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Student Awards Program

At Ridgetown Campus, we understand that post-secondary education is a large financial commitment. More than $100,000 in financial assistance and awards are distributed each year to our students to help offset educational costs.

The Student Awards Program consists of four different areas and they are available at different times throughout the academic year. Updated award opportunities for each area are sent out to students by email prior to the application period:

Fall Awards Program

  • Includes Entrance Awards, In-Course Awards, and Academic Proficiency Awards
  • Selection criteria can be based on different factors, including volunteer work, campus extracurricular and community involvement, academic achievement, and future plans
  • The application period is from the end of August to early October
  • Distributed at the Fall Awards Banquet in mid-November
  • Approximately $45,000 in awards available
  • More information can be found in the Year 1 Fall Awards Overview document

Winter Semester Awarded Bursaries

  • Based on financial need as determined by:

    1. A completed, error-free Full-Time OSAP application
    2. The submission of a Needs Assessment Form (NAF) which is supplied by the Financial Aid Office on campus
  • Awarded in the winter semester (usually mid-to-late February) and are put onto a student's account to help with any outstanding costs.
  • In the event a student's account is already paid in full, the funds are then deposited into the student's bank account through a direct deposit process
  • The application period is the same as the Fall Awards Program, from the end of August to early October
  • Approximately $100,000 in bursary funding available

Travel Grants

  • Students can apply for travel grants to help offset the cost of experiential learning opportunities that are related to their program of study
  • Examples of travel grant-funded opportunities include:
    • For-Credit Experiential Learning Courses
    • Industry-Related Conferences or Seminars
    • Leadership Development Conferences (ex. OAC Leadership Conference)
  • Various application deadlines throughout the academic year

Graduation Awards Program

  • Available to students that are eligible to graduate
  • Selection criteria can be based on different factors, including campus extracurricular and community involvement, academic proficiency, and career plans
  • Distributed at the Graduation Ceremony in early June
  • The application period is from March to early April
  • Approximately $40,000 in awards available

Award Types

  • Selection criteria can be based on a combination of factors: academic performance, leadership skills, extracurricular involvement, volunteerism, and community involvement
  • Financial need is not a factor in the selection process
  • May have a minimum cumulative average requirement
  • Letter of application may be required

  • Selection criteria can be based on a combination of factors: academic performance, leadership skills, extracurricular involvement, volunteerism, and community involvement
  • Financial need is a factor in the selection process
  • May have a minimum cumulative average requirement
  • Letter of application may be required

  • Selection criteria is based on financial need as demonstrated through an evaluation of a current, full-time Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) application
  • Must submit the Needs Assessment Form (NAF) that is sent out by the Student Awards Co-ordinator
  • You must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada to be considered
  • Letter of application may be required for some bursaries

  • Must be a first-year student to apply
  • Selection criteria can be based on a combination of factors: admission average, leadership abilities, community involvement, and/or extracurricular involvement
  • Letter of application may be required

  • Completion of a minimum of two semesters
  • Selection criteria can be based on a combination of factors: academic proficiency, leadership skill development, extracurricular involvement, volunteerism, and community involvement
  • Letter of application may be required

Student Awards Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, we have some excellent entrance scholarships, and they are highlighted in our Fall Awards Program Overview that will be sent out to all students by email in August.

An updated Fall Awards Overview and Needs Assessment Form (NAF) will be sent to all students by email in late August, and the application deadline will be Friday, October 7, 2022.

The application period for Fall Awards and Winter Semester Awarded bursaries will be from the end of August to October 7, 2022. An updated Fall Awards Overview and Needs Assessment Form (NAF for bursary applicants) will be emailed to all students prior to the start of the semester. 

Typically Fall Awards are handed out at our annual Fall Awards Banquet in mid-November in the form of a cheque. At this time, we have not determined if we will be able to hold an in-person event this fall. In the event we are not able to hold an in-person event, we will plan to do a virtual Fall Awards Presentation in mid-November, with awards given out through a combination of direct deposit - through the recipient's student account - and cheques that will be available for pick up from the administration building.