Fees & Financial Aid

For more information on being an international student and visa requirements at the University of Toronto please click here. International students should try to get a student visa as early as possible as wait times for visas will vary and can delay your start date for the program.

For more information on funding options available to domostic students through the University of Toronto click here. For funding options available to international students click here.

Financial Aid

OSAP Loans

The Master of Global Affairs is an OSAP approved program. Students who are applying on the OSAP website (http://osap.gov.on.ca) can select the program by entering the keywords "Global Affairs".

The Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) is a program run by the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, and funded by the provincial and federal governments. As a need-based program, it provides loans, grants, scholarships, and bursaries based on a formula that compares educational costs to the student's own income and assets. OSAP provides eligible Ontario students with financial assistance to help pay for their tuition, books, mandatory fees, living costs, and transportation.

OSAP Applications for funding for the academic year 2012-2013 are now open. Please visit their website for more information.

UTAPS

University of Toronto Advance Planning for Students (UTAPS) is a financial aid program for full time students who are Canadian citizens, permanent residents or protected persons (recognized convention refugees) and are eligible for need-based government student assistance or funding from a First Nations band.

MGA students who receive OSAP are automatically eligible for the University of Toronto's UTAPS program.The amount of UTAPS a student receives will vary and is assessed at the end of October/beginning of November. UTAPS is automatically deposited into a student’s account.

The University’s Policy on Student Financial Support states that students should have access to the resources required to meet their financial needs as calculated by the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). UTAPS funding is based on OSAP methodology as it provides a uniform, verified way of assessing student need. For students who are assessed by OSAP as requiring maximum assistance and whose assessed need is not fully covered by government aid, the University will ensure that the unmet need is met. Students receiving funding from another province/territory or a First Nations band are also eligible for consideration. Students who receive funding from another province must apply for UTAPS.

For more information on UTAPS please click here.

Students from Provinces Other than Ontario

Students who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents may be eligible for financial assistance from their provincial governments. Applications for the fall term are usually available in late May or early June. It is recommended that students apply for student loans at least 10 weeks prior to the start of the new academic year. Please note that students may only ever hold student loans from one province. Please see the appropriate link below for information on the student loans offered by your province of residence . Please visit the Admissions & Awards website for information on American Student Loans.

Supporting documentation, required signatures, paper applications (including the fee payment) as well as cost sheets should all be submitted to Admissions & Awards.

Admissions & Awards
172 St. George StreetToronto, Ontario M5R 0A3
Phone: 416-978-2190
E-mail: osap.staff@utoronto.ca
Website: www.adm.utoronto.ca

ScotiaBank Professional Student Loan

If you do not qualify for government student aid or need additional funds, MGA students may apply for the Professional Student Loan Program offered by Scotiabank. This is an interest bearing loan. But, provided you have an acceptable credit rating, it will be provided to you without a co-signer. For more information on Scotiabank’s Professional Student Loan Program, please click here.

You can also visit the Scotiabank Branch at 222 Queen Street West in Toronto and speak to a representative.

Other Loans & Bursaries

For information on other loans and bursaries, please see the School of Graduate Studies' Guide to Financial Support.

Scholarships and Awards

MGA Student Scholarship

The MGA program offers students entrance scholarships awarded upon admission to the program. These scholarships are based on merit and will vary in amounts. There is no application for these scholarships and they are awarded at the discretion of the program.

International Students

The MGA Student Scholarship may be awarded to international students. However there is no separate funding for international students specifically.

Provincial and Federal Awards

 

OGS (Ontario Graduate Scholarship)

Value of Award: $15,000 ($5,000 per term)

Eligibility: Students who are Ontario residents, including visa students may apply for OGS

Students must have a GPA 0f 3.7 or A- in their last 20 courses to be eligible for this award.

Deadline to submit application to MGA program: March 1, 2013 (please submit your application online as directed below)

The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) is now administered and distributed at a departmental level. The MGA program accepts OGS application directly and is responsible for distributing the award. Current Year One and potential MGA students may apply for OGS using the on-line application form now available for students to access via the SGS website or using the following url: http://www.sgs.utoronto.ca/informationfor/students/money/support/provincial/OGS.htm

The University of Toronto OGS application requires that students provide the same supporting materials as has been included in previous OGS applications:

  • Two Academic Assessment reports (referees will be required to submit on-line)

  • Plan of study (approx. 500 words)

  • Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions (unofficial or student issued copies are permitted)

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  • List of previous awards/publications/conferences/research experience

    • Important note for students: This application will only be assessed at the University of Toronto. Students must submit an OGS application to each institution for which they are seeking admission. OGS awards are no longer transferrable by a student from one university to another.

    SSHRC (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council)

    Value of Award: $17, 500 (CAD)

    Eligibility: Students who are citizens or permanent residents of Canada may apply for SSHRC

    Students must hold an 80% average in their last two years of study to be eligible for this award.

    Deadline to submit application to MGA program: November 12, 2012 (this deadline will vary from year to year depending on the School of Graduate Studies’ deadline)

    MGA students are eligible to apply for the Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Master’s Award. Students can apply for this award starting in the fall of each year for use in the next academic year. Both current Year One MGA students and students applying to the MGA program may apply for this award.

    Although the MGA program does not have a formal thesis component, MGA students are eligible to apply for SSHRC based on the research components of the required Capstone course and the elective independent study course.

    How to Apply

    Students must complete their application online through the SSHRC website and also submit a hard copy of their application to the MGA program office by the internal deadline posted. It is recommended that students get their letters of reference lined up as early as possible in order to meet the internal deadline.

    Link to SSHRC Master’s Application: http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/programs-programmes/fellowships/cgs_masters-besc_maitrise-eng.aspx

    Required Documents

    Students must submit the following documents as part of their SSHRC application unless otherwise indicated as optional:

  • Completed and signed application form (approx. 8 pages)

  • Program of Study (max. 2 pages) In no more than 2 pages please describe your research proposal

  • Bibliography and Citations (max. 5 pages)

  • Research Contributions (if applicable, max. 1 page)

  • Official letter to confirm part-time study and/or leave of absence (not applicable for MGA students)

  • All original undergraduate transcripts. Please have these sent in sealed envelopes to the mailing address below. If you went on exchange during your undergrad you may submit a photocopy of your transcript from that institution. However all other transcripts must be original and ordered directly from the institution.

  • All graduate level transcripts. MGA students must order a current copy of their University of Toronto transcript even if there are no grades listed. Please have them sent to the mailing address below

  • Two (2) completed Letters of Appraisal in sealed envelopes. Referees must use the proper SSHRC Letter of Appraisal form. Please make sure you send this to them. They may attach a formal reference letter on letterhead if they wish. They may either send this to the department at the mailing address below or send it electronically to mga@utoronto.ca

  • Departmental Appraisal form (completed by the MGA program office). Please leave this form blank

  • Completed, printed and signed Consent to Disclosure of Personal Information form

  • Application Checklist

    •  

    Please send all transcripts and reference letters to:

     

    Master of Global Affairs

    1 Devonshire Place

    Munk School of Global Affairs

    University of Toronto

    Toronto, ON M5S 3K7

    Other Scholarships and Awards

    Students are encouraged to visit ULife for postings on various external and internal awards and bursaries open to students.  Students should be proactive when applying for external and internal funding.

    TA & RAships

    The MGA program does not offer Teaching Assistant positions as part of the offer of admissions. TA positions are posted by participating departments and students are encouraged to seek out these positions independently. TAships are unionized and often go to continuing PhD students before Masters students. However, students should still apply to any position available. Please visit departmental websites (Example: Department of Political Science) to view TA positions.

    Students seeking a position as a Research Assistant should contact professors directly. Professors often have personal grants through which they fund RAships. The University’s Work Study program also offers RA positions to students who qualify for OSAP. Please visit the Career Centre’s website in late August/early September for more information on the types of positions available.

    Housing

    Grad House is University of Toronto's residence for graduate students. Students must apply directly to Grad House for a spot. Please visit their website for more information.

    More information on housing options for students can be found here.

    Important Information

    Students are encouraged to carefully plan a budget if they plan on being a student at the University of Toronto. The University’s Awards and Admissions department offers Budget Tools and Financial Counselling to help students. Please visit the Awards and Admissions website for more information.

    Domestic Students

    MGA Domestic Students Entering 2012
    2012-13  $17, 496 CAD per year

    International Students

    MGA International Students Entering 2012
    2012-13  $27,563 CAD per year

     

    For more information on being an international student and visa requirements at the University of Toronto please click here.

     

    International students should try to get a student visa as early as possible as wait times for visas will vary and can delay your start date for the program.

    The University of Toronto's Fee Level Commitment

     

    Since 1998-99 the University’s tuition policy guarantees that no student continuing in a program will be subject to a fee increase of more than 5% per year for the normal length of a full-time program of study. Students who exceed the normal length of their program will be charged the same tuition as students in the final year of that program.

     

    Tuition fees during the period 2006-07 to 2011-12 are subject to the Tuition Framework of the Government of Ontario. In accordance with this framework, tuition increases for domestic fee level will not exceed 4% per year.

     

    For more information please click here.

    More information on tuition from the Provost's website.