Graduate funding
Graduate Student Funding Terms and Conditions
Assistantships
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About Assistantships
The primary sources of funding for graduate students at Ontario Tech University will be teaching assistantships, research assistantships and/or graduate research assistantships. These are available to both Canadian and international students. Normally, funding will not be provided to part-time students and/or students in professional programs (i.e. graduate diploma programs, MEd, MEng, MEngM, MITS etc.).
These sources of funding are usually established in an offer of admission and are administered by the student's faculty office. General questions can be directed to gradfinance@ontariotechu.ca. Specific questions should be directed to the appropriate graduate program director.
Please note:
- If you are awarded additional fellowships, scholarships, bursaries and/or you secure outside employment, the financial commitment from the faculty and the university may be reconsidered.
- The 10-hour rule policy applies to the TAship and RAship.
- The Social Insurance Number (SIN) is a nine-digit number used in the administration of various Canadian government programs. As an international student, you will need to obtain a SIN if you plan to accept a TAship, RAship or GRAship. The university has a legal obligation to request and record the SIN for those individuals who are paid through payroll. For information on how to apply for a SIN, please visit the International Student Services website.
- The terms and conditions of employment for TAs and RAs at Ontario Tech University are governed by the collective agreement between the university and the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC).
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Teaching assistantships
Teaching assistantships (TAships) are assigned to qualified full-time graduate students. These positions give students valuable teaching experience and enable them to build rewarding relationships with students and professors. Teaching assistants (TAs) are assigned courses upon arrival to campus. The specific duties of the position will be outlined upon completion of the TA contract. Payment for being a TA is considered a salary.
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Research assistantships
Research assistantships (RAships) are employment opportunities that require students to conduct work on a professor's research project. Students are paid for this work from a professor's research grant. The difference between this form of funding and a graduate research assistantship (GRAship) is that students who work as research assistants (RAs) are not paid to conduct research for their own course work, projects or theses. Payment for being a RA is considered a salary.
- Employment forms
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Graduate research assistantships
Graduate research assistantships (GRAships) are funds paid to graduate students from research grant funding that has been awarded to a professor. GRAships enable students to conduct scholarly activities directly related to their own course work or to the development of their theses or major projects. The dollar value of these awards will vary. If you change your program, research topic or supervisor, you may no longer receive a GRAship.
Funding eligibility terms and conditions are described in the Graduate Student Funding Terms and Conditions publication.
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10-hour rule
As a member university of the Ontario Council on Graduate Studies, the university is committed to ensuring that full-time graduate students work no more than an average of 10 hours per week on campus. This 10-hour rule is in place to ensure that full-time students are in a position to devote their time and energy to the requirements of their program of studies and research.
To be considered a full-time graduate student, a student must meet the following criteria (source: Graduate Academic Calendar):
"If employed by the university, work no more than an average of 10 hours per week at diversionary employment while they are registered as a full-time student. Diversionary employment is work that takes a student's time away from his or her program of study and research. For example, teaching assistant positions are diversionary employment while most graduate research assistantships are not, if they directly support students in their programs of study and research. In calculating this diversionary work average it is recognized that employment opportunities for full-time students may fluctuate throughout the year. Students have a diversionary work allocation of 510 hours in any 12-month period and no more than 255 in any of each of three terms: fall (September to December), winter (January to April) and spring/summer (May to August)."
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Payment of assistantships
Teaching assistantships and research assistantships are coordinated through the faculty and are typically paid on a bi-weekly basis as outlined in the contract.
Graduate research awards are coordinated through the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. GRA payments are paid to student accounts in one lump sum each term.
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Employment deductions for Personal Tax Credits Return (TD1 Form)
The TD1 tax form is used to calculate the amount of income tax that will be deducted from your employment income. It is called a personal tax credit return because it takes those credits into consideration.
Students with on-campus employment may wish to complete this form and submit it to uoitpayroll@ontariotechu.ca.
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Minimum funding levels
Ontario Tech University is committed to providing financial support to its graduate students in research-based master’s and doctoral programs. Each program has a minimum funding threshold for full-time students. These minimum levels may be met or exceeded in a given year and are typically offered for the standard length of the program. The minimum funding may be met through various sources of funding (see below) and these sources are normally outlined in the offer of funding at the time of admission.
Program Minimum funding MA, MHSc $9,000 per year MSc, MASc $16,000 per year PhD $18,000 per year Minimum funding may be achieved through any one or more of, but is not limited to, the following: graduate research assistantships, teaching assistantships and/or research assistantships.
Please note that these are minimums set by the university; individual programs may have higher minimum funding levels.
In order to continue to receive the minimum funding, students must continue to meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the Graduate Student Funding Terms and Conditions publication.
Indigenous Graduate Scholarship
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Overview
The School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies has developed the Indigenous Graduate Scholarship (IGS) to increase Indigenous graduate students’ access to thesis-based programs and to support their academic success.
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Value, duration and number of awards
Two IGS awards are available per academic year: one at the master’s level and one at the doctoral level. Each scholarship is valued at $10,000 per year for the standard length of program, normally two years for a master’s student and four years for a doctoral student.
These scholarships are over and above the university’s current levels of minimum funding. Minimum funding may vary from program to program.
This scholarship may be combined with other scholarships and awards.
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Eligibility and GPA requirements
To be considered eligible for support, candidates must:
- Be Indian/First Nations, Non-Status Indian/First Nations, Métis or Inuit.
- Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
- Be enrolled or plan to enrol in a full-time Ontario Tech University research-based program that leads to a graduate degree.
- Have obtained an A- average (GPA: 3.7 on a 4.3 scale or 80 to 84 per cent) as calculated for admission. Consideration will be given to the full range of academic, personal, professional and cultural knowledge that applicants bring to scholarship.
- Selection process
Graduate Scholarships
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About Graduate Scholarships
We award a limited number of graduate scholarships to high-achieving full-time students entering a research-based master's or doctoral program. You’ll be assessed for eligibility at the time of admission, an application isn’t required. Most scholarship offers will be made with the offer of admission to an eligible program.
Full details on the scholarship eligibility criteria can be found in the Graduate Student Funding Terms and Conditions publication.
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Payment
Graduate scholarships are applied to the student tuition account in equal payments at the beginning of each term. Payments are made before the tuition payment deadline and until the award has expired or until the student no longer meets the eligibility requirements outlined in the offer of scholarship.
Financial aid
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Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)
Graduate students interested in applying for the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) should be aware that your full- or part-time status is not based on course load or credit hours. A full-time graduate student is full-time unless you formally change your status.
Notify the Student Awards and Financial Aid (SAFA) office in writing if you are intending to study full-time over the summer semester and wish to extend your OSAP funding.
If you are a current OSAP recipient, you may be eligible for the Ontario Student Access Guarantee.
Visit the OSAP website for more information on the program and to apply for OSAP online.
Important note: some graduate programs may not be eligible under this program.
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Ontario Student Access Guarantee
Through Multi-Year Accountability Agreements (MYAAs) signed with the Ministry, all provincially assisted colleges and universities agree to participate in the student access guarantee. The MYAA process is used for annual updates to institutions’ strategies and programs, and for reports back to the Ministry.
Under the student access guarantee, it is the responsibility of institutions to ensure that graduate students are able to get enough aid to cover their costs for tuition, books, compulsory fees, equipment and supplies, when these are above the usual range of costs covered by OSAP. These are critical costs for students and they need assurance that the government and institutions will be able to provide the required level of assistance for those with established need.
The university is required to meet the tuition/book shortfalls of full-time graduate students who have applied for OSAP, and submit a Student Financial Profile application identifying their need and requesting institutional financial aid. The Student Financial Profile can be found under the Awards and Financial Aid tab in MyOntarioTech.
In addressing tuition/book shortfalls of students in graduate programs, aid can be provided through bursaries, scholarships, employment support, referral to a line of credit from a lending institution, or a combination of these forms of aid.
Please note: the Student Access Guarantee is valid for OSAP-eligible students, which may include Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and protected persons enrolled in an eligible program.
For details on the Student Access Guarantee, visit the OSAP website.
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Financial planning
Financial planning is vital to being a successful student. The Student Awards and Financial Aid (SAFA) team is available to help you prepare budgets for the school year and help you if you are experiencing a financial crisis. This process encourages you to review your income and expenses with a Financial Aid Officer to identify potential problems and explore possible solutions. Through budget counselling, you can learn skills to keep your finances in good order.
Contact the SAFA office to book an appointment with a Financial Aid or Student Awards Officer.
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Bursaries and awards
Most financial need-based bursaries and donor awards are administered through the Student Awards and Financial Aid (SAFA) office. Please visit the OT Awards and Financial Aid tab in MyOntarioTech for various award opportunities. There are some faculty-specific awards, so please review the criteria closely before submitting your application. Instructions on applying for bursaries are available in the How to Apply for an Award document.
Bursary recipients normally receive a cheque or direct deposit to their personal bank account.
