Dan Chan, with a B-plus average and only a few volunteering credentials, wasn’t optimistic when he applied for a $20,000 scholarship at Ryerson University. But he took the time to fill out a submission, highlighting his achievements, and received one of the awards for the 2010 year.

Nobody was more surprised than the recent MBA graduate, now working as a land development coordinator at Aykler Real Estate in Toronto. “I didn’t think my grades were that great or that my community involvement was that outstanding,” says the Toronto native, who won a Ted Rogers School of Management Graduate Entrance Award.

If you’re an undergraduate at a Canadian university, you can expect to pay more than $65,000 for tuition, housing and food over the course of a four-year degree. The cost of higher education is such a worry for parents and students that Premier Dalton McGuinty is betting his re-election on a 30 per cent cut in university and college tuition for students from middle-class families.

But, no matter who wins the Ontario election on Oct. 6, for cash-strapped students like Chan there might be some relief now, through bursaries, grants and scholarships. The trick is to root them out and apply: if you don’t enter, you can’t win.

Chris Wilkins, founder of ScholarshipsCanada.com, says it’s a myth that you need financial help, tons of community involvement and high grades to be successful. He says only 30 per cent of bursaries are awarded on the basis of financial need, only 12 per cent require community service and only 20 per cent require high marks. The deadlines run all year as well.

There are scholarships for students from all different backgrounds. Some call on Aboriginal youth, alumni from Scouts Canada, single moms, married students and students with English as their second language. And the donors vary greatly, as well. There are bursaries, scholarships and grants offered by TD Bank Group, Bell Canada, real estate organizations, jewellery stores, Ipsos Reid and even one from Boston Pizza.

The University of Toronto, for example, awards more than 13,700 need-based bursaries a year, with a total value of $54 million. At McGill University in Montreal, students can apply to receive some of the $64 million in university and government grants handed out annually. There are independent websites like Studentawards.com and ScholarshipsCanada.com that advertise scholarships, bursaries and contests. Studentawards offers information on $70 million in awards each year, ScholarshipsCanada on $93 million.

Wilkins says a lot of that money stays on the sidelines. “The ones that are lower in value — $500 or a $1,000 — tend to be the ones that are under-applied.”

Carleton University undergraduate Tierra Hohn has spent the last few months applying for more than 100 bursaries and her perseverance is paying off.

Instead of watching TV, her spare time is spent looking for bursaries or scholarships. “If you have an hour to spare then go online and look for a scholarship. Take the time to write an essay or whatever it calls for, it doesn’t take that long,” Hohn says.

The public affairs and policy management student has been rewarded with $2,000 and she anticipates more money to come. It’s a huge relief for Hohn, as her first-year tuition is $6,982 and the cost of residence starts at $8,411 with a meal plan, for a total of $15,393.

David Sidebottom, manager of Financial Aid Services at the University of Toronto, says it’s not too late to apply — a lot of bursaries are awarded later in the fall or in the winter term. He says this gives students enough time to get settled and figure out their costs. It also helps them provide a more realistic picture of their expenses when applying for grant or bursary money.

Sidebottom works hard to make sure all the funds are distributed every year. At the U of T, the process has been streamlined, so you can apply to all university-offered bursaries and grants through one application.

Chan believes there are a lot of people who don’t look at scholarships because they think their marks aren’t good enough. Chan’s scholarship covered his $17,000 tuition costs with $3,000 left over. It removed an enormous financial burden and meant he didn’t need to take on a part-time job.

Both Chan and Hohn say the level of work that goes into applying varies. Some require you to answer a few questions, while others are more involved and creative.

For example,one application is encouraging students to submit short videos of themselves destroying the “old-fashioned” ways of studying. Another is waiting to hear your homework excuse for a hefty award of $5,000.

At Carleton, Hohn was also awarded a $1,000 entrance scholarship for having an 80 per cent average. (The higher the marks, the higher the reward, with students receiving $4,000 if they have a 95 per cent average.) You’re automatically considered for these scholarships when you enrol and they’re renewable if your marks remain high. Most universities in Canada offer similar entrance scholarships.

Referring to his own scholarship, Chan knows he got it with a little bit of effort and a lot of luck. “With the risk of sounding self-deprecating, I don’t think I would have got it if more people applied.”

Rubina Ahmed-Haq is a Toronto writer.

Rubina Ahmed-Haq is a Toronto writer.

Tips on landing a bursary and scholarships

• Always apply if you qualify, even if your grades are lower than what’s required.

• Keep searching — scholarships and bursaries are awarded year round.

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• Seek advice from older students, as they may know more places offering grants.

• Get involved with your community; it will help when applying.