Ontario First Generation Bursary
Government of Ontario (administered by Ontario public colleges and universities)
- Amount
- $1,000 to $3,500Ranges from $1,000 to $3,500. The school decides the amount.
- Deadline
- No fixed dateDeadlines and documents are set by each school. Check with the financial aid office at the college or university the student attends.
Always confirm the details there before applying.
Not fully confirmed. Some details on this page could not be confirmed on the official site, or official pages disagree. Blank fields mean we could not confirm them. Check the official page before relying on anything here.
About this award
This Ontario bursary is for students with financial need whose parents never attended college or university. It is only for students at publicly assisted Ontario colleges and universities, and each school runs its own application and sets the amount. Students do not need to apply for OSAP to be considered.
Who can apply
- Parents have never attended postsecondary studies anywhere in the world, full-time or part-time
- Attending a publicly assisted college or university in Ontario
- Enrolled in a first-entry undergraduate program and does not already have a postsecondary degree, diploma or certificate
- Meets OSAP citizenship and Ontario residency rules and the school's financial need criteria
- Schools may add their own requirements; for example, some require full-time study
- An OSAP application is not required to be considered
What to submit
- School's Ontario First Generation Bursary application
- Supporting documents as listed by the school
Quick facts
Words you'll see- Type
- Money for school that you usually do not pay back, given mainly because of financial need.
- Category
- Financial need and Identity-based
- Program
- University and College
- When to apply
- After starting post-secondary
- Where it applies
- Ontario
- For
- First-generation students
- The gap between what school costs and what your family is expected to pay. Bursaries and grants often use it.
- Yes
- Paid again in later years of your program, as long as you keep meeting its rules, such as a minimum average.
- No, one-time
- Application cycle
- 2025-26
Sources
Last checked against the official site on Oct 2, 2026.
What the official pages say
"It ranges from $1,000 to $3,500. The actual amount awarded is determined by your school."
https://osap.gov.on.ca/OSAPPortal/en/A-ZListofAid/PRDR019247.html(opens in a new tab)"Your parent(s) have never participated in postsecondary studies anywhere in the world on either a full or part-time basis."
https://osap.gov.on.ca/OSAPPortal/en/A-ZListofAid/PRDR019247.html(opens in a new tab)"It’s for students with financial need attending a publicly-assisted college or university in Ontario only."
https://osap.gov.on.ca/OSAPPortal/en/A-ZListofAid/PRDR019247.html(opens in a new tab)"Application, document and review details for this bursary vary by school."
https://osap.gov.on.ca/OSAPPortal/en/A-ZListofAid/PRDR019247.html(opens in a new tab)"If your parents didn’t attend postsecondary studies, you could be eligible for the Ontario First Generation Bursary"
https://www.ontario.ca/page/osap-for-under-represented-learners(opens in a new tab)"For example, some schools require that you be in full-time studies."
https://osap.gov.on.ca/OSAPPortal/en/A-ZListofAid/PRDR019247.html(opens in a new tab)
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