Financial Aid

Financial Aid

Wycliffe is proud to be among the most affordable graduate theological schools in Canada. In addition to our low tuition rates, we also provide options for financial aid.

How to Apply

To apply for financial aid, fill out a single bursary form. You will be considered automatically for any baseline aid for which you qualify as well as for major scholarships including the Nix, Stackhouse, and Weston scholarships.

Send an additional letter if applying for the Thompson doctoral scholarship (see below).

Contact us if you have any questions!

Apply for Bursary

 

Scholarships and Financial Aids for MDiv and MTS students

All full-time MDiv and MTS students may apply for bursary assistance, to be awarded based on financial need. Part-time students may also be eligible for some financial assistance. This includes bursaries and scholarships donated in memoriam. Students must reapply annually.

 

Vincent C. Nix Memorial Scholarship

The Vincent C. Nix Memorial Scholarship was established by Joan Nix to honour the memory of her father. The purpose of this $5,000 scholarship is to provide encouragement, recognition and assistance to those called to ordained ministry in the Anglican Church.

 

Stackhouse Scholarships

Stackhouse Scholarships are available to theological students who are studying in the ordination stream and are endorsed by a diocese of the Anglican Church.

The student may also receive financial support from the diocese and/or parish. Provided that at least a B average is maintained, the $4,000 scholarship will be paid each year of the three-year program.

How to Apply

This bursary application will be considered for all Wycliffe scholarships for which you may be eligible.

Scholarships and Financial Aids for PhD, MA, ThM and DMin students

All full-time PhD, MA, ThM and DMin students may apply for bursary assistance, to be awarded based on financial need and/or scholarship. Applications will be judged on academic excellence, the significance of the student’s intended research and the student’s demonstrated financial need.

Deadline for Applications: Bursary applications should be filled out at the time of the program application and submitted before February 15. 

How to Apply

The application requires the following documentation:

  • A letter that requests consideration and outlines the applicant’s purpose in pursuing doctoral studies, the area of proposed study and the significance of this topic both for Christian scholarship and for the Church's life and mission. Please send the letter to the Wycliffe College Bursary Committee (bursary@wycliffe.utoronto.ca) as a Word or PDF file.

  • A completed Wycliffe College Bursary Application form.

 

Canadian Doctoral Full-Tuition Scholarship

Established by the Wycliffe College Board, this award is available beginning in Fall 2016 to incoming PhD students who are Canadian citizens, permanent residents or protected persons, and who have demonstrated financial need. The award provides 100% tuition support for up to four years. As part of the award, at least  two-term teaching assistantships will be undertaken by the recipient after the completion of all coursework. Applications will be judged on academic excellence, the significance of the intended research and demonstrated financial need.

 

Thompson Doctoral Fellowship

One Thompson Fellowship is awarded annually to an entering student. It has a value of $12,500 per year, and the tenure of the award is three years. Selection criteria include academic strength, Christian character and record of Church involvement, and potential for service to the Church and to Christian scholarship. The applicant must also agree with the Six Principles of the College and must demonstrate financial need.

It is the College’s intention that, in the group of three Thompson Fellows at any one time, a woman, an Anglican, and a Wycliffe graduate will be represented. (More than one of these categories can be represented by a single Fellow.)

To be considered, a student must have been accepted by the Toronto School of Theology as a candidate for a doctoral degree, enrolled through Wycliffe College. The student may be studying in any of the four TST departments (Biblical, Historical, Theological or Pastoral).

The application should include:

  1. A letter requesting consideration

  2. Completed Bursary Application

Materials forming part of the candidate’s application for admission to the TST, such as personal information and transcripts, will also be consulted.

An announcement is normally made during the week of March 1. Thompson Fellows in their second and third years are required to permit their names to stand for the position of coordinator of the Wycliffe Graduate Society (WGS).

 

Weston Family Doctoral Entrance Scholarships

Two Weston Scholarships are awarded annually. The value is  $6,000 each per year.

Within this commitment, the recipient will be expected to fulfill a teaching assistantship each year following completion of the coursework portion of the program.

Selection criteria are financial need,  academic merit (as indicated by marks in previous academic work, by references, and by the statement of academic interest submitted in the application for admission to TST, or another statement submitted in its place), Christian character and record of church involvement, and potential for service to the Church and to Christian scholarship. The applicant must also agree with the Six Principles of the College, and must demonstrate financial need.

Prospective students wishing to be considered for the scholarship must complete and submit the financial disclosure form authorized by the College bursary committee by March 31 before the September of entrance. Submission of this form will constitute application for the Weston Doctoral Entrance Scholarship. Materials forming part of the candidate’s application for admission to the TST, such as personal information and transcripts, will also be consulted.

 

Doctoral Bursaries

The College hopes to support every doctoral student demonstrating financial need with a bursary of at least $6,000 for up to the first four years of the program.

 

Teaching Assistantships

Every year the College awards several teaching assistantships for courses in the Professional Degree curriculum. The number of assistantships depends on the number of courses requiring a teaching assistant. Duties are assigned by the professor to whom the TA is assigned, not to exceed ten hours a week. Duties typically include marking academic exercises such as essays and quizzes, leading seminars, tutoring and lecturing.

Normally TA ships will be part of the entering doctoral scholarship. Students can ask  for more than the required two and be paid the stipend applicable at the time of the TA-ship.

Thompson Fellows may serve as teaching assistants, but will receive only 50% of the usual stipend.

Applications for teaching assistantships are invited in March for the following academic year. As a rule, only students who have successfully completed the coursework stage of their doctoral studies are eligible for appointment as a TA.

 

DMin Entrance Scholarships

Established by the Board of Wycliffe College, this award is normally granted annually to a Wycliffe Doctor of Ministry (DMin) student, accepted by TST and beginning the program in April, who has demonstrated financial need. The award provides $3,000 per year tuition support for up to four years. Applications will be judged on academic excellence, the significance of the student’s intended research and the student’s demonstrated financial need.

 

Other Bursaries

Students in the ThM and MA programs may apply for financial assistance to the College bursary committee.

 

Ontario Residence

Part of the College’s endowment for financial assistance has been provided by the Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Fund, which requires beneficiaries to be residents of Ontario. The College will therefore ensure that every year an amount of financial aid (including fellowships, scholarships, and bursaries) at least equal to that derived from the OSOTF is awarded to legal residents of Ontario. In order to be a legal resident of Ontario, one must be a legal resident of Canada, and one of the following should be applicable:

  1. You have lived in Ontario for at least 12 months in a row up to the beginning of full-time post-secondary studies; or

  2. Your spouse has lived in Ontario for at least 12 months in a row up to the beginning of the current academic year (and was not enrolled in full-time post-secondary studies in that period); or,

  3. Your parent(s), step-parent(s), legal guardian(s), or official sponsor(s) have lived in Ontario for at least 12 months in a row up to the beginning of the current study period.

 

Bursaries Granted by Other Bodies

The Anglican Foundation of Canada

The foundation now administers all national bursary funds formerly available through various departments of the Anglican Church of Canada. The General Bursary Trust is available to help support the theological education and training of men and women for ordained ministry. Candidates must show ACPO recommendation or an officially approved alternative evaluation procedure. The Graduate Award Trust helps support post-graduate (PhD) studies of qualified clergy and laity who plan to pursue an academic career. 

How to Apply

Contact the Bursary Committee or the Anglican Foundation of Canada, 80 Hayden Street, Toronto, Ontario, M4Y 3G2.

Deadline for applications is April 1 and September 1.

 

Anglican Church Women (Diocese of Toronto)

Women candidates for the Diocese of Toronto may be eligible for a bursary of up to $1,000.

How to Apply

Contact the Anglican Church Women, Diocese of Toronto, 135 Adelaide Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M5C 1L7. Applications are reviewed monthly.

 

A. C. McCollum Assistance Fund, St. John's, York Mills

At the invitation of St. John's Church, students studying for ministry in the Church and who require financial support may apply for assistance. The fund may not be available every year for this purpose.

How to Apply

Applications are available from the Wycliffe Business Director's office.

 

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 the application is forwarded to their diocese if requested. Students in other dioceses apply to their bishop.

 

Ellen Knox Scholarship

Anglican students preparing for ministry in the Anglican Church of Canada are invited to apply for this scholarship.

How to Apply

The applications are available in early fall from the Wycliffe Business Director's office before the Oct. 31 deadline.

 

The Ivor Norris Bursary

Awarded by the Anglican Ordinariate of the Canadian Forces to applicants who have a personal connection to the Canadian Forces through personal military service (past or present), being married to or the child of someone with such service. Applicants must be sponsored by a bishop for ordination within the Anglican Church of Canada and enrolled in full time theological studies.

How to Apply

Applications are available from the Wycliffe Business Director's office.

 

The Leonard Foundation Financial Assistance Program

This program is intended for MDiv students in need of financial assistance. Deadline for applying is March 15.

How to Apply

For more information please visit www.leonardfnd.org. The application deadline is March 15.

 

Parochial Grants

Parishes sometimes make some provisions for the financial support of their members who are preparing for ordination. Candidates should consult their respective rectors or church wardens.

 

Prayer Book Society of Canada, Toronto Branch

The Toronto Branch of the Prayer Book Society invites students to apply for a bursary in early fall.

How to Apply

For more information please visit the Wycliffe Business Director's office. Deadline is October 31.

 

Evelyn Florence and William Leonard Prideaux Award

This award is intended for a Canadian Inuit or Aboriginal former boy scout from the North West Territories or Moosonee area.

How to Apply

Please contact the Wycliffe Business Director's office.

Notices of these and additional awards are posted, as received, in Wycliffe's weekly Morning Star publication. Please note application deadlines.

 

The Fund for Theological Education

The Fund for Theological Education (FTE) offers the following:

Doctoral Fellowship for Students of Colour

Professional Development for Doctoral Students

Students and prospective students are welcome to consult the University of Toronto Admissions and Awards website for information and suggestions about financial planning, student loan programs and alternative sources of financial assistance. Note that Wycliffe College is not yet able to participate in the university's promise to offer assurance of financial support to all students.

 

Aboriginal Bursaries

Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada have developed a search tool that links to more than 680 bursaries, scholarships and other awards from across Canada. The tool enables students to conduct a detailed search to find a bursary, scholarship or award to meet their needs.

Bursaries Granted by The Toronto School of Theology

The Toronto School of Theology (TST) offers scholarships and bursaries for PhD, MA, ThM and DMin students.

How to Apply

For more information please visit the TST web site

More fellowship and scholarship information is available through the following sources:

 

Important Information for New Students from the United States of America

The US Department of Education (USDE) has determined that the University of Toronto, which until now has been authorized to confirm your enrolment, can no longer report academic registration for TST students. Also, no TST member college has been recognized by the USDE for this purpose. New US Direct Loans can no longer be made to TST students, and existing loans are subject to repayment.

To aid in your financial planning, you should consider alternative sources of funding. Consult with your preferred financial advisor, or consider a loan like the Smart Option Loan available through Sallie Mae. Or, if you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you may apply through the Canadian government student loan system. It should be noted that neither the University of Toronto nor TST endorses any of these alternative sources of funding.

 

Important Information for Existing Students from the United States of America

If you are a student who holds a US Direct Loan from previous academic sessions, you should be aware that the US Department of Education (USDE) has determined that the University of Toronto, which until now has been authorized to confirm your enrolment, can no longer report your academic registration. Also, no TST member college has been recognized by the USDE for this purpose. Therefore your enrolment cannot be officially confirmed. New US Direct Loans can no longer be made to TST students, and existing loans are subject to repayment.

If you are one of these students, you will be expected to begin repayment sometime around March 2015. If you need financial help during repayment (e.g., you can’t make your loan payments because you’re still in school and have no income), then there are a number of repayment programs available through the USDE that you can pursue, including a program called forbearance. Information about repayment can be found here. You may wish to contact your college financial aid officer for further advice, but the responsibility for repayment or forbearance lies with the student.

Government Assistance Programs

Government Scholarships

Students who accept an Ontario Graduate Scholarship or a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council doctoral fellowship must resign their college fellowship, scholarship or bursary in the applicable year(s). In the case where a student receives an OGS award, the college will make its required institutional contribution. The college may make a similar requirement of a student who receives substantial extra-provincial, foreign or foundation funding.

The Canada Graduate Scholarship is also available for domestic students who plan to enter a full-time TST graduate master’s program (i.e. MA or ThM) or students who are currently in a full-time conjoint graduate master’s program (MA, ThM), and intend to enter a PhD program next year.

 

OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Program)

Financial support is provided to qualified students who are Canadian citizens or qualified residents of Ontario. This 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.) The amount of loan that may be received is based on calculated financial need. It is recommended that returning students apply for OSAP assistance by May 31 and that new students apply by June 30.

How to Apply

OSAP: Ontario Student Assistance Program | ontario.ca

OSAP and Other Government Aid - Future Students. University of Toronto | University of Toronto (utoronto.ca)

 

The Bursary for Students with Disabilities

The Bursary for Students with Disabilities, funded by the federal and provincial governments, provides non-repayable assistance of up to $5,000 (full-time) and $2,000 (part-time) for OSAP recipients who have special educational expenses as the result of a disability.

How to Apply

Contact the Office of Admissions and Awards, U of T, 172 St George Street, Toronto ON M5R 0A3, phone (416) 978-2190.

 

SSHRCC Doctoral Fellowship

Qualified Graduate Degree students are urged to apply for SSHRCC (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada) Scholarships. Financial support is available to Canadian citizens and permanent residents based on academic standing and letters of recommendation.

How to Apply

Application forms are available in early fall from the Toronto School of Theology Graduate Degree Office.

 

Ontario Graduate Scholarship

Students in the ThM or conjoint doctoral programs are eligible to apply for an OGS award. The OGS is open to Canadian citizens, permanent residents and students admitted to Canada with a student visa.

How to Apply

www.osap.gov.on.ca

 

Special Opportunity Grants for Female Doctoral Students

Special Opportunity Grants for Female Doctoral Students of up to $3,000 per year are available through the federal government to reduce the debt load of student loan recipients.

How to Apply

Application forms are available from the Office of Admissions and Awards, U of T, 172 St George Street, Toronto, phone (416) 978-2190.