Financial Literacy Programming

The Financial Aid & Awards Office is here to help educate you on personal finance! We offer a variety of financial literacy sessions throughout the academic year. We can also meet one-on-one with students during our walk-in appointments. Do you have a topic in mind you'd like to learn about? Send us an e-mail!

Putting Yourself on Paper
March 12, 2019, 4PM-5PM, SOBEY 260

Writing is an essential and important skill for students in academics, but it is equally important in everyday life. The scholarship application essay is a great way to merge these two writing worlds, while putting yourself to the new test of convincing scholarship providers to invest in you. Showing how your experiences, life story, skills, and academic history make you a qualified applicant for their award can be daunting. The SMU Writing Centre helps students put themselves on paper.

You’re in a new city, a new country, and you’re about to start a new phase in your life at Fontecha Institute(Hialeah)! Financial Aid & Awards wants to help make all your new experiences as smooth and easy as possible by assisting you with any questions or concerns you may have about funding your education away from home. We aim to help you with questions you have regarding what’s available to help you pay your tuition and fees, payment options, employment opportunities, and how to navigate various American systems like banking and taxes.

Student debt is a common problem for university graduates, and with debt comes a decrease in mental wellness. Counselling Services and Financial Aid & Awards are collaborating to bring students a session on ways to manage your debt and finances alongside with your mental stability and general wellness.

The idea of searching for scholarships may seem boring, tedious, overwhelming, tiring, or just plain maddening! If you feel any of these emotions when thinking about scholarships and where to find them, then join the ranks of many other students who are grappling with the looming cost of their higher education. Scholarships America offers some sound advice to students on how to succeed by using their website as a resource. 

Planning Your Career

Career Services and Financial Aid & Awards are combining forces to bring students a session geared towards planning for student’s career goals and financing your way towards achieving such goals. Both teams will be answering questions regarding how to reach your goals financially and educationally, how to prepare yourself for the work force, and any other relatable questions you may have.

Globe Personal Finance

Financial Aid & Awards and the School of Business will be hosting Globe and Mail columnist, Rob Carrick, and Globe and Mail Personal Finance editor, Roma Luciw, to talk about debt, the job market, budgeting, investing and saving! Rob and Roma will be answering questions during the session. This is a good chance for students to hear unbiased and honest financial advice without a sales pitch. General public is welcome.

The Financial Need-Based Bursary application is now available! This session is geared to help you understand the financial needs assessment and to help you write your personal statement that fulfills the requirements of the application. All students applying for the bursary are encourage to attend this session.

One of the most important things that you can do as an investor is to get an early start. Investing is defined as making an investment in order to earn a profit and earning that profit will be much easier to do if you get an early start. Investing at a young age isn’t always easy, but the benefits are numerous and can’t be overlooked. Bankers will explain and emphasize the importance of investing and discuss the programs that they offer.

Christmas time can certainly be hard on the bank account, however it doesn’t have to be. Utilize this session by making it your practice guide for saving money this holiday season! Join us to learn valuable tips for buying low budget gifts with a high quality, learn about the free & fun events happening around you on campus and in Halifax, and most importantly enjoy the holiday atmosphere.

Does it sometimes feel that your money does not stretch far enough? Your student loan comes in and then goes immediately out. Join Financial Aid & Awards and special guest; Emo Ikede, to talk about ways that you can stay on top of your cash flow, minimize your student debt, and prepare for the day after you receive your degree.
Emo is an MBA graduate from School of Business and aslo the founder of EjiTech Group. Emo has extensive backgrounds in personal finances and money saving techniques for university students. 

Using the Residence Life Skills Lab, students will receive the opportunity to learn about cooking and eating healthy in this interactive session. Eating healthy can happen even on a student budget and this session will help you learn some tips and tricks on eating healthy and how to shop in order to make that happen.