Awards and Financial Assistance

Student Loans and Lines of Credit

Students are strongly encouraged to apply for government student loans [e.g., Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), or other provincial/territorial student loan programs], major academic scholarships (e.g., the Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program) and a student line of credit (e.g., the Scotia Professional Student Plan or a line of credit from any other financial institution). Please visit the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) website for full details on funding opportunities for graduate students. Please note, however, there is limited funding available for professional master’s students and most of the available funding is bursary support that is based on the financial needs of individual students.

Financial support offered to MHSc students through the Department of Speech-Language Pathology is detailed in the Student Handbook. Applications are solicited by the department as appropriate throughout the program. Students will be notified of their application status after the award has been adjudicated and recipients have been finalized.

Major Scholarships and Bursaries

Students are encouraged to apply for major scholarships and bursaries, particularly the Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program (OGS) and major bursaries, as described below.

Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program

Students are encouraged to apply for major scholarships, particularly OGS that recognizes academic excellence in graduate studies at the master’s and doctoral levels in all disciplines of academic study. The OGS program at the University of Toronto is jointly funded by the Province of Ontario and the University of Toronto. The value of an OGS award is $5000 per term. Thus, awardees may receive $10,000 for two consecutive terms or $15,000 for three consecutive terms. The Faculty of Medicine will contribute up to one third of the cost of the total award received by students.

The Department of Speech-Language Pathology is responsible for nominating applicants for OGS awards through the Admissions and Awards Committee. Applications are solicited annually and the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) finalizes the recipients. Applications are submitted on-line directly to SGS. Students are limited in the number of years that they may hold an OGS. Master’s students may receive the scholarship for a maximum of two years.

The deadline to submit applications is normally mid-March. The deadline for the 2023-2024 academic year is March 15, 2024. In July, SGS will notify recipients and provide further details about how to activate and manage the award.

For more information please visit the Ontario Graduate Scholarship site.

Major Bursaries

Applications for bursary funds are solicited periodically through the year. Bursary amounts vary based on proven financial need. Students must complete a financial statement as part of the application to demonstrate their annual resources and expenses. Applications for bursary funds are adjudicated by the Coordinator of Graduate Studies (except as indicated below).

Students who are receiving student loans from a province other than Ontario must complete the Out-of-Province Financial Aid Form no later than November 1, 2024 in order to be eligible to apply for bursaries. The form can be completed online coming soon.

Bursaries include: 

The Faculty of Medicine Professional Master’s Financial Aid Bursary – Department of Speech-Language Pathology

Applications are solicited on an annual basis each fall beginning in the 2023 – 2024 academic year. This bursary is open to year 1 students in the 2023 – 2024 academic year. Eligible year 2 students will continue to receive funding from University of Toronto Advanced Planning for Students (UTAPS) during the 2023 – 2024 year. Year 1 and year 2 students may apply for this bursary in the 2023 – 2024 academic year. 

The Department Bursary Program

Applications for the Department Bursary Program are solicited annually and funding may be drawn from a number of bursary accounts including:

    • The Speech Foundation of Ontario, Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Fund (OSOTF) Award
    • The Harmonize for Speech OSOTF Award
    • The McGeachy Estate OSOTF Award
    • The Ross Pierce Memorial Scholarship
    • The M. L. Stoicheff Alumni Bursary*

*Applications for M. L. Stoicheff Bursary are solicited once each winter. This bursary is adjudicated by the Alumni Association.

Entrance Awards Given by the Admissions and Awards Committee

Annually, the department provides scholarships to incoming students based on academic achievement. These scholarships are awarded by the Admissions and Awards Committee and there is no formal application procedure. Recipients are notified with their offer of admission to the MHSc program.

  • Donalda J. McGeachy Memorial Scholarship
    • One award for an incoming Year 1 MHSc student with an excellent academic record.
  • Harmonize for Speech Entrance Awards
    • Two awards for incoming Year 1 MHSc students with excellent academic records.
  • Barbara Meissner-Fishbein Memorial Award
    •  Awarded annually to an incoming Year 1 MHSc student on the basis of academic achievement and financial need

Other Awards for Incoming Students

There are a number of other awards available to incoming students, as described below.

  • SGS University-Wide Awards
    • The Department of Speech-Language Pathology is responsible for nominating applicants for these awards through the Coordinator of Graduate Studies. Applications are solicited in the spring prior to beginning the program. The School of Graduate Studies (SGS) then selects and notifies the final recipients. For more information about these awards, please visit the School of Graduate Studies website.
  • Chris Gandy International Outreach Award
    •  Awarded to two incoming Year 1 MHSc students. These funds must be used for an international placement or placement in a northern Canadian community. Applications are solicited annually in summer for incoming students and awarded based on academic achievement, a letter of intent and previous volunteer experience. The Department of Speech-Language Pathology is responsible for nominating applicants for these awards through the Coordinator of Graduate Studies. The award is received in three installments: fall of Year 1, fall of Year 2, and winter of Year 2.
  • Jean F. Walker Award
    • Awarded annually to an incoming Year 1 MHSc student on the basis of academic achievement and financial need. The Coordinator of Graduate Studies is responsible for adjudicating this award. Applications are solicited in the summer prior to beginning the program and the award is presented in the fall of Year 1.
  • Glennie/Cizman Scholarship in Speech-Language Pathology
    • Awarded bi-annually to two incoming students who have chosen to undertake the MHSc degree after any period of being in the workforce. Applications are usually solicited in August. This award is adjudicated by the Coordinator of Graduate Studies.

Awards for Year 1 Students

There are several awards for students in year 1 of the program.

  • American Women’s Club Scholarship
    • Awarded to one or more Year 1 MHSc students on the basis of academic achievement and financial need. Half of the award is received is spring of Year 1 and half in the fall of Year 2. This award requires an application, solicited in late fall of Year 1, and is adjudicated in consultation with the Coordinator of Graduate Studies.
  • Harmonize for Speech Textbook Award
    • Annually, a textbook is provided free of charge to Year 1 students in the MHSc program. Students will receive more information about this award in the summer preceding Year 1 of the program.
  • SGS University-Wide Awards
    • The Department of Speech-Language Pathology is responsible for nominating applicants for these awards through the Coordinator of Graduate Studies. Applications are solicited in the spring of Year 1. The School of Graduate Studies (SGS) then selects and notifies the final recipients. For more information about these awards, please visit the School of Graduate Studies website.

Awards for Year 2 Students

Several awards are available to students in year 2 of the program.

  • The Ontario Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (OSLA) Student Recognition Award
    • Peer nominations are solicited based on achievements and leadership regarding concern for the future of the profession, volunteer activism, research activities and with a focus on education. The recipient is finalized by the Coordinator of Graduate Studies and is notified in the fall of Year 2.
  • Margaret Stoicheff Graduate Award
    • This award is adjudicated by the SLP Alumni Association. It is awarded to financially assist a Year 2 student in the fall of their second year.
  • Margaret Stoicheff Spirit Award
    • This award is adjudicated by the Alumni Association in consultation with the Year 2 class. It is awarded to a Year 2 student who has been the most influential in boosting class spirit.
  • Harmonize for Speech Graduate Scholarship
    • Up to five Year 2 MHSc students are awarded this scholarship for having obtained the highest academic average in Year 1 of the program. No application is required.
  • Award for Excellence in Developmental Speech and Language Disorders
    • Awarded to a Year 2 MHSc student to recognize academic achievement in Unit 2. No application is required.
  • The Speech & Stuttering Institute Child Language Prize
    • Annually, the Year 2 MHSc student who earned the highest average in Units 2 and 3 receives this award. No application is required.
  • The Doreen and John DeLuzio Award for Excellence in Audiology & Aural Rehabilitation
    • This award recognizes students’ passion for the study of audiology and aural rehabilitation. The award is presented to the Year 2 student with the highest combined grades for these two courses. No application is required.

Convocation Awards

Convocation awards are presented to the graduating class each November.

  • Sandra Henderson Award for Clinical Excellence
    • The Year 2 student with the highest average in all of the clinical units is presented with this award at convocation. 
  • Speech-Language and Audiology Canada (SAC) Student Excellence Award
    • Presented to a graduating student who is thought to be the best all-round future professional.  Peer nominations are presented to the Coordinator of Graduate Studies. An application is required.
  • The University Health Network Toronto Rehabilitation Institute (UHN–TRI) Patient Quality of Life Award
    • This award is presented to a graduating student who has improved the quality of life for people living with the effects of aging or with life-changing injury, illness or disability. Students apply to UHN-TRI.
  • Harmonize for Speech Excellence Awards
    • Two graduating MHSc students receive an award for having the highest class average across all academic and clinical courses. No application is required.
  • University Health Network Prize
    • Annually, the Year 2 MHSc student with the highest average in Units 6 and 7 receives this award. No application is required.
  • Paula Square Award of Excellence
    • Each year, the Year 2 MHSc student with the highest average in Unit 8 receives this award. No application is required.
  • The Tavistock Trust for Aphasia Student Prize
    • This award is given to a Year 2 student with the highest mark in the aphasia course.