The TDSA fees put money back into students' pockets. The funds are limited with overall caps on how many people the TDSA can afford to assist, as well as how much money each person can receive. This is capped at a total of $500 per student per calendar year, on account that any higher requires detailed documentation for tax purposes. This might be too small an amount to help an individual, but it allows us to help without prying into your personal and financial situation. Below, please find a list of TDSA's bursaries that members (Undergrad students and post graduate certificate students) can apply to through here. If your need is greater than we can provide, please take a look at our list of resources at External Assistance. Masters students are encouraged to reach out to the Trent Graduate Student Association (TGSA)
Due to the large demand we have received for our bursaries, applications for the bursaries will only be open for the first week (1st - 7th) of each month. All applications will be reviewed after the 7th of each month and all applicants will be contacted within 3 - 5 business days. If you have questions, please email [email protected].
* The maximum amount an individual can receive from all the bursaries is $500 for each calendar year.
Emergency Bursary Fund
The emergency bursary is available to students who find themselves in short term and sudden financial need. The bursary offers students money for necessities in categories not covered by usual bursaries/grants, when those systems may take too long to respond, when the qualifications are too stringent, or when other pools of money are not enough. This bursary does not cover grocery/food/hygiene assistance. For that type of assistance, please refer to the grocery assistance or hygiene product bursaries below.
Originally in partnership with the TCSA and CFWTP, TDSA has developed a grant for trans, non-binary, and two spirit individuals to access in order to receive funding for necessary, but often not covered by insurance, costs such as binders, packers, waxing services and more. To support our trans, non-binary, and two spirit members, TDSA has continued to dedicate funding and developed this grant.
Students voted in the Spring of 2020 to pay a fee, now of $0.73 per credit that goes towards this program. Originally intended to support a food bank service and a student job to manage the service, this program was amended in 2020 to operate as an emergency grocery card program noting the limitations of a functioning food bank on campus amidst COVID-19 precautions. This fund is intended to support short-term, emergency needs and all students who apply will be connected with support systems in the Durham region to address any long-term needs as required.
Only undergraduate students and certificate seeking students with a home location of Durham campus are eligible to apply. Students may apply for the Grocery Assistance Fund once per semester.
This fund was developed by the TDSA to cover the cost of hygiene products for students. Hygiene products in particular period products, especially reusable ones, are expensive and therefore often inaccessible to many students. Applications to this fund must be related to the cost of hygiene products.
