FAQs

Financial aid comes in various forms, including:

• Government loans
• Interest-bearing loans or lines of credit
• Bar admission/articling loan assistance

From the University of Toronto JD program (for eligible recipients):

• Bursaries
• Interest reimbursement on authorized amounts of lines of credit
• Scholarships and prizes
• Post-Graduate Debt Repayment Assistance Program

All Canadian citizens and residents currently enrolled in the JD program at the Henry N.R. Jackman Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto are eligible to apply. 

International students and students attending on a Letter of Permission are not eligible.

Applications typically become available in late May.

For 2025-2026, the application deadline is July 7, 2025 at 11:59 pm.

The Financial Aid Committee includes:

• three students,
• four faculty members,
• Assistant Dean, JD Program
• Assistant Dean, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
• Manager of Financial Aid, JD Program,
• Registrar, J.D. Program,
• Admissions and Financial Aid Coordinator
  
  For more information, contact the Financial Aid Office at financialaid.law@utoronto.ca. 

You need to submit a Jackman Law financial aid application.

Final assessments for completed applications are mailed out by late September, with bursary funds credited to student accounts in early October, before service charges are posted. You are encouraged to set up Direct Deposit in your Acorn account for quicker payments.

Financial aid assessments assume parental contributions based on their ability to assist, even if no actual contributions are made. This rule ensures accessibility for students from diverse backgrounds, particularly those from low-income families. Parental income information is required for all students applying for financial aid.

There could be several reasons why the financial aid assessment differs from the financial aid estimator. The difference might be due to changes in:

• the financial aid policy
• the student applicant pool
• information available (i.e. average parental income for 3 years, summer earnings, government loan assessments)
• additional expenses (i.e. claiming computer, moving or health expenses)

Students with dependents can claim:

• $5,000 per dependent in budget calculations
• Daycare expenses
• An additional 25% moving allowance per dependent
• A $2,000 deduction per dependent from summer income calculations

You may claim additional deductions for medical expenses with supporting documentation. Contact financialaid.law@utoronto.ca if you're unsure about the documentation required.

Receipts and prescription information must be submitted by February 15 to re-evaluate financial assessments. For unexpected expenses over $500 after the deadline, reach out to financialaid.law@utoronto.ca for assistance.

If medical issues prevent you from working in the summer, you may receive an exemption from the summer income deeming.

The following are examples of excluded assets:

• Registered Disability Savings Plans
• Specified Disability Savings Plans
• Bursary for Students with Disabilities (BSWD)
• Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Students with Permanent Disabilities (CSG-PDSE)
• Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities

In addition, students with pre-law school government of Canada loans may offset their assets by the amount of the loan up to a maximum of $30,000.

The Financial Aid Office ensures that student records are kept private and secure, following the principles of Ontario’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA). Only authorized Financial Aid team members can access your information. All information is stored securely and anonymized when presented to the Financial Aid Committee.

Contact the Financial Aid Office at financialaid.law@utoronto.ca or call (416) 978-3716 for guidance. 

Typically government student loans require repayment 6 months after the end of studies. Your Professional Line of Credit may also become due, so you should consult your lender to better understand your financial obligations. Financial aid bursaries will also be recalculated based on your adjusted budget and resources.