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.

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.

OGS/SSHRC Awards

If it is before October and you are in the process of applying to graduate programs for the following September, you may consider applying for an Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) and for a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council masters or doctoral fellowship (SSHRC). The OGS is available to Ontario residents, including visa students. The SSHRC is available to Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents.

OGS Applications are due to the department in early October. Students are encouraged to plan ahead in order to get their reference letters in order.

Click here for tips on applying for OGS.

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

International Students

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

 

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.