Financial Aid
Awards & Scholarships
The Awards & Scholarships listed below are handed out at Graduation, in June, to select students from both year one and year two.
Stratford Chefs School Award
- Commitment to Industry and Academic Achievement
Elizabeth Baird Award
- Outstanding Overall Achievement
John Richardson Memorial Award
- Outstanding Achievement, Pastry
Nigel and Ruth Howard Award
- Outstanding Achievement, Final Business Project
Eleanor Kane Award
- Outstanding Achievement, Gastronomy
Bradshaws and Kitchen Detail Award
- Outstanding Achievement, Food and Wine Service
Christopher John Sinopoli Memorial Award
- Outstanding Achievement, Larder
Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers Award
- Outstanding Achievement, Wine
Stratford Chefs School Scholarship
- Outstanding Achievement, Overall
T. Kent Calhoun Memorial Scholarship
- Outstanding Achievement, Cookery
Garland Canada Manitowoc Foodservice Scholarship
- Outstanding Achievement, Commodities
Stratford Tourism Alliance Scholarship
- Involvement in the Community through Culinary Tourism
IODE Festival Jubilee Chapter Scholarship
- In Honour of Victoria Noble
Lindsay Reid Memorial Scholarship
- Outstanding Achievement, Pastry
Akeela Rabley Scholarship
- Perseverance in the Face of Adversity
Joseph Hoare Gastronomic Writer in Residence Blogging Scholarship
- By Application
The Wineries of Somewhereness Scholarship
- Outstanding Achievement, Wine
Alumni Referral Scholarship
Requirements: Minimum six-month working relationship with a SCS Alumni. One successful applicant will receive $500 towards year two tuition.
Submit a reference letter from the SCS Alumni to admin@stratfordchef.com.
Applications Due: September 30
Bursaries
Requirements: Funding is dependent on demonstrated financial need.
Download and Complete the Student Financial Plan Form and submit with required supporting documentation to admin@stratfordchef.com.
Applications Due: September 30
Need help finding and applying for scholarships you qualify for?
Check out ScholarTree.ca
Loans, Grants & Other
Canada Apprentice Loan (CAL)
The Canada Apprentice Loan is an initiative of the Government of Canada to help you complete your apprenticeship in a designated Red Seal trade.
With the Canada Apprentice Loan, you can get up to $4,000 in interest-free loans per period of training. You can use the money to help pay for tuition, tools, equipment and living expenses, to cover forgone wages or to help support your family.
You will not have to make payments on your Canada Apprentice Loan, and no interest will accumulate until after you complete or leave your apprenticeship training program.
Apprenticeship Incentive Grant (AIG)
The Apprenticeship Incentive Grant is a taxable cash grant of $1,000 per year or level, for a lifetime maximum amount of $2,000 per person.
To be eligible for the AIG, you must:
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be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person;
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not be a high school student;
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have the required AIG supporting documents;
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be registered with your provincial/territorial apprenticeship authority as an apprentice in a designated Red Seal trade; and
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provide proof that you have successfully completed either the 1st and/or 2nd year or level (or equivalent) in a designated Red Seal trade.
Apprenticeship Completion Grant (ACG)
The Apprenticeship Completion Grant is a one-time taxable cash grant lifetime amount of $2,000 per person for registered apprentices who complete their apprenticeship training and obtain their Red Seal certification.
To be eligible for the ACG, you must:
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be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person;
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not be a high school student;
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have the required ACG supporting documents;
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show that you have completed an apprenticeship program as a registered apprentice in a designated Red Seal trade; and
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provide proof of your journeyperson certification in a designated Red Seal trade.
Apprenticeship Employment Insurance
If you are an apprentice you may be eligible to receive Employment Insurance (E.I.) benefits while attending school.
Your EI benefit application must be submitted online through the Service Canada website. You will receive further details regarding the EI application process during SCS orientation week, including information on how you will receive the required 16 digit reference code. You do not need your Record of Employment (ROE)* to apply for EI benefits online, but it is needed to calculate your benefits.
* Your employer must provide you with a Record of Employment (ROE) within five days once you have finished working.
Student Line of Credit
Most financial institutions offer a Student Line of Credit, so please check with yours to learn their eligibility criteria, interest rates and repayment terms.
Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)
OSAP is a financial aid program that can help you pay for college or university.
Financial assistance may be available to those who qualify.
OSAP offers funding through:
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grants: money you don’t have to pay back
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a student loan: money you need to repay once you’re done school
When you apply for OSAP, you will automatically be considered for both grants and loans. If you don’t want to take a loan, you can decline it after your application is approved.
There are also programs to help you repay your student loan once you’re done school.
The amounts below are OSAP’s weekly funding maximums:
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Single student with no dependants = $400/week
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Student who is married, in a common-law relationship or a sole support parent = $680/week
You may get more aid than the amounts listed above. You’ll know how much you may get when your full-time application is processed.
Federal Grant Funding
You may get more aid through the following Canada Student Grants:
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Students with Permanent Disabilities (maximum $2,000 per academic year)
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Full-Time Students with Dependants (maximum $200 per child per month)
Please click here to learn about OSAP Loan Default Rates and Repayment Plan Assistance Usage Rates (2016).