Entrance Bursaries

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Entrance Bursary Regulations

Entrance Bursaries are non-repayable grants allocated on the basis of demonstrated financial need, which may also include a minimum expectation of academic standing or earned merit.
Entrance Bursaries are available to students admitted on the basis of high school admission requirements.
Entrance Bursaries are available to full-time and part-time students entering Level 1 of their first baccalaureate degree program.
Entrance Bursaries requiring full-time status are available to students enrolled in a full-time OSAP eligible full-time course load or equivalent in both the fall and winter terms.
Students who have enrolled at any post-secondary institution after graduation from high school are not eligible for Entrance Bursaries, unless:
1. They are completing a certificate or diploma at McMaster University as a requirement of admission (e.g. the McMaster English Language Diploma), and/or
2. They have withdrawn from post-secondary studies before attending or before the deadline to drop and add courses in their first term of study.
Entrance Bursaries are available to students who are Canadian Citizens, Permanent Residents, Convention Refugees, or Protected Persons of Canada regardless of where they completed their high school education.
Entrance Bursaries are allocated on the basis of financial need, as demonstrated through a completed full-time Canadian federal and/or provincial government student aid application (e.g. full-time OSAP), for the academic year in which the student is entering Level 1 of their program.
Entrance Bursaries are allocated in adherence with the Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU) policies, procedures and guidelines in place for the given academic year. The MCU Student Access Guarantee (SAG) currently specifies bursary amounts and payment deadlines for students in high tuition programs (e.g. Engineering, Business).
Entrance Bursary funds are limited.
Students may receive more than one Entrance Bursary to fill their Student Access Guarantee obligation or to meet the total bursary amount for their level of financial need.
In some cases, students may receive more than one Entrance Bursary (e.g. where a student meets a particular donor fund requirement or applies via a separate earned merit application process). In these cases, the bursary is awarded to the eligible student who demonstrates the greatest financial need as determined by the Office of the Registrar, Aid & Awards.
Entrance Bursaries may specify a minimum admission average requirement and may consider one or more McMaster University calculated admission averages. An admission audition or portfolio score or equivalent may be included in the calculation of an average. Final grades for courses completed after June 30^th in the year of admission application will not be considered in assessing eligibility for Entrance Bursaries.
Entrance Bursaries may also consider other forms of earned merit. To evaluate earned merit, students may need to complete one or more additional requirements including, but not limited to, submitting an application.
To be considered for an Entrance Bursary by application, students must submit a completed application by the specified deadline date.
Entrance Bursary applications which meet eligibility criteria are forwarded to a selection committee for review and ranking.
The greater calculated financial need is used to break any tie.
Students may receive a maximum of one Entrance Bursary by application.
Students must be enrolled in at least the full-time OSAP eligible course load used to determine their eligibility for the Entrance Bursary to have the Entrance Bursary payment processed.
All Entrance Bursary payments are disbursed through the McMaster Student Account and are applied to outstanding charges. A few exceptions to this regulation may be approved by the Office of the Registrar, Aid & Awards.
Entrance Bursaries are typically disbursed September through the end of December.
Registration in, or transfer to, another program of study and/or a change in course load may result in forfeiture or adjustment in the value of the Entrance Bursary. Students are advised to consult with the Office of the Registrar, Aid & Awards, prior to making any changes to their program of study or course load.
Students withdrawing from courses without failure by default in the Fall term may see an adjustment in the value of their Entrance Bursary or see the full amount returned to the University.
Any adjustment made to a student’s account, in order to return all or a portion of an Entrance Bursary to the University, will consider the balance available at the time of the adjustment and may put a student’s account into deficit.
Some Entrance Bursaries may be renewable (see In-Course and Renewal Bursary Regulations).
The University may choose not to grant an Entrance Bursary in the absence of a suitable candidate; may choose to limit the number of recipients selected where funding is limited; may choose to limit the number of recipients selected where too few suitable candidates exist; and/or may choose to generate applicant pools for bursaries by application, where complete applications have not been received.
The University may remove specific Entrance Bursaries from the University Calendar, may revise the terms and stated value and/or suspend the granting of Entrance Bursaries (e.g. donor funds).
Entrance Bursaries supported by donor funds may have additional eligibility requirements.

Entrance Bursaries

Open to Two or More Faculties

The Nabab Kaur Deshwar Bursary

Established in 2021 by Davendra Pal Singh Deshwar and Mamta Deshwar, in honour of his mother, Nabab Kaur Deshwar.

Requirements: To be granted to female undergraduate students entering any program who identify as Indigenous students and demonstrate financial need.

The Ranjit Singh Deshwar Bursary

Established in 2020 by Davendra Pal Singh Deshwar and Mamta Deshwar, in honour of his father, Ranjit Singh Deshwar.

Requirements: To be granted to undergraduate students entering any Level 1 program who identify as Indigenous or racialized students and demonstrate financial need. Preference will be given to students who identify as Indigenous.

The Bevan Family First Generation Bursary

Established in 2008 by George A. Bevan, B.A. (Class of ‘48) and his wife Simone L. Bevan (B.A. University of Toronto).

Requirements: To be granted to students entering any Level 1 program with a final admission average of 85 percent or greater, and who demonstrate financial need. Preference to be given to students who are the first in their family to attend a post-secondary institution and whose parents are not university graduates.

The Dr. John Yoonsun Lee Downsview Entrance Bursary

Established in 2021 in honour of Dr. John Yoonsun Lee. This bursary is made possible by a donation from two Downsview Secondary School alumni to encourage and assist students from North York to attend McMaster University.

Requirements: To be granted to undergraduate students entering any Level 1 program who demonstrate financial need. Preference will be given to students who graduated from a high school in North York.

The Rotary Club of Burlington Central - Burlington Student Bursary

Established in 2021 by the Rotary Club of Burlington Central.

Requirements: To be granted to undergraduate students entering any Level 1 program who graduated from a high school in Burlington, Ontario and demonstrate financial need.

The Steve and Tina Wilson Family Foundation Technology Bursary

Established in 2021 by Steve Wilson, B.COMM. (Class of ‘85), and Tina Wilson, B.A. Hons. (Class of ‘86).

Requirements: To be granted to undergraduate students entering Level 1 in any program who permanently reside in the Greater Golden Horseshoe area, demonstrate financial need, and require help with the cost of computer equipment. Preference will be given to students who permanently reside in Hamilton, Ontario.

Open to the Faculty of Engineering

The Frank Gue & Family Bursary

Established in 2020 by the late Frank Gue, M.B.A. (Class of ‘67), who understood the importance of education, hard work, and giving back to those in need.

Requirements: To be granted to undergraduate students entering the Faculty of Engineering who demonstrate financial need.

The Zeuner Family Bursary

Established in 2018 by Alf Zeuner, B.Eng. (Class of ‘80) and M.Eng. Engineering Physics (Class of ‘84) in honour of the Zeuner Family.

Requirements: To be awarded to a student entering a full-time program in the Faculty of Engineering who demonstrates financial need. Preference is to be given to a student who permanently resides in Hamilton. This award is renewable for three years at the same value, provided the student remains enrolled full-time in the Faculty of Engineering.

Open to the Faculty of Health Sciences

The Chiedza-Light Bursary

Established in 2023 by Matthew Mutamiri, M.Sc. (Class of 2020) and Josephine Mutamiri to give back in honour of the huge support Matthew received during his academic journey at McMaster University.

Requirements: To be granted to undergraduate students entering Level 1 in the School of Nursing who demonstrate financial need. Preference will be given to first-generation Canadians.

The Ron and Gina Fraser Health Sciences Bursary

The Ronald K. Fraser Foundation and Gina E. Fraser established The Ron and Gina Fraser Health Sciences Bursary with a mandate to fund university tuition for students in the highest financial need who enter full-time study in the Bachelor of Health Sciences Program. The HWSB and HWCSB will participate in the selection of recipients. The bursary is valued at one year of tuition and is available for the four years in the BHSc program and if the recipient decides to pursue a career in medicine (bursary for a further 3 years) or is accepted into the Graduate Program in Biomedical Engineering (bursary for a further 5 years); on the condition of both continued good academic standing and financial need.

Open to the Faculty of Humanities

The Don and Lois Gasse Memorial Entrance Bursary

Established in 2017 by Dr. Rosanne Gasse, B.A. Hon. (Class of ‘80), M.A. (Class of ‘81), Ph.D. (Class of ‘89), in memory of her parents.

Requirements:To be granted to a student entering Level 1 in the Faculty of Humanities who demonstrates financial need. Preference will be given to an Indigenous student.

The Robert and Ruth Miller Entrance Bursary

Established in 2016 by Ruth Miller (Class of ‘79), lifetime resident of Burlington who had a career dedicated to education in the Halton School Board; and Robert Miller (Class of ‘76), who had a career in engineering and business management, to assist students that demonstrate wise use of time, energy and skill.

Requirements: To be awarded to a student entering a Level 1 program in the Faculty of Humanities who graduated from a Burlington high school and demonstrates financial need. Preference to be given to students who graduated from M.M. Robinson High School.

Value: $7,500

Open to the Faculty of Science

The Nancy Elizabeth Hinich Entrance Bursary

Established in 2021 by David Dusan Hinich and family in loving memory of Nancy Elizabeth Hinich (nee McCullough).

Requirements: To be granted to undergraduate students entering Level 1 in the Faculty of Science who demonstrate financial need.