Ontario First Generation Bursary

The Ontario First Generation Student Bursary is an award provided to Ontario students whose parents have not attended postsecondary studies (siblings may have attended postsecondary studies).

To be eligible for this bursary, students must:
• be enrolled in their first degree, diploma or certificate program;
• be an individual whose parents have not completed postsecondary studies;
• demonstrate financial need;
• be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or a protected person under subsection 95(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) prior to receiving the bursary;
• be an Ontario resident: as of the first day of their study period, Ontario must be the most recent province in which the student resided for 12 consecutive months, not including time as a full-time postsecondary student.

Students must sign a statement confirming that they are a First Generation student if they wish to apply for the bursary.

Students may not be considered for the bursary if they do not meet these criteria. A student does not have to be enrolled in a program that has been approved for OSAP purposes – students in apprenticeship programs, academic upgrading and part-time programs may be considered for the bursary if they meet all other eligibility criteria.

Students enrolled in second-entry, graduate and professional programs, as well as students receiving assistance through the Better Jobs Ontario program (formerly know as the Second Career program), are ineligible.

Notice of Collection of Personal Information
If the student is selected as the recipient of a First Generation Bursary, the Ministry will indirectly collect student’s personal information from their post-secondary institution pursuant to paragraphs 1 and 4 of s. 15(1) of the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Act.
If a student is selected as the recipient of a First Generation Bursary, the personal information collected by the Ministry will include information on their program of study and year of study at the post-secondary institution, as well a brief rationale for their selection. The Ministry uses this personal information to administer the First Generation Bursary program, which includes planning or delivering the program, allocating resources, evaluating or monitoring the program, and detecting, monitoring and preventing fraud or any unauthorized receipts of services or benefits related to the program. If a student is selected as the recipient of a First Generation Bursary and the student has applied for OSAP assistance, the Ministry will also use their personal information for the purposes of administering OSAP.
If you have any questions about the Ministry’s collection or use of your personal information, please contact: Director, Student Financial Assistance Branch, Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security, PO Box 4500, 189 Red River Road, 4th Floor, Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7B 6G9; 807-343-7260.