What Financial Resources Should New University Students Know About?
Starting university comes with a lot of expenses beyond tuition, and it can be difficult to know what financial support is actually available. For current students or recent graduates, which scholarships, bursaries, grants, work-study programs, or other resources were the most helpful during your first year?
I know this thread is a bit old, but I wanted to jump in because this is still such a big deal for new students. My top tip is to check if your university has an emergency fund or a food pantry—many do, but nobody talks about them. Did any of you find hidden grants through your department or local community groups?
I found the York University financial info sessions super useful during my first year. They cover OSAP, scholarships, and other resources in a short 45-minute format that really helped me sort out expenses beyond tuition.