McMaster Bursary for Part-Time Students: What You Need to Know

McMaster Continuing Education students can access financial support through the McMaster Bursary for Part-time Students, which helps reduce the cost of continuing your education.

What is the McMaster Bursary for Part-Time Students?

A bursary is financial assistance awarded to students who meet specific eligibility criteria. Unlike a loan, a bursary does not need to be repaid. However, they are considered taxable income.

Funded by McMaster University, this bursary is intended to support students experiencing financial need by helping offset a portion of their educational expenses. While it is not designed to cover the full cost of a program, it can make a meaningful difference in managing tuition and related costs.

Who is Eligible?

This bursary is available to McMaster Continuing Education students who:

• Are enrolled in an academic credit program (Certificate, Diploma, or Certificate of Professional Learning)
• Are completing their studies on a part-time basis
• Can demonstrate financial need

Eligibility is designed to be inclusive, supporting a wide range of learners. If you are taking an academic program with MCE but are unsure if you qualify, we encourage you to submit an application for consideration.

How to Apply

To apply for the bursary, students must:

1. Register and pay for their upcoming term courses in full
2. Wait approximately two days after registration
3. Submit an online application through AwardSpring (if the application period is open)
4. Provide any required supporting documentation to demonstrate financial need

Students are encouraged to carefully review application deadlines and ensure all materials are submitted on time.

When Will You Hear Back?

Applicants can expect to receive an update on their application status via their McMaster email account approximately two weeks after all required documentation has been submitted.

How Are Funds Distributed?

If approved, students will receive their bursary through an Interac e-transfer sent to their McMaster email address.

Once notified, recipients will receive instructions through AwardSpring on how to accept and deposit their funds. Students should monitor both their inbox and junk/spam folders for important updates.

Helpful Tips for Applicants

To improve your application experience, keep the following in mind:

• Select a specific program plan during registration. Students registered under “open studies” are not eligible for this bursary.
• Submit a new bursary application for each term you are enrolled in courses.
• Activate your McMaster email account after registering to ensure you receive all communications regarding your application.

Note: Any communication from McMaster Continuing Education regarding registered courses will be sent to the personal email address you used to register.

Need Help?

For any questions regarding the McMaster Bursary for Part-Time Students, please contact the Student Services Professionals in the Office of the Registrar. Their team can assist with eligibility, application details, and bursary-related inquiries.

To learn how to connect with them, please visit:
Office of the Registrar | McMaster University

The RO chatbot is available 24/7 to answer questions.

If you have questions about McMaster Continuing Education programs, our Student Information Services team is here to help. You can connect with us through our contact form or live chat for program-related support.