Financial Aid Support for Students with Disabilities
Bursaries and Grants
You may be eligible for extra support through:
- Ontario Bursary for Students with Disabilities (BSWD)
- Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Students with Disabilities (CSG‑DSE)
These programs help full‑time and part‑time students cover approved disability‑related educational costs, such as note‑taking services, tutoring, or assistive technology.
If you receive financial aid from another province or territory, contact your home province/territory to learn about disability‑related supports available to you.
Am I Eligible for the BSWD and CSG-DSE?
Eligibility for BSWD
You may be eligible for the Ontario Bursary for Students with Disabilities (BSWD) if:
- You self-identify and are verified as having a permanent, or persistent or prolonged disability
- You have applied and are eligible for funding from one of the following sources:
-
- OSAP for Full-Time Students and have at least $1 in calculated provincial need
- OSAP for Part-Time Students and are receiving the Ontario Part-Time Grant
- Institution-Funded Special Bursary (students at public universities and colleges in Ontario only)
Eligibility for CSG‑DSE
You may be eligible for the Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Students with Disabilities (CSG‑DSE) if:
- You self-identify and are verified as having a permanent, or persistent or prolonged disability
- You have applied and are eligible for funding from one of the following sources:
- OSAP for Full-Time Students and have at least $1 in calculated federal need
- OSAP for Part-Time Students
Additional Support: University of Toronto Alternate Grant
If you have already received the maximum funding from both the BSWD and CSG‑DSE, you may be considered for the University of Toronto Alternate Grant. This additional support is available only upon recommendation from Accessibility Services.
Contact your Accessibility Services Advisor for more information and to apply.
Learn more about the BSWD and CSG-DSE eligibility.
How to Apply
- Step 1: Apply to OSAP and self-identify that you have a permanent, or persistent or prolonged disability.
- Step 2: Meet with Accessibility Services on your campus. You must provide documentation to your Accessibility Services advisor that verifies your disability.
- Step 3: Once you have your OSAP results, apply for the BSWD/CSG-DSE, with the assistance of a U of T Accessibility Services advisor.
- Step 4: Once you have completed your application, the University Registrar’s Office will process your BSWD/CSG-DSE application and send you an email to log in to your online BSWD application.
Students can login to their online account to review their:- Application status
- Approved amounts
- Service Estimate forms
- Communications with the University Registrar’s Office
Deadlines
Application Deadline:
Your application must be received no later than 60 days before the end of your study period.
Documentation Deadline:
All required documents must be received no later than 40 days before the end of your study period.
Receipt Deadline:
All receipts for approved expenses must be received no later than 30 days after the end of your study period.
Things to Keep in Mind
- Keep your ACORN mailing address up to date and ensure your U of T email address is active.
- Set up direct deposit on ACORN to receive your BSWD/CSG‑DSE funding directly to your bank account.
- You can track your payment in your ACORN financial account – look for “BSWD” as the payment type.
- You can track your payment in your ACORN financial account – look for “BSWD” as the payment type.
- You must submit receipts to the University Registrar’s Office to show that your funding was used for approved services and supports.
Receipt Information & Forms
Instructions for Equipment, Software, and all Other Items
Receipts for BSWD/CSG-DSE funding can be electronic, original, or clear photocopies will be considered.
Keep the original receipts for your records.
The receipts must:
- Be dated within the same OSAP study period in which you receive the BSWD/CSG-DSE funding.
- Clearly show:
- Vendor’s name, address, and contact information
- Items purchased
- Amount paid
- Method of payment.
- Show that purchases were made before the study period end date (no exceptions).
- You are encouraged to make purchases promptly after receiving funding so you can fully use items or services during the study period.
Important Notes
- If the purchase price of an approved item is higher than the recommended amount, funding will be capped at the recommended amount.
- If the purchase price of an approved item is lower than the recommended amount, the remaining balance cannot be moved to another item.
- If you withdraw completely from your studies, receipts must be dated before your withdrawal date.
- If you reduce your course load below the minimum required level to maintain eligibility for your primary source of funding, receipts must be dated before the date of the course load reduction.
- Example: To remain eligible for provincial grants and loans through OSAP for Full-Time Students, students with confirmed disabilities must maintain a 40% course load.
You must use the appropriate Receipts for Services form to account for BSWD/CSG-DSE funding:
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Specialized Transportation: Taxi Receipt Log (PDF)
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Counselling and Therapies: Counselling/Therapies Timelog & Service Provider Declaration Form (PDF)
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All other services (e.g., tutoring, coaching): Services Timelog and Service Receipt Form (PDF).
Note: if tutoring for individual courses is recommended on your BSWD/CSG-DSE application, you must provide a separate timelog and receipt form for each course. You cannot group these together on one form.
- Receipts for BSWD/CSG-DSE purposes may be electronic or original receipts.
- Receipts can be uploaded in any file format.
- Receipts can only be uploaded after your BSWD/CSG-DSE Application has been processed.
- The maximum file size for total receipts uploaded is 4MB. To reduce large file sizes, scan documents at a lower resolution; create a PDF using the ‘lowest file size’ option; remove any unnecessary images.
|
BSWD/CSG-DSE Service Funding |
Expense Time Period for Services on Application |
Deadline |
|---|---|---|
|
Fall term |
Fall & Winter terms |
End of fall term |
|
Fall term |
Fall term only |
End of fall term |
|
Summer term |
Summer term only |
End of summer term |
|
Winter term |
Fall & Winter terms |
End of winter term |
|
Winter term |
Winter term only |
End of winter term |
Receipt Processing
- Receipts are processed in the order they are received.
- Processing time is typically 4–6 weeks.
- Receipts for items or services that were not recommended will not be considered.
If You Don’t Submit Receipts or Don’t Use All Funds
If you do not submit receipts and/or do not use all the funding provided for your study period:
- You must return any un‑receipted or unused amount over $100.
- Not returning unused funds may lead to restrictions on future OSAP and BSWD/CSG‑DSE funding.
Course Changes
If you change any courses from what you originally provided to Accessibility Services, you must contact your Accessibility Services advisor to review your eligibility and funding needs.
Additional Notes
-
First‑term receipts are required before any BSWD/CSG‑DSE funding for the second term can be released.
- If you have unused first‑term funds, you may carry them into the second term only if your BSWD application includes a service request for both terms.
-
If your winter term service amount is lower than estimated:
- Include a signed letter with your Receipt for Services form explaining the revised amount and confirming any unused funds.
-
If your winter term service amount is higher than estimated:
- Submit an additional BSWD/CSG‑DSE application through Accessibility Services before the deadline.
-
Reimbursement for services you paid for before your BSWD Approval Date is not automatic.
- These receipts will only be reviewed if you submit them after you receive your BSWD Approval Date notification, and during the same study period.
-
If you withdraw completely from your studies:
- Only receipts dated before your withdrawal date can be used to account for bursary funding.
-
If you drop specific courses but still remain at or above the minimum course load required by your primary source of funding:
- Only receipts dated up to the date you dropped the course(s) will be considered for services tied to those courses.
Repayment of Unused Funds
How to Make a Payment
-
Log in to your online banking or call your bank’s telephone banking service
-
Add a payee: Select “University of Toronto”
-
Enter your account number using:
- The first 5 letters of your last name (in capital letters), and
- Your 10‑digit student number (include leading zeroes unless it starts with “1”)
Example:
Surname: ROBINSON
Student number: 1000444444
Account number: ROBIN1000444444 -
After making your payment, email bswd.grants@utoronto.ca with:
- Your repayment verification/confirmation number
- A screenshot showing the payment and payment date
- Your name and student ID
- The amount paid
Important Information
- Payments must only be made toward BSWD or Alternate Grant repayment.
- Do not overpay. If you’re unsure of the amount owed, email bswd.grants@utoronto.ca first.
- Payments must be made through a Canadian financial institution.
- Transfers from major Canadian banks take 3-5 business days; credit union transfers may take longer.
- Depending on the timing, your repayment may be applied to upcoming term fees. If you plan to register for the next term, you must still pay the required fees for that term.
Accessibility Services
Accessibility Services advisors on each campus can provide information and assist with certain applications. Students with financial need who are not eligible for government funding for their disability-related educational expenses, or are not eligible for funding for all of their accommodations, can apply to the University for consideration of their needs.