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Student Access Guarantee (SAG)

If you’re a domestic undergraduate, graduate, law or continuing education student receiving full-time OSAP, you may qualify for Student Access Guarantee (SAG). SAG is a bursary to assist with your educational costs such as tuition, books, compulsory fees, equipment, and supplies.

The SAG application is available at certain times of year via AwardSpring (external link, opens in new window) . Generally, the application becomes available during the following times:
 

  • Fall Semester: Late September to mid-October
  • Winter Semester: Mid-January to early February
  • Spring/Summer Semester: Early May to late May

Applying for SAG does not guarantee that you will be awarded a bursary. However, an application is necessary to determine eligibility.

SAG entitlement is determined by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU), who governs the OSAP program. The entitlement is based on the information on your full-time OSAP application. This includes, but is not limited to, a student’s educational costs, program and year of study, income and assets, family size, and family income. As SAG entitlement is determined by the MCU, it is non-negotiable and cannot be appealed.

When you submit your SAG bursary application, our office (Student Financial Assistance) will review your education-related cost shortfalls. If you have an educational cost shortfall and have financial need, you may be awarded a SAG bursary.

The SAG application is available at certain times of year via AwardSpring (external link, opens in new window) . Late applications are not accepted. Generally, the application becomes available during the following times:

  • Fall Semester: Late September to mid-October
  • Winter Semester: Mid-January to early February
  • Spring/Summer Semester: Early May to late May

To successfully apply for SAG, refer to the below instructions. Note that an application to SAG does not guarantee a bursary; however, an application is necessary to determine eligibility.

  1. If you have not already done so, create a profile on AwardSpring (external link, opens in new window) . Be sure to select that you wish to be considered for awards, scholarships, and bursaries that require a demonstration of financial need. An example of this is highlighted below:

    A screen in AwardSpring asking you to confirm if you would like to be considered for awards, scholarships and bursaries. The second question asks you to indicate if you are a current TMU student or an applicant.

  2. Follow the instructions on AwardSpring to apply for SAG. You can apply for SAG each semester you receive full-time OSAP. Please monitor your AwardSpring account to not miss the application window. Late applications will not be considered.

    Example screenshot of what you will encounter when you are eligible to apply for the Student Access Guarantee.

    The screenshot shown here is correct, but your dashboard item(s) may differ based on your item(s) to complete list.

    1. The fall SAG application opens in late September to mid-October
    2. The winter SAG application opens mid-January to early February
    3. The spring/summer SAG application opens in early May to late May

If you experience any issues with the AwardSpring platform, please contact the Student Awards and Scholarships Office by email at awards@torontomu.ca. To ensure your email is answered in a timely manner, please make your email subject line "SAG Application Issue."

Eligible SAG recipients may receive their funds directly to their student account or by the external electronic payment tool, PayMyTuition. Students cannot choose how to receive their bursary; this is determined by the bursary committee. The specific funding disbursement avenue will be outlined in the email sent to the student’s institutional email. Only eligible SAG recipients will receive an email. 

Once the SAG application closes each semester, the applications are reviewed within two weeks. Funding timelines (from the date of application close) depend on the disbursement avenue: 

  • To the Student Account: Funds are processed and posted to the student account within five to 10 business days from the date of the email decision.
  • To PayMyTuition: Funds must first be processed and sent to the external vendor, PayMyTuition. The vendor must then process the funds. Once processed, instructions on how to set up an Interac e-transfer to accept the funds will be sent to the student’s institutional email within 10 to 15 business days. Pay attention to an email from PayMyTuition. For detailed instructions with screenshots, refer to the “Domestic e-Transfer Refunds via PayMyTuition” section on Student Refunds.

 

  • If there are changes to your course load after you have received SAG, it may affect your SAG disbursement. The University reserves the right to adjust your SAG bursary based on your course enrolment and student status.
  • If you are the successful recipient of a SAG bursary, please do not report it on your OSAP application. Our Student Financial Assistance team reports all awards, scholarships, and bursaries administered by the University onto your OSAP application.
  • Accidentally reported your bursary on your OSAP application? Learn more about how to update this information under the Scholarship, Award, and/or Bursary Recipients tab on Information by Student Group.

 

We recognize that financial challenges sometimes come with other personal struggles. Below are a number of resources to support you and your well-being:

  • Career Boost: The institution’s award-winning student employment program, Career Boost, offers paid jobs to eligible students.
  • Financial Literacy (FinLit) (opens in new window) : An online guide that provides a general overview of financial literacy, including reading materials, videos and personal finance workshops available at the University.
  • The Good Food Centre (external link, opens in new window) : They offer hunger relief to help you through a difficult period.
  • Development and Counselling: Counsellors can meet with you one-on-one to discuss a wide variety of personal concerns or crisis situations.
  • Study Skills and Transition Support: Could your study skills use some work? Learn new strategies and tools including specialized support for writing, math and English.
  • Academic Accommodation Support: Accommodations are available for temporary or permanent disabilities including assistive technology, academic arrangements, financial assistance and more.
  • Student Wellbeing: If you’re looking for help making healthy lifestyle changes, check out the many programs, resources and services to help you thrive.
  • Subsidized Electricity: If you are from a low-income household, you may be eligible for additional financial assistance through one or more publicly-funded programs, such as the Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP), the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP), and the Energy Affordability Program (EAP).
  • Canada Learning Bond: The Canada Learning Bond is money that the government adds to a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) for children from low-income families.

SAG is for currently enrolled, domestic undergraduate, graduate, continuing education, and law students who are approved for full-time OSAP. SAG entitlement is determined by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities, who governs the OSAP program. The entitlement is based on the information on your full-time OSAP application. This includes, but is not limited to, a student’s educational costs, program and year of study, income and assets, family size, and family income.

Information submitted in bursary applications will be verified. The misrepresentation of information will result in the disqualification of your application.

Values Subject to Change

The availability and monetary value of bursaries is subject to change. The University reserves the right to change the amount disbursed for a given bursary in light of new information which was not available at the time of disbursement (e.g. change in course load, withdrawal from a program, new disbursement of a scholarship/award or government financial assistance, etc.)

SAG bursary recipients are responsible for notifying the Student Awards and Scholarships Office (SASO) and Student Financial Assistance (SFA) of any changes to their particular situation.

Given the situational nature of bursary assistance, SASO and SFA reserve the right to reassess or adjust any funding granted, should the conditions under which the funds were granted change. Students will be contacted via their University email should their bursary amount be adjusted.

Request for Reconsideration and Discretion of the University

Every attempt has been made to be clear in the communication of the terms and conditions outlined in this document. In the event of any interpretive disputes, the University reserves the right to render a final determination on eligibility for bursary funding. Interpretation of information provided in bursary applications is solely at the discretion of the University.

Clarifying amendments to the terms and conditions for bursaries may be made by the University without notice.