Youth in Care Tuition Bursary

What costs does the bursary cover?

The Youth in Care bursary covers 100% of tuition and ancillary fees. The bursary is available for the prescribed length of a diploma or degree program plus one additional year, or a certificate program plus one additional term. In cases of a documented permanent disability, the bursary may be provided for up to twice the prescribed program length. In all cases, recipients must fulfil all program requirements and continue to maintain eligibility.

You must:

• Apply and receive an offer of admission to Seneca and meet the final admission conditions of the offer
• Enroll in full-time studies (at least 67 per cent course load) in any diploma, degree or certificate program or 40% course load for students with a documented permanent disability
• Be pursuing your first post-secondary credential
• A current or former youth in extended society care (Crown ward) or Customary Care (including Voluntary Youth Service Agreements), not adopted, who has been in care for a minimum of 12 months in the Ontario care system
• Complete an OSAP application and provide supporting documentation (OSAP Verification of Status with Children’s Aid Society Form)
• Demonstrate financial need

How can I apply?

Apply to Seneca Polytechnic

Apply to a Seneca program through the Ontario College Application Service (OCAS). Prospective students may contact recruitment by email to discuss options.

Complete an OSAP Application

1. Apply for full-time OSAP and submit all required documents (outlined on the OSAP portal) before all OSAP important dates and deadlines.
2. Self-identify as a youth in extended society care. Be sure to respond yes to this question; it is part of the OSAP application process.
3. Complete the Verification of Status with Ontario’s Children Aid Society form. Once completed, upload it to your OSAP portal. Documents submitted to the OSAP portal are reviewed within 3-6 weeks from the date of submission.
4. Submit a letter from your Children’s Aid Society worker stating how long you have been in society care and your OSAP assessment summary youthincare@senecapolytechnic.ca with your intentions to apply for the bursary.

Complete the Financial Aid Application

5. Complete the Financial Aid application once a confirmation email has been received from the Financial Aid Office.

What are the support services offered?

Frequently Asked Questions

Are current students who were previously in care eligible?

If you believe you meet the eligibility criteria, and are a current student, you may reach out to the Youth in Care team to discuss your options. If eligible, the bursary would be applied to future tuition payments and does not cover payments retroactively.

What is the age range eligibility of applicants?

Applicants can be of any age, as long as this is their first post-secondary credential being pursued.

Contact

Please email YouthinCare@senecapolytechnic.ca if you have any other questions about this bursary.

Ontario Post-Secondary Application Fee Reimbursement Program

If you are, or were, an Ontario child in extended society care who wants to go to college or university, you can be reimbursed for the cost of applying to college or university programs. For more information, including contact details, visit the Ontario Post-Secondary Application Fee Reimbursement Program.

This program is not affiliated with Seneca Polytechnic.

Please visit the Child Welfare Political Action Committee Canada (Child Welfare PAC) website for more information about this initiative.

Please email YouthinCare@senecapolytechnic.ca if you have any other questions about this bursary.