Scholarships and Awards for Students with Disabilities

AwardSpring has a comprehensive database featuring over 1400 awards, scholarships, and bursaries, with nearly 250 awards specifically tailored for students with disabilities. To be matched with awards suitable for your needs, you are required to submit a general application. Although AwardSpring strives to match you with appropriate awards, there may be additional opportunities for which you are eligible.

How to access AwardSpring

Visit torontomu.awardspring.ca (external link)
Sign in with your TMU username and password.
Once logged in, navigate to the menu and go to “Application” on the left side.
There will be a list of sections including privacy information, general information, academic information, financial information, qualifications questions, attestation, and disclaimer. Complete each section in order to create your application. This is a general application that will match you with awards for which you are eligible.
Once submitted the award site will update your dashboard with award opportunities based on the information you have provided.

External scholarships

What are external scholarships?

External scholarships are financial awards offered by organizations outside of Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). These awards are based on various criteria such as academic achievement, extracurricular activities, marginalized identities or specific talents. Finding opportunities requires doing your own research, checking in with Student Financial Assistance and asking questions directly to the organization offering the funding opportunity.

Disclaimer

The following scholarships are specifically designed for students with disabilities each accompanied by a brief description, eligibility, amount, and link to the organizations site for more information. Please keep in mind that some of the deadlines listed on the external websites are subject to change and it is advisable to contact the organization directly for accurate and updated information. Many scholarships may require detailed information, reference letters, transcripts, essays, forms, and more so it's best to start the application process well in advance.

List of external scholarships and awards

Last updated May 2024.

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Award	Description	Amount
AbbVie Scholarship	Open to students with a diagnosis of Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, pursuing a diploma, associate, undergraduate, or graduate degree.	$5,000
AER William and Dorothy Ferrell Scholarship (external link)	The William and Dorothy Ferrell Scholarship is awarded every other year in even years to two selected applicants who are legally blind and are studying for a career in the field of services to persons who are blind or visually impaired.	$2000 (3 students chosen for award)
Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians (external link)	The Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians (AEBC) offers annual scholarships to outstanding post-secondary students with visual impairments, supported by Allyant, anonymous donors, and memorials for Tom Teranishi, Paul and Cheryl Thiele, and John Rae.	Amount not listed inquire more by emailing the organization.
Autism Scholar Awards	The Scholar Awards Program in Autism, supported by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU), aims to attract top scholars registered as full-time master's or doctoral students at an Ontario university. The program focuses on advancing child autism research to international standards, generating new knowledge, and enhancing health outcomes, services, and diagnostic capabilities.	One (1) Master's award—$18,000 Up to two (2) Doctoral awards—$20,000
Bank of Canada Scholarship Program for Students with Disabilities (external link)	The Bank of Canada created a scholarship for post-secondary students to help remove barriers to education and support greater diversity in our workforce for people with disabilities, Indigenous, LGBTQ2S+, Francophone, and anyone part of a visible minority group.	$4,000