TST Board of Trustees Scholarships, Bursaries & Awards

Donald Cameron Memorial Award

This award honours the memory of Donald Cameron, who served TST for many years in a number of capacities including Chair of the Board of Trustees and Chair of the Development Committee, and who held a deep commitment to the Church's positive impact on the wider community. The award recognizes involvement and excellence in a project planned and completed during a student's basic degree program, which engaged the wider community beyond the Church.

• Eligibility: Available to a registered TST student in the final year of a basic degree program; or in the first year of a graduate degree program immediately following a basic degree program.
• 2025 Amount to be Awarded: $3,700 - payable in May/June 2025.
• Selection Criteria: Applications will be evaluated on academic excellence (minimum of 3.7 GPA) and on the impact that a project/activity has had within the wider community beyond the confines of the Church, and on what the student learned from the project or activity that will help to enhance the relationship between the Church and wider society. Examples of projects are (but not limited to): organizing a community group, advocating for a local cause, facilitating an ecumenical or inter-faith group, or publishing a community newsletter.
• Application Deadline: Wednesday, March 5, 2025; 12:00 pm

For applicants - documents submitted with the online application form (see online form for details):

• Applicant Statement (maximum 1000 words)
• Two Letters of Support (emailed separately)
• Unofficial Transcripts

 

Gordon M. Farquharson Scholarship

This award, funded by a gift from the Ralph M. Barford Foundation, plus matching funds from the Ontario Trust for Student Support (OTSS), was established by the TST Board of Trustees in 2008 in honour of Gordon Farquharson. Mr. Farquharson has been a friend of TST since its founding. His contributions to TST were many and included providing legal counsel for TST’s incorporation process.

• Eligibility: The award is available to a TST student currently registered in a research doctoral program (PhD) who is a Canadian citizen, Permanent Resident or Protected Person, and is a resident of Ontario as defined by the requirements of the OSOTF (Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Fund) as outlined on the OSOTF Financial Need Assessment Form.
• 2025 Amount to be Awarded: $13,800 - payable in September/October 2025 upon proof of Fall registration.
• Selection Criteria: Applications will be evaluated on academic excellence (minimum of 3.7 GPA) and demonstrated financial need.
• Application Deadline: Wednesday, March 5, 2025; 12:00 pm

For applicants - documents submitted with the online application form (see online form for details):

• Applicant Statement (maximum 1000 words)
• Two Letters of Support (emailed separately)
• Unofficial Transcripts
• OSOTF Financial Needs Assessment Form - available here  

 

Margaret E. Fleck Scholarship

This award, funded by a gift from the Ralph M. Barford Foundation, along with matching funds from the Ontario Trust for Student Support (OTSS) and from the University of Toronto, was established by the TST Board of Trustees in 2006 in honour of the Reverend Margaret Fleck, a divinity graduate of Trinity College and former member of the TST Board of Trustees.

• Eligibility: The award is available to a registered TST graduate degree student who is a Canadian citizen, Permanent Resident or Protected Person, and is a resident of Ontario as defined by the requirements of the OSOTF (Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Fund) as outlined on the OSOTF Financial Need Assessment Form.
• 2025 Amount to be Awarded: $16,300 - payable in September/October 2025 upon proof of Fall registration.
• Selection Criteria: Applications will be evaluated on demonstrated capacity to communicate effectively to the broader community, academic excellence (minimum of 3.7 GPA), and demonstrated financial need.
• Application Deadline: Wednesday, March 5, 2025; 12:00 pm

For applicants - documents submitted with the online application form (see online form for details):

• Applicant Statement (maximum 1000 words)
• Two Letters of Support (emailed separately)
• Unofficial Transcripts
• OSOTF Financial Needs Assessment Form - available here  

 

C. Douglas Jay Scholarship

This award was established by the TST Board of Trustees in 1981 in honour of the founding Director of TST, Professor C. Douglas Jay, and has been made possible thanks to contributions by the Douglas and Ruth Jay Family Foundation, and most recently, a bequest from the Estate of C. Douglas Jay.

• Eligibility: Available to a registered TST graduate degree student studying in the area of Christian social ethics, philosophical theology, philosophy of religion, or psychology of religion, who is a Canadian citizen, Permanent Resident or Protected Person, and is a resident of Ontario as defined by the requirements of the OSOTF (Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Fund) as outlined on the OSOTF Financial Need Assessment Form.
• 2025 Amount to be Awarded: $31,100 - payable in September/October 2025 upon proof of Fall registration.
• Selection Criteria: Applications will be evaluated on academic excellence (minimum of 3.7 GPA), the quality of a submitted research proposal, and demonstrated financial need.
• Application Deadline: Wednesday, March 5, 2025; 12:00 pm

For applicants - documents submitted with the online application form (see online form for details):

• Applicant Statement (maximum 1000 words)
• Statement of Research Interest / Research Proposal
• Two Letters of Support (emailed separately)
• Unofficial Transcripts
• OSOTF Financial Needs Assessment Form - available here  

 

Order of St. Lazarus Bursary

This award was established in 1994 through a gift from the Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem. An additional gift generously made by the Order, has been supplemented by matching funds from the Ontario Trust for Student Support (OTSS).

• Eligibility: Available to a registered TST graduate degree student studying/working the area of ecumenism, who is a Canadian citizen, Permanent Resident or Protected Person, and is a resident of Ontario as defined by the requirements of the OSOTF (Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Fund) as outlined on the OSOTF Financial Need Assessment Form.
• 2025 Amount to be Awarded: $2,100 - payable in September/October 2025 upon proof of Fall registration.
• Selection Criteria: Applications will be evaluated on the significance of the student’s study/work in ecumenism, academic excellence (minimum of 3.7 GPA), and demonstrated financial need.
• Application Deadline: Wednesday, March 5, 2025; 12:00 pm

For applicants - documents submitted with the online application form (see online form for details):

• Applicant Statement (maximum 1000 words)
• Two Letters of Support (emailed separately)
• Unofficial Transcripts
• OSOTF Financial Needs Assessment Form - available here  

 

Marjorie Watson Powles Award

This award was established by the TST Board of Trustees in 2002 in honour of Marjorie Watson Powles, in recognition of her contribution to the lives and work of women active in the Church. In 1992, the University of Trinity College in the University of Toronto, conferred on her the degree Doctor of Sacred Letters honoris causa for her lifelong ministry in support of women within the church and outside of it. This award is granted to a TST student serving the Church who exemplifies a creative, positive vision for the role of women in Church and society.

• Eligibility: Available to a TST student registered in a basic degree or graduate degree program.
• 2025 Amount to be Awarded: $2,400 - payable in May/June 2025.
• Selection Criteria: Applications will be evaluated on the student's active engagement in community and congregational life that embodies a strong feminist perspective and transformative vision, and demonstrated academic excellence (minimum of 3.7 GPA).
• Application Deadline: Wednesday, March 5, 2025; 12:00 pm

For applicants - documents submitted with the online application form (see online form for details):

• Applicant Statement (maximum 1000 words)
• Resumé (maximum 2 pages)
• Two Letters of Support (emailed separately)
• Unofficial Transcripts

 

OSOTF Bursary Assistance for PhD and DMin Students

Bursary money from the portion of TST's endowment fund under the Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Fund (OSOTF) program is available to help PhD and DMin students in need of financial assistance.

• Eligibility: The bursary is available to a registered TST PhD or DMin student who is a Canadian citizen, Permanent Resident or Protected Person, and is a resident of Ontario as defined by the requirements of the OSOTF (Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Fund) as outlined on the OSOTF Financial Need Assessment Form.
• 2025 Amount to be Awarded: $4,500 - payable in May/June 2025.
• Selection Criteria: Will be awarded based on demonstrated financial need.
• Application Deadline: Wednesday, March 5, 2025; 12:00 pm

For applicants - documents submitted with the online application form (see online form for details):

• Letter from college Graduate Degree Director attesting to applicant's financial need (emailed separately)
• OSOTF Financial Needs Assessment Form - available here  

 

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The Allan L. Beattie Assistantship - Graduate Student Job Opportunity

The Assistant to the Editors of the Toronto Journal of Theology (TJT) works with the book review editors, General Editor, reviewers, University of Toronto Press, and Toronto School of Theology (TST) staff to administer the book review process and provide general editorial support. TJT publishes two issues a year, each including 15-20 book reviews, as well as the occasional special issue (supplement).

• Eligibility: The assistantship is available to a TST student registered in a research doctoral program (ThD or PhD) who has completed comprehensive examinations and fulfills OTSS eligibility (is a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident or Protected Person, is a resident of Ontario as defined by OSAP, and has demonstrated financial need).
• 2024 Amount to be Awarded: Hourly stipend of $24.15 plus 4% vacation pay and statutory benefits. Based on a maximum of 365 hours per year, which can be negotiated, the total value is $9,165 per annum. This bursary award is supported in part by the Allan L. Beattie Endowment, with funding from the OTSS program of the Ontario Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development.
• Selection Criteria: Position applications will be judged on the basis of motivation, relevance of qualifications, applicability of this opportunity to the applicant’s chosen program of study and planned career path, and financial need.
• Application Deadline: The competition is now closed.

 

Michael Steinhauser Scholarship

Funded by donations from benefactors in recognition of the many years of exemplary service by Prof. Michael Steinhauser as TST's Advanced Degree Director.

• Eligibility: The award is available to a currently registered TST graduate degree student with the highest academic achievement in the first year of studies in his or her graduate degree program. The student must have been enrolled and have completed a minimum of two courses in each of the fall and winter trimesters, and must have achieved the highest cumulative grade-point average of all first year graduate students.
• Selection Criteria: The scholarship is awarded on the recommendation of the Associate Director of Graduate Programs. No application is required.

 

Doctor of Ministry Bursaries

Two awards are made each year to DMin students thanks to funds established by the Estate of Charles Gundy and the J.T. Weir Memorial Fund.

• 2025 Amounts Available: J.T. Weir Memorial Fund, $2,200 and Estate of Charles Gundy Fund, $2,900 - payable in May/June 2025.
• Selection Criteria: Both awards are completely open without restrictions on financial need or place of residence. The J.T. Weir Memorial Fund award will be awarded based on academic excellence, and the Estate of Charles Gundy Fund award will be awarded for best results on the DMin comprehensive exam. Both awards will be announced when granted, usually annually each spring.

 

Bill Lord Bursary in Continuing Education

A few small bursaries are available each year for persons taking continuing education courses at TST or one of its colleges.

• Selection Criteria: Applicants are asked to demonstrate financial need and to indicate the connection between the course for which they are seeking funding and their ministry.
• 2024 Amount to be Awarded: $1,700 (may divided into multiple bursaries) - payable as awarded
• Application Deadline: Please check back for information on the 2024 bursary application deadlines.