What type of financial aid is available?

Financial aid comes in a variety of different forms, including:

From Law school for eligible recipients:

Who is eligible to apply to the Faculty's Financial Aid Program?

All Canadian citizens and residents currently enrolled in the J.D. program at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law are eligible to apply. International students and students attending on a Letter of Permission are not eligible.

When do applications for financial aid become available?

Applications are typically available in May.

What is the application deadline?

For 2025-2026, the application deadline is July 7, 11:59 pm.

What are the borrowing limits for Lines of Credit loans?

Please view comparison table for additional information about the two lenders Law School has special agreements with.

Who is on the Financial Aid Committee?

The Financial Aid Committee is comprised of three students, four faculty members, Manager, Financial Aid, J.D. Program, Registrar, J.D. Program, the Admissions and Financial Aid Coordinator and the Assistant Dean, Students. If you would like more information about the Committee or would like to contact individual Committee members, please email the Financial Aid Office at financialaid.law@utoronto.ca 

How do I apply for bursary support?

Students are required to submit a Faculty of Law financial aid application.

When are bursaries allocated?

Bursary allocations are made by late September (typically around September 25th). Bursary funds are credited to student accounts in early October. Students are advised to set up Direct Deposit in their Acorn accounts to facilitate payments.

Why am I deemed a contribution from my parents when my parents in fact do not make any kind of contribution and consider me independent?

Students are deemed to receive a certain amount of financial assistance from applicable family members based on their ability to contribute even if family members do not contribute to a student's education. Underlying this rule is one of the core principles of the financial aid program - ensuring that law school continues to be accessible to students from all backgrounds. Access is of particular concern for students from low-income backgrounds. Students from low-income families often have personal histories or circumstances which make law school education less obtainable. The inclusion of parental income provides a means of accounting for these differences and ensuring accessibility. 

Parental income information is required from ALL students who are applying for financial assistance from the Faculty of Law.

My financial aid assessment is different from what the financial aid estimator told me a few months ago. Why did this happen?

There could be several reasons why the financial aid assessment differs from what the financial aid estimator told you a few months ago. The difference might be due to changes in:
  • the financial aid policy
  • the student applicant pool
  • information available (i.e. average parental income for 3 years, summer earnings, government loan assessments)
  • additional expenses (i.e. claiming computer, moving or health expenses)

What allowances are available for students with dependents?

Students with dependents are allowed to claim additional deductions:
  • $5,000 per dependent in the budget calculations
  • Day Care expenses
  • Additional moving allowance of 25% per dependent
  • Deduction of $2,000 per dependent from summer income calculation

What allowances are available for students with disabilities?

Students with disabilities may claim additional deductions
  • Additional medical expenses can be added to budget calculations, supporting information is required. Please consult financialaid.law@utoronto.ca if you are not sure about the appropriate documentation
  • Students have until February 15th to submit receipts and or prescription information to have their financial assessment re-evaluated. Students incurring unexpected expenses over $500 AFTER the February deadline should contact financial aid for guidance
  • Students unable to work in the summer as a result of medical issues may get an exemption against summer income allocation. Please contact financialaid.law@utoronto.ca to discuss appropriate supporting documentation
  • The following assets are examples of the types of assets excluded from Financial Aid calculations:
    • Registered Disability Savings Plans
    • Specified Disability Savings Plans
    • Bursary for Students with Disabilities (BSWD)
    • Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Students with Permanent Disabilities (CSG-PDSE)
    • Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities

What assurances can you make that my information will remain confidential?

Every effort is made by our Financial Aid Office to make sure that student records remain private and confidential
  • Only authorized members of the Financial Aid team can access student information and correspondence in the Financial Aid office
  • All information is stored securely in compliance with U of T's rules
  • Student information is anonymized/redacted when submitted to the Financial Aid Committee for consultation
  • Student records are kept and disposed of when appropriate in accordance with U of T record retention policy

I am going on a leave of absence. How will this affect my financial aid package?

Please reach out to the Financial Aid office for further consultation at (416) 978-3716 or e-mail financialaid.law@utoronto.ca
  • Students who are planning on taking a Leave of Absence should consult with their lenders (i.e. financial institutions/government loan programs) about re-payment of their loans that may become due when the students are on leave, and therefore not enrolled
  • Students who benefited from the Financial Aid bursaries will have their bursaries re-calculated in accordance with the student's projected budget changes.

Who may I contact with questions?

You can call the Financial Aid Office, at (416) 978-3716 or e-mail financialaid.law@utoronto.ca