If you require financial assistance, you may be eligible for a Mount Allison bursary.
To be eligible, you must have demonstrated financial need — established when a student has demonstrated that their expenses exceed their resources.
Bursaries (non-repayable) are intended to supplement, but not replace:
- your own resources
- the resources of the your immediate family
- calculated parental contribution as indicated by provincial and/or federal student loans
- available student loans or lines of credit
Are you a new incoming student? Visit financial aid for first-year students.
University General Bursary
Application periods
| Spring/Summer Term (May-Aug.) | |
|---|---|
| Bursary application opens | May 1 |
| Deadline to apply | July 31 |
| Fall/Winter Terms (Aug.-April) | |
|---|---|
| Bursary application opens | August 15 |
| Deadline to apply (Fall Term) | October 31 |
The University General Bursary aims at providing a supplemental resource for current students who have utilized all other forms of resources and still find themselves in financial need.
TO APPLY, go to Self-Service > University General Bursary.
Once an application is processed, an email will be sent to your MtA email address advising you of the outcome of the application. Applications may take up to 3 weeks to process.
Applications submitted after the deadline date will only be reviewed for students experiencing extenuating/emergency circumstances. Applications will be reviewed as long as financial aid funds remain available.
Have you previously received a bursary?
Please note that you need to re-apply for bursaries on a yearly basis.
Am I eligible?
Eligibility requirements:
- all current MtA degree seeking students registered in part-time or full-time course load
- students with demonstrated financial need
- students who are seeking financial loans from a financial institution or government student loans
Priority will be given to students who demonstrate an urgency to purchase food, books, or to pay rent.
What information will be requested on the bursary application?
- list of financial resources to pay your first year of study
- list of living expenses
- expand on your student statement ― answer why you need financial assistance; disclose any extenuating circumstances (death, loss of employment, illness, change in family dynamics, or other)
How will I receive my bursary?
If you've accepted a bursary from Mount Allison, the amount of your bursary will automatically be applied to your student account — normally before tuition and fees are due.
Bursaries are normally disbursed by term:
- 50% at the beginning of the fall term
- 50% at the beginning of the winter term
To view your student account, go to Self-Service>Student Finance Menu>Account Summary
Should your bursary place your student account in credit, you can request funds by submitting the online request form found in your Connect account.
Approved in-course bursaries will be automatically applied to your account in the term(s) for which it is awarded.
Notes about the bursary
The submission of applications does not guarantee a bursary. All applications are considered on an individual basis and are dependent on available funding.
Students should exhaust all avenues of available funding including parental contribution, summer employment savings, part-time employment, student lines of credit, investments, and government student loans, etc. prior to applying for a Mount Allison bursary.
Bursaries are not retroactive. Only expenses for the academic year in which the student is applying will be considered.
If the student has a spouse or partner who is also attending Mount Allison, each partner must submit a bursary application outlining their share of expenses and resources.
If the student has a spouse or partner who is not attending Mount Allison, the student must submit a bursary application outlining all resources and expenses for both themselves and their partner.
Other need-based bursaries and awards
Class of '33 International Student Bursary
If you are a returning international student who has demonstrated financial need, you can apply for the Class of '33 International Student Bursary for the upcoming academic year.
Class of '33 Bursary Application Form
Deadline to apply is April 1, 2024
To be eligible for the Class of '33 International Student Bursary, you must:
- hold a Canadian study permit or be sponsored through WUSC MtA
- have demonstrable financial need
- have made contributions to campus which have enriched the University community through extracurricular activities, examples of leadership and promotion of cultural diversity and understanding
Applications are assessed by the financial aid and awards counsellor.
Funds will be credited to your student account at the beginning of the academic term.
Emergency bursaries
Mount Allison offers assistance to students facing unanticipated financial constraints.
Emergency bursaries are not intended to act as a substitute for traditional forms of financial aid such as government student loans and bursaries.
Students must be able to explain clearly why emergency funding is required.
Contact the financial aid and awards counsellor with the following information:
- Name and student ID
- Emergency situation
- Funds needed
Senior Citizen Bursary
Mount Allison also offers a senior citizen bursary for those 65 and older.
The senior citizen bursary is a needs-based program that directs funding to those students who demonstrate financial need. Amounts vary depending on the level of financial need.
To be eligible under the program, applicants must be:
- 65 years of age or older prior to the first day of classes in the term that their studies commence
- admitted to the university
- registered in full-time or part-time studies for credit or audit
- meet University criteria
To apply
You can apply as early as Aug. 1 for the academic school year once you have registered for courses.
The senior citizen bursary application must be received no later than the respective term bursary application deadlines:
- Spring/summer term — June 1 (for students commencing studies in the spring/summer terms)
- Fall term — Nov. 1 (for students commencing studies in the fall term)
- Winter term — Mar. 1 (for students commencing studies in the winter term)
It is important to indicate all the terms in which you plan to study in the academic school year in the academic and course information section of your bursary application form in order to be considered for a bursary for each term.
Bursary applications are kept on file for the entire academic school year, so only one application is required per year.
Correspondence only students or students on a Letter of Permission are not eligible for this bursary program.
Bursary applications are not normally accepted after the deadline.
Please be aware the financial aid & awards counsellor will only accept late applications in exceptional circumstances.
You can apply online or submit a paper copy no later than the deadlines indicated above.
Paper copies are available upon request from the registrar’s office, located on the second floor of Wallace McCain Student Centre. Alternatively, you can e-mail financialaid@mta.ca and we can send you an application form by regular mail or e-mail.
It is recommended that you apply soon after you have completed your registration.
The senior bursary application applies to the academic session in which you commence your studies.
An academic session begins with the spring/summer term and ends in the winter term. For example, the 2021-2022 academic session includes the 2021 spring/summer term (21/SS), 2021 fall term (21/FA), and the 2015 winter term (22/WI)
If you are registered for courses for the fall and winter terms, then you should submit the application for bursary for both terms by Nov. 1.
FAQ
Can I apply for a bursary after the deadline?
Bursary applications are not normally accepted after the deadline. Please be aware the financial aid & awards counsellor will only accept late applications in exceptional circumstances.
How much funding can I expect to receive?
The amount of a bursary may vary based on need, as determined on the basis of the information provided in the bursary application, course load (number of courses per term), and any supporting documentation.
Funding is contingent on University funding availability, full-time and part-time final course registration, a completed senior citizen bursary application, and amount of demonstrated need as determined by the financial aid & awards counsellor.
Please be advised a bursary may be revoked if changes to registration result in a reduced course load, reduced need, or withdrawal from the University.
How will I know if I have been granted a bursary?
We begin accepting bursary applications as of Aug. 1. All applicants receive an e-mail advising them of the results of their application and, if approved, credit is then posted to your Mount Allison account.
Can I appeal a bursary decision?
Yes. Please forward any correspondence with supporting documentation to the financial aid & awards counsellor at financialaid@mta.ca within 30 days from being notified you did not qualify for a bursary.
How are bursaries paid?
Bursary funds are automatically credited to your Mount Allison student account (students can access this through Connect@MTA.) In the event you overpay while waiting for a bursary decision, you can request a refund by completing the online refund request form located in your student Connect account
I received a bursary, and now I have dropped a course or withdrawn completely from the University. What are my responsibilities?
Since bursaries are partially based on the number of courses you are taking, it is your responsibility to inform the financial aid & awards counsellor of changes to your registration that result in a reduced course load. The University reserves the right to adjust a student’s account when the criteria of the senior citizen bursary are not met or when circumstances have changed from the date of the original application.
I have questions about my bursary application and/or financial aid in general, is there someone I could speak to at Mount Allison?
Mount Allison provides financial counselling services on campus. Please contact the financial aid & awards counsellor to schedule an appointment by phone (506) 364-2258 or e-mail financialaid@mta.ca.
Financial assistance related to post-secondary education
Noted below are two other programs that students may consider. These programs are not managed by Mount Allison University. To explore whether these programs may be helpful or apply in your case, contact information is listed below.
- Apply for federal and provincial student loans
Each Canadian province and territory administers a student loan program. In order to qualify for a federal and/or provincial student loan, students must apply to their home province for funding. To be eligible, applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Please be advised all government student loan applications are assessed based on financial need. Find out more about student loans. - Lifelong Learning Plan
If you own a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP), you may qualify to use this savings plan to pay for your education expenses. For more information visit the Canada Revenue site.
Questions? We're here to help! Contact our financial aid and awards counsellor at financialaid@mta.ca.