Conditions: Available to full-time graduate students with high academic standing (80% minimum) who are engaged in the field of cancer research or related oncological studies. Students must be Ontario residents* as defined by OSAP and demonstrate financial need. Consideration will be given to the research progress made by the candidate, as outlined by his/her research advisor. Preference will be given to candidates who do not hold other major awards.
*Ontario resident is defined as a student who has resided in Ontario for at least 12 months prior to start of program.
Applications should be submitted to the chair of the department of biology and should include a letter of intent, CV, official transcript, a reference letter from the supervisor and a completed financial needs bursary application form.
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Graduate Research Awards
Donated by the faculty of Laurentian’s department of chemistry and biochemistry, two bursaries valued at $500 each (one in biochemistry and one in chemistry) are awarded annually to students enrolled in the M.Sc. program doing research in chemistry or biochemistry. The award is based on financial need, good academic standing, and Ontario residency. Bursary application forms are required. The recipients are selected from a shortlist of eligible candidates provided to the department of chemistry and biochemistry.
Father Allaire Graduate Bursary
Established in recognition of the contributions of Father C. Allaire to the department of chemistry and biochemistry, a bursary of $500 is awarded annually to a student enrolled in the M.Sc. in chemical sciences. The award is based on financial need, good academic standing, and Ontario residency.
The recipient is selected from a shortlist of eligible candidates provided to the department of chemistry and biochemistry.
Bursary application forms are required.
The Felix & Maria Lopes Bursary
The “Felix & Maria Lopes Bursary,” valued at $1,000, was established by Lopes Mechanical Limited to honour the lifelong commitment Felix and Maria have shown to education and the community of Greater Sudbury. This bursary will be awarded to students in a graduate engineering program, who can demonstrate financial need and who are Ontario residents as defined by OSAP. Preference will be given to graduates of northern Ontario secondary schools.
Application is required.
Hermann Falter Graduate Research Award
Established in recognition of the contributions of Dr. H. Falter to teaching, research, and university governance, a graduate research award of $1,000 is given to a student enrolled in a graduate program in the department of chemistry and biochemistry. The award is based on academic standing and financial need, and is made on the recommendation of the department of chemistry and biochemistry.
Elk Restoration and Conservation Research Bursary
This scholarship is administered by the department of biology and the candidate is chosen by a selection committee comprised of members of the department of biology.
Quantity: one
Value: $6,000
Conditions: Available to full-time graduate students in biology with high academic standing who are involved in research associated with the restoration and conservation of elk in Ontario. The student should demonstrate financial need.
Applications should be submitted to the chair of the department of biology and should include a letter of intent, CV, official transcript, a reference letter from the supervisor and a completed financial needs bursary application form.
Lloyd Reed Graduate physics Research Award
Value: $1,000 per year
Established in recognition of contributions made by Dr. Lloyd Reed to teaching, research and university governance. The award is given on the recommendation of the department of physics to a student enrolled in a graduate program of the department, in recognition of high academic standing and the need for financial support.
Application should be made through the student awards office.
Sudbury Fish and Game Protective Association Bursary
This scholarship is administered by the department of biology and the candidate is chosen by a selection committee comprised of members of the department of biology.
Quantity: one to two per year
Value: $500 (amount can vary from year to year)
Conditions: Available to full-time graduate students in biology with high academic standing, involved in research in the areas of fish and wildlife ecology.
Applications be submitted to the chair of the department of biology should include a letter of intent, CV, official transcript, and a reference letter from the supervisor.
Keith Farrell Memorial Graduate Bursary
Established by family and friends, the Keith Farrell Memorial Graduate Bursary is awarded to a full-time student enrolled in the master of science in geology, with demonstrated financial need. Canadian residency is required.
Value: varies
Application should be made at the student awards office.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada Habitat and Restoration Scholarship
This scholarship is administered by the department of biology and the candidate is chosen by a selection committee composed of members of the department of biology and representatives from Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
Quantity: one
Value: $2,500 (amount can vary from year to year)
Conditions: Available to full-time graduate students in biology with high academic standing who are involved in research in aquatic ecology that has relevance to Whitson Lake, with emphasis on fish habitat ecology and restoration in the Greater Sudbury area.
Applications should be submitted to the chair of the department of biology and should include a letter of intent, CV, official transcript and a reference letter from the supervisor.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada Habitat and Restoration Bursary
This bursary is administered by the department of biology and the candidate is chosen by a selection committee composed of representatives from Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the department of biology.
Quantity: one
Value: $5,250 (value can vary from year to year)
Conditions: Available to full-time graduate students in biology with high academic standing who are involved in research in aquatic ecology that has relevance to Whitson Lake, with emphasis on fish habitat ecology and restoration in the Greater Sudbury area. Students must be Ontario residents* as defined by OSAP and demonstrate financial need.
*Ontario resident is defined as a student who has resided in Ontario for at least 12 months prior to start of program.
Applications should be submitted to the chair of the department of biology and should include a letter of intent, CV, official transcript, reference letter from supervisor and a completed financial needs bursary application form.
Richard Sawicki Scholarship
Administered by the department of chemistry and biochemistry, this graduate award was established by Testmark Laboratories Ltd. in memory of Richard Sawicki who passed away from cancer while completing his M.Sc. thesis at Laurentian. Richard demonstrated a positive attitude and perseverance in spite of dealing with multiple sclerosis for 14 years. He was an inspiration to all who knew him. Available to students in the M.Sc. program in chemical sciences.
Quantity: one
Value: $1,000
Conditions: must meet the minimum academic standing of the program and submit a personal data sheet describing how personal challenges and obstacles have been met.
Application should be made through the student awards office.
The F. Jean MacLeod Endowment for the David Pearson Bursaries in the Science Communication Program
The bursaries shall be awarded annually to full-time students enrolled in Laurentian University’s graduate studies program developed in conjunction with Science North for which, upon completion, a diploma in science communication will be awarded.
The bursaries shall be awarded to full-time graduate students enrolled in the science communication graduate program who demonstrate financial need to the satisfaction of the university.
Master of Arts in Humanities Bursary
Awarded annually to a student enrolled in the interdisciplinary master of arts in humanities interpretation and values on the basis of financial need and Ontario residency as defined by OSAP.
Value: varies
Bursary application is required.
Master in Human Development Bursary
The bursary, valued at $250 annually, is awarded to a student enrolled in the MA or M.Sc. in human development on the basis of financial need and Ontario residency as defined by OSAP.
Application should be made through the student awards office.
Michel Family Bursary
Established by Arnel Michel. The purpose of this award is to aid a student enrolled in a graduate program (master’s or Ph.D.) offered in French, who is collaborating on a research project with the Franco-Ontarian Institute. The bursary will be awarded on the basis of demonstrated financial need and Ontario residency, as defined by OSAP. Value: $2,500.
Application should be made through the student awards office.