Bursaries

Since 2004, the Ontario Medical Foundation has awarded bursaries to more than 2,000 aspiring physicians like you, totalling more than $5.9 million. By awarding bursaries, we are:

• Increasing accessibility to medical schools 
• Supporting and increasing representation in the physician profession to be reflective of Ontario’s diverse population 
• Reducing the stress and burnout associated with financial strain during medical training 
• Contributing to future health human resources

The Ontario Medical Student Bursary Fund

The Ontario Medical Student Bursary Fund was established in 1999, in response to rising tuition fees and the mounting debt Ontario medical students experience. The cost of medical school in Ontario is the highest in the country. According to the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada, Ontario’s average tuition costs are more than $27,304 per year. Bursaries through the OMSBF program are provided to students in financial need through the distribution of two types of bursaries: general bursaries and named bursaries.  

General bursaries  

Medical students do not need to apply for general bursaries. All students enrolled in an Ontario medical school are eligible for an OMF general bursary of $3,000. Every year, the financial aid office at each medical school nominates students who are in the greatest financial need.

Named bursaries

Medical students apply through the OMF for named bursaries^[*]. The named bursaries application is open and closes on Jan. 31, 2025.

More details on named bursaries.

^[*] Named bursaries are bursaries established by an individual or group commemorating a physician’s achievements, or in memory of a colleague or relative to support students pursuing a specific specialty, or to support students from a particular city or area of the province.