Funding for Outgoing Exchange Students

Funding is an important consideration when considering participating in an exchange program. The programs and resources below may be able to help offset or manage the costs involved, whether you an Undergraduate or MBA student.

Undergraduate

McMaster General Bursary Program

Full-time McMaster students may apply to the McMaster General Bursary Program whether studying at McMaster or on exchange abroad. Application details and submission deadlines will be posted online by September. Bursary application deadline dates remain the same regardless of whether you are studying at McMaster or on exchange. To be considered, you must first complete your application to OSAP or another provincial student aid program.

McMaster Exchange Grant

McMaster University provides a $1000 exchange grant to eligible students. To be eligible for the grant, students must be registered at the undergraduate level, maintain a cumulative average (CA) of 7.0 or greater and be approved for a formally-recognized university exchange. No application is required. The grant is automatically credited to the McMaster student accounts of eligible students who register and participate in an outgoing exchange program.

Scholarships

Information about McMaster University's many scholarship programs may be found in the current undergraduate calendar and on the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships' website. The deadline for travel and exchange scholarship applications is in February.

The Government of Ontario provides funding for a limited number of Ontario International Education Opportunity Scholarships for students who are completing part of their academic program abroad. The value of this scholarship is $2500 and is intended to provide eligible students with financial support for an allowable period of academic study, work term or co-op placement outside of Canada. These scholarships are awarded on the basis of financial need and academic merit. Application forms are available online and must be submitted prior to the start of your exchange and no later than December 15. For the application, click here.

Scholarships will automatically be credited to the McMaster student accounts of eligible recipients approximately one month prior to the exchange term.

OSAP

Students participating in the exchange program who are usually registered as full-time students at McMaster University are still eligible to receive OSAP. It is important to note that you should expect to receive the same amount of funding that you would receive if you were to remain studying at McMaster. The additional costs of living overseas are not taken into consideration.

Application packages for exchange students are distributed at the pre-departure information session in March. The application package will also be available for pick-up in our office beginning in March for those students who will not be attending the pre-departure information session until November.

KILLAM Fellowship Program

The Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships also administers a scholarship through the KILLAM Fellowship Program. Through this program, a formal exchange is facilitated between two partner institutions in Canada and the United States. For more information, you can visit their website.

Also, there are other awards available to students going on exchange. View this document.

MBA

McMaster General Bursary Program

Full-time McMaster students may apply to the McMaster General Bursary Program whether studying at McMaster or on exchange abroad. Application details and submission deadlines will be posted online by September. Bursary application deadline dates remain the same regardless of whether you are studying at McMaster or on exchange. To be considered, you must first complete your application to OSAP or another provincial student aid program.

Scholarships

Information about McMaster University's many scholarship programs may be found in the current undergraduate calendar and on the Scholarships & Bursaries website for MBA students. Applications will be available in September 2012.

Two awards worth noting for MBA students interested in going on an exchange is the Ford of Canada MBA Travelling Fellowship and the Maria Chan Scholarship for International Studies in Business. Students are selected for this award by the MBA Awards Committee and are required to participate in the International Exchange Program. For more information, refer to the Tuition, Awards, and Financial Assistance section of the MBA Academic Calendar.

OSAP

Students participating in the exchange program who are usually registered as full-time students at McMaster University are still eligible to receive OSAP. It is important to note that you should expect to receive the same amount of funding that you would receive if you were to remain studying at McMaster. The additional costs of living overseas are not taken into consideration.

Application packages for exchange students are distributed at the pre-departure information session in March. The application package will also be available for pick-up in our office beginning in March for those students who will not be attending the pre-departure information session until November.