John W. Billes Grant

The John W. Billes Grant provides 100% tuition support to all full-time domestic students registered in the Master of Divinity (MDiv) program and who are in The United Church of Canada Candidacy Pathway.

Terms and Conditions

1. The student must be enrolled in the Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree program at Emmanuel College.
2. The student must be a Canadian citizen, Native Canadian, permanent resident or protected person, and qualifies to pay domestic tuition rates as defined by the University of Toronto.
3. The incoming student must submit a) a letter of intent and a letter from the mentor confirming that the student will be submitting a Candidacy Pathway application to the Office of Vocations within the first year of studies; or b) confirmation from the Office of Vocations that the student is an approved applicant or candidate.
4. A returning student must submit confirmation from the Office of Vocations that the student is an approved applicant or candidate.
5. A grant application is required and due by August 30 of each year.
6. The student must be registered full-time during the academic year (September to December and/or January to April). The standard course load is 2.5 full course equivalent (FCE) credits per fall or winter session.
7. Courses taken in the summer session are included in the grant only if they are Emmanuel College courses and up to 1.0 FCE.
8. The grant will cover 100% of the tuition cost.
9. The grant period limit is up to the first 3 years of study.
10. The grant cannot be deferred, transferred or extended.
11. A recipient of this grant is ineligible for Emmanuel College financial assistance (bursary).
12. If the student receives external support aside from government student loans that covers 100% of the tuition amount, the student will be ineligible for this grant.
13. A student who has been granted fewer than 5.0 FCE on-admission transfer or shared credit courses towards the MDiv degree is eligible for a pro-rated tuition grant. The college registrar will explain how the tuition grant will apply in this circumstance.
14. A student who receives 5.0 FCE on-admission transfer or shared credit courses towards the MDiv degree is viewed as having completed the first credit group.
15. A student who has been granted a minimum of 5.0 FCE and up to a maximum of 7.50 FCE on-admission transfer or shared credit courses is eligible for a pro-rated tuition grant. The college registrar will explain how the tuition grant will apply in this circumstance.
16. A student must be in good academic standing. A student no longer in good standing may continue to benefit from the tuition grant only at the discretion of the Basic Degree Committee and the Basic Degree Financial Assistance Committee.  The college may request the student to pay back a portion of the grant.
17. A MDiv student concurrently registered in another conjoint degree or certificate program cannot apply the tuition grant to courses that are applicable to the other program. If this is the case, the college has the right to ask the student to pay back the grant.
18. Courses dropped after the 100% refund date of each session will be counted towards the FCE limit, and any remaining balance cannot be transferred or extended.
19. If a student’s registration status changes during the fall or winter session from full-time to part-time, the college may request the student to pay back a portion of the grant.
20. If a student’s application or candidacy status is suspended or withdrawn during the course of study, the college reserves the right to request the student to pay back a portion of the grant.
21. Payment of the tuition grant is processed and deposited into a student’s ACORN account after the last day to drop without academic penalty in each session.
22. Payment of regular applicable incidental, ancillary and other fees in a timely manner are the responsibility of the student.
23. The following courses are excluded from the grant: Letter of Permission or Supervised Pastoral Education (SPE) unit that has no fee charge.
24. Extra courses above and beyond the program requirements are excluded. The college reserves the right to request the student to pay back a portion of the grant.