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Bursary for Students with Disabilities (BSWD) and

Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment – Students with Disabilities (CSG-DSE)

Purpose

The Ontario Bursary for Students with Disabilities (BSWD) and the Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment – Students with Disabilities (CSG-DSE) help eligible full-time and part-time students pay for eligible disability-related services and equipment needed to participate in postsecondary studies.

By submitting a BSWD/CSG-DSE application, you may receive funding to assist with the costs of the eligible disability-related educational services and equipment you need (based on your specific disability-related functional limitations) while you’re in postsecondary studies.

How much can I get

If you have a verified permanent disability or a verified persistent or prolonged disability, you may be considered for BSWD and/or CSG-DSE funding. The amount of funding you may receive depends on the costs of the eligible disability-related educational services and equipment you need for your specific disability-related functional limitations.

The maximum funding per academic year is:

  • BSWD: $2,000, with eligible items subject to individual funding maximums
  • CSG-DSE: $20,000, with eligible items are subject to individual funding maximums

Each eligible service or equipment request is considered based on your specific disability-related functional limitations. Information provided by your health care provider (physician or other regulated health care professional) and/or from your school’s office for students with disabilities/accessibility services office (if applicable) is used to determine what eligible costs may be funded.

You may be provided funding for all or a portion of the costs of the eligible services or equipment you request that pertain to your specific disability-related functional limitations. Approved funding for eligible items is subject to maximum limits, so it is possible that not all your costs will be covered.

About service and equipment purchases

The BSWD and CSG-DSE only cover eligible costs that are directly related to your participation in postsecondary studies (e.g., note-takers, tutors, assistive technology to access course materials) and that you incur because of your disability-related functional limitations. Not all disability-related services and equipment are eligible for funding (e.g., hearing aids, personal mobility devices). Any purchases made before your BSWD/CSG-DSE application is approved may also not be eligible for funding (e.g., your school may offer the service or equipment at no charge, or it may not be included in the recommended accommodations you need).

Equipment purchases made more than 60 days before your study period start date will not be eligible for funding through either BSWD or CSG-DSE.

The costs of a psycho-educational assessment (upfront or reimbursement) or other disability assessment(s) (reimbursement only) might be eligible for funding through BSWD and/or CSG-DSE. To be considered for these costs, your psycho-educational assessment or other disability assessment must have taken place no more than 6 months before your study start date. Contact your financial aid office for details.

Note: Each eligible BSWD and CSG-DSE category or item is subject to a funding cap. This means that not all your costs may be covered even if your application is approved.

Who is eligible

    For BSWD:

      • You’ve self-identified as having a permanent disability or a persistent or prolonged disability and your status as a person with a disability has been verified through required supporting documentation for OSAP purposes.
      • You’ve applied and are eligible for funding from one of the following sources:
        • OSAP for Full-Time Students and you have at least $1 in calculated provincial need; or
        • OSAP for Part-Time Students and you’re receiving an Ontario Part-Time Grant; or
        • an Institution-Funded Special Bursary (students at public universities and colleges in Ontario only).

    For CSG-DSE

      • You’ve self-identified as having a permanent disability or a persistent or prolonged disability and your status as a person with a disability has been verified through required supporting documentation for OSAP purposes.
      • You’ve applied and are eligible for funding from one of the following sources:
        • OSAP for Full-Time Students and you have at least $1 in calculated federal need; or
        • OSAP for Part-Time Students.
        • students in micro-credential studies and students who are receiving only the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant are not eligible for BSWD or CSG-DSE.

How to apply

If you’re going to a public postsecondary school in Ontario, you will need to work with your school’s office for students with disabilities/accessibility services office to complete this application.

The BSWD/CSG-DSE application outlines the supporting documents required. It also outlines who to contact if you need help completing your application.

    If you’re going to school in 2024-25:

    Use the 2024-25 Ontario Bursary for Students with Disabilities (BSWD) and Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment – Students with Disabilities (CSG-DSE) application. This application is available in .pdf format.

    If you’re going to school in 2023-24:

    Use the 2023-24 Ontario Bursary for Students with Disabilities (BSWD) and Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment – Students with Disabilities (CSG-DSE) application. This application is available in .pdf format.

After you apply

Your application is assessed to determine your eligibility and the most efficient and cost-effective means of providing the eligible disability-related services and equipment you need to participate in your postsecondary studies.

Your school’s office for students with disabilities/accessibility services office and/or the Ministry of Colleges and Universities’ Student Financial Assistance Branch would be involved in the assessment of your application.

Your school’s office for students with disabilities/accessibility services office can help with :

    • making service and/or equipment recommendations based on your disability-related needs to participate in postsecondary studies; and

    • providing rationale for requested services and/or equipment, as appropriate.

Your financial aid office will check your application to ensure it is complete and you are eligible. Contact your financial aid office if you have any questions about the status of your application.

Deadlines

Your application must be received by your financial aid office no later than 60 days before the end of your study period.

All required documents must be received by your financial aid office no later than 40 days before the end of your study period.

Receipts (electronic or original) for each approved item are due by the end of your study period. See After you get your funding for details.

Getting your funding

Your enrollment must be confirmed by your school before BSWD and/or CSG-DSE funding can be issued. Funding cannot be issued until on, or after, your study period start date, and may be issued by cheque (in one or more installments). Check with your financial aid office for details.

After you get your funding

Services and/or equipment approved for BSWD and/or CSG-DSE funding must be purchased before the end of your study period.

You must provide receipts (electronic or original) as proof of purchase for these services and/or equipment. If you received funding for approved services (e.g., tutoring, note-taking), you must also provide a time log that matches the receipts provided.

You may be required to repay all or part of the funding you receive and your eligibility for further funding from OSAP and/or BSWD/CSG-DSE could be impacted if:

  • You don’t purchase your services and/or equipment before the end of your study period.
  • Your receipts don’t match the amount(s) corresponding to your approved services and/or equipment.