Bursaries & Financial Aid
TRINITY COLLEGE FINANCIAL SUPPORT
The bursary program is intended to students who, without financial assistance otherwise might have difficulty completing their program. Bursaries are need-based and not academic awards. Funds administered by the College are available for students in the Faculty of Divinity in the form of Bursaries (Grants), Special Bursaries (for example for Internship expenses or educational travel) and Emergency Loans.
Please review Trinity College Faculty of Divinity Bursary Policies for eligibility and additional information:
International students may be considered for bursary assistance. However, like domestic students, international students and their families are expected to have reasonable financial plans to pay for the costs of a university education. Expenses will be considered in the same manner as domestic students (i.e. limited travel allowance). Supports to international students will not be larger than the maximum awards made to domestic students.
Bursaries
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Doctor of Ministry (DMin), Master of Arts (MA) and Master of Theology (ThM) students are eligible for bursaries of at least $6,000 annually for the first four years.
- Master of Theological Studies (MTS) students are eligible for bursaries up to 70% of domestic tuition costs.
- Master of Divinity (MDiv) students are eligible for bursaries up to 100% of domestic tuition costs for those who are seriously considering ordination in the Anglican Church of Canada. Please speak with the Dean of Divinity about this possibility.
Special Bursaries
- Internships: Financial assistance is available to both full-time and part-time students in the Master of Divinity MDiv) program for the internship phase (2nd session, 2nd year) for internship related expenses. This form is to be used as an addendum to the Faculty of Divinity Bursary Application form.
- Other: Special bursaries are available to students in financial need, for example travel allowance to attend a conference and other learning opportunities.
Emergency Loans
Financial assistance is available to students who find themselves in emergency situations such as the need for urgent dental care. Assistance may be provided either in the form of a short-term loan or as supplement to the normal bursary award. The Bursary Committee will determine eligibility for such assistance. Limited funds are available.
STUDENTS’ RESPONSIBILITIES
It is each student’s responsibility to meet the financial commitments associated with their study at Trinity College. Students are expected to prepare a budget plan for their period of study and give serious consideration to their ability to meet these costs. In addition to personal resources, students should explore other sources of funding to meet their financial needs, including family and spousal contributions, government assistance programs (grants and loans, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, and the Ontario Graduate Scholarship), child care and special needs bursaries, and church and diocesan programs and other granting bodies, and awards from the Toronto School of Theology.
For students who have investigated other sources of funding, and still have a small shortfall within the context of a sensible budget, the College has available funds which may be awarded to students in good standing. The amount of the award will be determined by need, and will not, except in extraordinary circumstances, exceed the maximum award limit set each year by the Bursary Committee. Applications for assistance are normally considered in May, September and December.
OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING
Government Assistance Programs: OSAP, SSHRCC, OGS
- Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP): Financial support is provided to qualified students who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents and resident in Ontario. OSAP is in the form of a Canada Student Loan and/or an Ontario Student Loan. (Non-residents of Ontario are eligible for Canada Student Loans through their home province). Visit the OSAP website.
- Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Fellowships (SSHRC) and Ontario Graduate Scholarships (OGS): Graduate students are encouraged to apply for Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) awards and Ontario Graduate Scholarships (OGS). Only domestic students (citizens and permanent residents) are eligible for SSHRC awards.
New applicants to TST who are applying to an eligible program for the following fall are also encouraged to apply for an OGS and/or SSHRC scholarship. Please note that some new applicants who wish to apply for a SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship may need apply directly through SSHRC, and not through TST – please see the SSHRC website.
The School of Graduate Studies’ Graduate Centre for Academic Communication (GCAC) centre offers courses and workshops each year on writing scholarship proposals. More information, including registration information may be found at the GCAC website.
Click here for more information on SSHRC and OGS application requirements and deadlines
Toronto School of Theology Scholarships, Bursaries & Awards
Conference Awards
The Graduate Centre for Theological Studies (GCTS) Conference Award is given to a full-time Canadian graduate (advanced degree) student who meets the requirements for OSOTF (Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Fund) funding; who requires support for scholarly engagement in an academic conference; and, has exhibited excellence in their studies by maintaining first-class standing and satisfactory progress in their program.
The Theology Graduate Students’ Association (TGSA) Conference Award is awarded to a graduate (advanced degree) student who requires support for scholarly engagement in an academic conference; and, has exhibited excellence in their studies by maintaining first-class standing and satisfactory progress in their program. The awards are designated solely to support participation in scholarly conferences (for example, the AAR/SBL or Canadian Congress of the Humanities, among others).
Click here for more information on these Conference Awards, including eligibility information and application instructions
Bursaries Granted by Other Bodies
- The Anglican Foundation of Canada provides bursaries for theological education through a number of trusts and funds. Bursary applicants fall into three main categories: General theological; Advanced degree; and Doctor of Ministry.
- Anglican Church Women – Diocese of Toronto: Bursary Form for bursaries to women in the Diocese of Toronto who are attending a theological college for ordination to the priesthood and training in Christian Lay Ministry or training for the Vocational Diaconate.
- A.C. McCollum Assistance Fund, St. John’s, York Mills: provides financial support for students studying for ministry of the Church.
- Diocesan Bursaries: Dioceses and Anglican colleges in the Ecclesiastical Province of Ontario share a joint bursary application form. When a student applies for a College bursary, a copy of their application is forwarded to the diocese. Students in other dioceses apply to their bishop.
- London Goodenough Association of Canada: Scholarship Program provides scholarships to students in accredited graduate degree programs, in support of graduate study in London, England.
- The Ivor Norris Bursary: A bursary sponsored by the Anglican Ordinariate of the Canadian Forces. The bursary is awarded annually to theological students who have, or have had, some connection with the Canadian Forces. Eligibility: Awarded to applicants with a personal connection to the Canadian Forces through personal military service (past or present), being married to, or the child of, someone with past or current service. Applicants must be sponsored by a Bishop for ordination within the Anglican Church of Canada and enrolled in full time theological studies. For an application form and more information, please see the Faculty of Divinity Office for an application.
- Parochial Grants: Parishes may make some provisions for the financial support of their members who are preparing for ordination. Candidates should consult their respective rectors or church wardens.
- The Prayer Book Society of Canada offers a limited number of bursaries annually in the amount of $1000 for Anglican students engaged in religious studies who value the Book of Common Prayer, use it in their daily prayer life, and wish to support its continuing use in the Anglican Church of Canada. Students in the ordination stream are particularly encouraged to apply. Students wishing to apply should submit a copy of their curriculum vitae and two letters of reference, together with a covering letter explaining their interest in this bursary and in the Book of Common Prayer, to: Dr. Diana Verseghy, President, PBSC Bursaries Committee, 12 Sherbourne Drive, Maple, Ontario L6A 1G8.
- Scholarship of St. Basil the Great: The purpose of the Scholarship is to enable an interchange of students between the Oriental Orthodox Churches, the Assyrian Church of the East, and the Anglican Church of Canada.
- Woodcock Theological Fund: At the invitation of Christ Church Deer Park, the Dean nominates a student to be considered for a bursary. The Proceeds of the fund will be used for theological education generally, including continuing education for the ministry staff of Christ Church Deer Park and others. Contact the Dean of Divinity.
- Grand Chapter Order of the Eastern Star Ontario offers bursaries for students who will be or are enrolled in an accredited college or university for training in ordained ministry or church music, and who have financial need: Eastern Star Training Awards for Religious Leadership.
Notices of these and additional awards are posted, as received, on the Faculty of Divinity News Board.
Other Resources
THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS FOR SUPPORTING STUDENTS
Through the generosity of benefactors, the College has available funds which may be awarded to students in good standing who give satisfactory evidence that without such assistance they would have difficulty completing their course of study. The College acknowledges with gratitude the generous contributions of our many benefactors which make these bursaries possible:
Trinity College Donors
Bruce Baker Memorial Fund; J.H. Barr and M.H. Barr Fund; Baynes-Reed Exhibition; Francis Wright Beare Fund; Robert Bertram Beaumont Fund; John Williams Billes Fund; Canon Brewin Memorial Fund; Bishop Broughall Fund; William C. Buchner Fund; Sarah Ann Burgess Fund; Bishop Burgett Bursary; Mabel Cartwright Fund; Christ Church, Oyster Bay NY Bursary; Cooper Exhibitions; Amy Frances Cooper Fund; Robert Crombie Memorial Bursary; Kathleen Daykin Fund; Ellis-Hamilton Memorial Fund; Samuel Harris Fund; Canon Anthony Hart Exhibitions; Edward and Mildred Jeffery Fund; Canon W.W. Judd Memorial Fund; John Kerr Fund; Reverend and Mrs. Alexander Ketterson Fund; Arthur Stewart Madill Fund; Palmer Exhibition; Reverend William Pippen Memorial Fund; R.C.A.F. Protestant Chapel Fund; Jean Rutherford Reekie Fund; Clare Slater Fund; Victor Spencer Memorial Exhibition; Bishop Strachan (Trinity Centenary) Fund; James and Frances Stubley Fund; St. Thomas’s Church, Toronto Bursary; Talbot Exhibition; Venerable Robert F. Walker Memorial Fund; Canon John de Pencier Wright Memorial Fund