Student Financial Assistance and Awards
Cost of Attending Ryerson
Regardless of the educational institution or course of study, post-secondary education is expensive. Students are advised to prepare a realistic budget (opens in new window) reflecting their own situation, taking into consideration academic expenses, personal expenses, accommodation and transportation costs.
Please refer to the section Fees/Financial Information for complete details on University fees. Fees are subject to change each year.
Academic Expenses: Books, paper, pens, calculators, drawing equipment, binders, project materials, typing, cameras, dance shoes, etc., are all considered academic expenses. The requirements vary widely depending on the program. New students should speak to senior students and academic advisors, for guidelines before making any purchases. Book lists are available during the first week of classes. Do not make any purchases before seeing each professor or academic advisor unless specifically directed otherwise.
The following represents some expenditures that students will also need to consider.
- Transportation
- Pocket Money
- Entertainment
- Clothing
- Living Away From Home (Rent, Food)
Ryerson provides many resources to help students plan for these added expenses, including:
- RU Student Life's RU Money Smart (opens in new window) page
- Admissions' Tuition and Fees (opens in new window) page
Scholarships and Awards
There are many awards (opens in new window) available to both new and returning Ryerson University students. Some awards are automatically awarded while others require applications.
The University is greatly indebted to the federal and provincial governments, foundations, industrial and business firms, technical and professional associations and individuals for their contributions to the bursaries, scholarships and other awards received by students attending Ryerson.
Bursaries solely offer financial assistance to students. They are offered through the University, faculties, and academic program departments.
For more information on bursaries, please visit Ryerson’s Student Financial Assistance website (opens in new window) .
Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic excellence. With some exceptions, students need not apply for scholarships, as these awards are generally granted to the recipients on the basis of their performance during the previous year.
Awards are presented on the basis of more than one criterion and typically require a nomination or application on behalf of the student.
Full details of all scholarships and awards are published annually on Ryerson’s Scholarships & Awards website (opens in new window) .
Ryerson is pleased to recognize the academic achievements of the first-year class upon admission to the University with more than $4-million designated for scholarship support.
All Ryerson Entrance Scholarships and Renewed Scholarships are deposited directly into students' tuition fees which can be viewed on their RAMSS (my.ryerson.ca) account.
For detailed information and eligibility criteria, or to print a copy of an application, please visit Ryerson's Entrance Scholarships and Awards website (opens in new window) .
Financial Assistance and Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)
The Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) provides financial aid to students enrolled in postsecondary studies.
OSAP is intended to supplement a student’s financial resources and contributions toward their education. OSAP provides financial aid to eligible Ontario students to help pay for educational-related costs such as:
- tuition
- books
- compulsory fees
- transportation and
- associated living costs
It is important to remember that once you have received a federal and/or provincial student loan, it is your responsibility to understand and respect the terms and conditions of your loan agreement.
A full-time student is defined as a student enrolled in a minimum of 3 units per semester (60 percent or more of a full course load each term; minimum of 2 billing units for students with a permanent disability). Refer to the Tuition, Fees and Policies section of this calendar for information on units of study and associated fee charges. Students are encouraged to review their units of study each semester and ensure they contact their Department/School to discuss course load issues.
Detailed information on eligibility, application forms and deadlines are available on the OSAP website (external link, opens in new window) and the Student Finanical Assistance Office website (opens in new window) . If you would like to speak to a financial aid advisor, please visit the ServiceHub (opens in new window) .
Out-Of-Province: If you have residency from another province in Canada (outside Ontario), please visit the Provincial and Territorial student financial assistance offices website (external link) .
U.S.A. citizens/permanent residents: US citizens and permanent residents interested in applying for federal student aid should visit the Student Financial Assistance website for information. (opens in new window)
The International Student Support webpage (opens in new window) lists a number of financial assistance and scholarship programs available for international students.