Ontario-Ukraine Solidarity Scholarship

On February 24, 2022, the Russian military invaded Ukraine, resulting in a record outflow of refugees and a political, economic, and humanitarian crisis. In recognizing the Ukrainian people’s resolve in this war, Ontario will provide funds to institutions to offer a scholarship to students. Initially announced on April 6, 2022, the province reiterated its support through the news release on 23 October 2023.

The $1.9 million “Ontario-Ukraine Solidarity Scholarship” will continue to support persons in Ontario’s publicly assisted colleges and universities and be awarded to individual students through their college or university based on merit and financial need in the following academic years: 2024-25, 2025-26, and 2026-27.

Criteria:

• Residency status : Residency status and/or citizenship is not a requirement for eligibility, however a student must be physically present in Ontario to qualify.

• Enrollment: Recipients must be enrolled in the Winter term and remain enrolled as a full-time or part-time student in an eligible program during the 2024-2025 academic year. NOTE: If the recipient withdraws or fails to complete the academic term, they are no longer eligible for the scholarship and must return the full scholarship funds to Sheridan.

• Financial Need: Each applicant must demonstrate financial need.

• Merit: Upon determination of financial need, student applications shall be judged based on merit. Each student must demonstrate merit which includes academic achievement (GPA of 3.0 or greater) and community service. Merit must be demonstrated through a personal statement.

• Deferrals: Scholarships are available in 2024-25 only, and funding cannot be deferred to a later academic year.

Students impacted by the Ukrainian conflict will be prioritized first, followed by supports for students impacted by other conflicts.

• OSAP Exemption: When completing their OSAP application, students are expected to report the value of scholarships they receive for the 2024-25, 2025-26, or 2026-27 academic years. As OSAP is an integrated program between the federal and provincial governments, the OSAP need assessment includes a federal and a provincial component.

Canada exempts $1,800/academic year in awards, scholarships, bursaries and tuition waivers and the remaining value is treated as a resource in the OSAP need assessment. This means that the amount of OSAP funding a student is entitled to receive from the federal government will be reduced by any amount above $1,800.

For the 2024-25 academic year, Ontario exempts $63/week of study in awards, scholarships, bursaries and tuition waivers and the remaining value is treated as a resource in the OSAP need assessment. This means that the amount of OSAP funding a student is entitled to receive from the provincial government will be reduced by any amount above $63/per week of study. For a student in a typical 34-week program, this amounts to $2,142. Updated exemption amounts for 2025-26 and 2026-27 will be provided by the ministry.

For the purposes of the Ontario-Ukraine Solidarity Scholarships, the same exemption rules will apply. Sheridan will report the scholarship award to OSAP on behalf of successful students.

NOTICE OF COLLECTION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION
If you are selected as the recipient of an Ontario-Ukraine Solidarity Scholarship, the Ministry will indirectly collect your personal information from your postsecondary institution pursuant to paragraphs 1 and 4 of s. 15(1) of the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Act.

If you are selected as the recipient of an Ontario-Ukraine Solidarity Scholarship, the personal information collected by the Ministry will include information on your program of study and year of study at the postsecondary institution, as well a brief rationale for your selection. The Ministry uses this personal information to administer the Ontario-Ukraine Solidarity Scholarship program, which includes planning or delivering the program, allocating resources, evaluating, or monitoring the program, and detecting, monitoring and preventing fraud or any unauthorized receipts of services or benefits related to the program. If you are selected as the recipient of an Ontario-Ukraine Solidarity Scholarship and you have applied for OSAP assistance, the Ministry will also use your personal information for the purposes of administering OSAP.

If you have any questions about the Ministry’s collection or use of your personal information, please contact: Director, Student Financial Assistance Branch, Ministry of Colleges and Universities, PO Box 4500, 189 Red River Road, 4th Floor, Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7B 6G9; 807-343-7260.