Brock University has created a $500,000 bursary program through the generous support of the Government of Canada and Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning Canada’s (CEWIL Canada) Innovation Hub (iHUB), to expand and enhance access to work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students across all faculties. 

Eligible students enrolled in courses at Brock University that have the following types of unpaid work-integrated learning opportunities can apply for funding to offset costs of participating in these experiences: 

• Community and Industry Research & Projects 
• Entrepreneurial WIL 
• Field Placements 
• Community Service-Learning WIL 

Bursaries will be awarded based on the type of experience (level of intensity and time commitment), the estimated costs incurred, and the demonstrated eligibility of the applicant (combined student eligibility, confirmation of enrollment in a course with embedded WIL and partnership with a Canadian-based industry or community partner).  With the intent to reduce barriers to participate in WIL, and increase participation amongst under-represented groups, priority is given to students who are members of particular social groups that face equity and inclusion barriers (as defined by CEWIL Canada and the Government of Canada): 

• Indigenous (including non-status), First Nations, Aboriginal, Métis, or Inuit 
• Black Canadians 
• Racialized Students
• Persons living with a disability 
• Female-identifying or non-binary person studying in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)  
• Newcomers to Canada (new immigrant to Canada within 5 years) 
• Official Language Minority Communities 
• 2SLGBTQ+ 
• Living in remote or rural location 
• Low socioeconomic status 
• Mature Students 

CANADIAN CITIZENS, PERMANENT RESIDENTS OR PERSONS WITH REFUGEE STATUS

Current graduate and undergraduate students who meet the following eligibility criteria may apply for the University-wide bursary to reduce barriers to participating in WIL funded by the Government of Canada and CEWIL Canada:

• Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or persons to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
• Legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with the relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations
• Enrolled in Spring/Summer and Fall 2023 courses with curricular WIL (as outlined above)
  
• Partnered with a Canadian-based community partner or industry organization
• Work-integrated learning experience starts no earlier than May 1, 2023, and finishes no later than December 31, 2023.

Applications will be adjudicated on a first-come, first-served basis upon confirmation of eligibility. 

APPLICATION DATES:
Spring/Summer 2023
Applications Open: May 15, 2023 (12:00 a.m. EST)
Applications Close: July 31, 2023 (11:59 p.m. EST) 

Fall 2023 
Applications Open: September 5, 2023 (12:00 a.m. EST)
Applications Close: November 30, 2023 (11:59 p.m. EST) 

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Current graduate and undergraduate students on study or work visas, who meet the following eligibility criteria may apply for a separate Brock University funded bursary designed to remove barriers for international students to participating in work-integrated learning:

• International students (on study or work visas)
• Legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with the relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations
• Enrolled in Spring/Summer and Fall 2023 courses with curricular WIL (as outlined above)
• Partnered with a Canadian-based community partner or industry organization
• Work-integrated learning experience starts no earlier than May 1, 2023, and finishes no later than December 31, 2023.

Applications will be adjudicated on a first-come, first-served basis upon confirmation of eligibility. 

APPLICATION DATES:
Spring/Summer 2023  
Applications Open: May 15, 2023 (12:00 a.m. EST)
Applications Close: July 31, 2023 (11:59 p.m. EST) 

Fall 2023 
Applications Open: September 5, 2023 (12:00 a.m. EST)
Applications Close: November 30, 2023 (11:59 p.m. EST) 

NOTE: The application will take approximately 5 to 10 minutes to complete and you do not have the option to save and continue at a later time.

Have questions? Email experiential@brocku.ca and we can help support you in submitting your application.

What types of work-integrated learning (WIL) qualify for this bursary?

This bursary focuses on four main types of work-integrated learning:

1. Community and Industry Research & Projects – Research that occurs primarily in workplaces including consulting projects, design projects, community-based research projects.
2. Entrepreneurial WIL – Early-stage development of business start-ups with the support of a community partner.
3. Field placement – Intensive part-time/short term intensive hands-on practical experience in a setting relevant to their subject of study.
4. Community Service-Learning WIL – Working in partnership with a community-based organization to apply disciplinary knowledge to a challenge identified by the community.

If you have an unpaid project for a course where you are doing hands-on work and partnering with a Canadian-based industry or community partner, but it does not fit into these four categories, please contact us at experiential@brocku.ca to see if your project is a fit. Please note: Co-op work terms do not qualify for this funding.

How does the application process work?

Funding for this bursary comes from two sources: one covers bursaries for domestic students and the other covers international students. As such, more bursaries for domestic students are available at this time, which will impact students’ odds for receiving funding. Bursary applications may close early if all funding has been awarded prior to the application close dates.

You will be required to select the appropriate application to access one of the two forms of funding available:

1. University-Wide Bursary to Reduce Barriers to Participating in WIL for Canadian citizens, permanent residents or students with refugee status.
2. Work-Integrated Learning bursary for international students on a study or work visa.

Applications will be reviewed and adjudicated on a first-come, first-served basis according to the application timeframes indicated below:

• Spring/Summer 2023 Term: Applications open May 15, 2023 at 12:00 a.m. EST and close July 31, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
• Fall 2023 Term: Applications open September 5, 2023 at 12:00 a.m. EST and close November 30, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

If your application does not include the Canadian community or industry partner information, an Experiential Education Coordinator will follow-up with you directly via your Brock email during the adjudication process to collect this information. Your application will only be fully adjudication once all required information about your work-integrated learning experience is received.

Successful applicants will be notified by email. Please allow three (3) weeks for application processing, adjudication and confirmation of application status. If successful, bursary funds will be applied to your student account in the form of a credit, before the end of the term.

Can I submit an application for a WIL experience occurring in the Fall term during the Spring/Summer term application window?

No. We will only be accepting and reviewing applications during the term in which the work-integrated learning experience is occurring.

Can I apply if my WIL experience occurs outside of the Spring/Summer or Fall 2023 term timeframe?

No. All work-integrated learning experiences must start no earlier than May 1, 2023 and end no later than December 31, 2023.

How will bursary applications be adjudicated?

Applications will be assessed to evaluate:

• Student eligibility as outlined by CEWIL Canada
• Confirmation of enrollment in a course with an embedded WIL component
• Partner eligibility as outlined by CEWIL Canada
• Tier qualification based on intensity of the WIL component and estimated costs incurred

To increase participation in WIL programming amongst under-represented groups, students who identify within one or more of these categories will be prioritized for funding:

• LGBTQ2S+
• Living in a rural or remote location
• Low socioeconomic status
• Mature student
• Indigenous
• Black Canadian
• Racialized person / Person of Colour
• Newcomer to Canada
• Student from refugee pathways
• Student with a disability
• Female-identifying or non-binary person studying STEM

Are graduate students eligible for this bursary?

Yes! Graduate students are eligible for this funding as long as they meet the other eligibility requirements for the bursaries.

Can this bursary affect my OSAP eligibility?

Receipt of this bursary may affect your OSAP eligibility. For more information please visit https://brocku.ca/safa/ or contact Brock Central at the Registrar’s Office.

Is there someone I can connect with to answer questions about the bursary program?

Yes. We have set up weekly drop-in sessions on Microsoft Teams to help you along the way. A Co-op, Career & Experiential Education team member will be available on Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. to answer any questions you may have about the bursary program and your eligibility.

Microsoft Teams meeting link: Click here to join the meeting | Meeting ID: 223 465 318 372 | Passcode: juJFuG

This project is funded by CEWIL Canada’s Innovation Hub (iHub) and The Government of Canada’s Innovative Work-Integrated Learning Initiative (I-WIL), Brock University and administered by Brock’s Co-op, Career & Experiential Education unit.