Better Jobs Ontario (formerly known as Second Career)

The Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU) will grant each student up to a maximum of $28,000 to cover tuition, books, transportation and living expenses for up to two years.

• Any funding over the maximum limit of $28,000 maximum
• Beyond 2 years of education
• Beyond 1 year of academic upgrading
• Missed or failed courses: students will have to pay an additional fee in future semesters to recover courses
• Funding beyond the end of the academic year
• School supplies such as note books, pencils, paper, etc.

Additional support may be available to the students for: accessible learning accommodation, dependent care, living away from home and academic upgrading. 

Contact your Employment Ontario (EO) Case Manager or MTCU Representative to find out more. While MTCU will consider student circumstances on an individual basis, students should be prepared for the aforementioned restrictions.

Contact either your EO / Case Manager or your MTCU Representative.

Contact the Better Jobs Ontario Program Officer at the Community Partnerships Office and alert her/him regarding the situation.

Book costs and tuition estimates are based on the previous year’s allowances and are therefore subject to change as stated on your SC Letter of Acceptance/SC Cost Estimate). Students may contact the Community Partnerships Office to confirm the current costs of books for their program. Students should also contact their EO / Case Manager or MTCU Representative if they require an amendment to their Second Career contract.

It is important that students carefully monitor how they spend the money they receive through Better Jobs Ontario. MTCU may require students to submit receipts to demonstrate that they have followed the funding guidelines outlined in their contract.

If you have spent more money on books or equipment than was originally estimated on your SC Letter of Acceptance/SC Cost Estimate, you should contact the College’s Better Jobs Ontario Program Officer (Community Partnerships Office) to have the document amended.

Please note however that materials, such as supplementary books or computer software (not required by your Professor or Course Outline), fabric, paper, etc. related to school projects are not covered by Better Jobs Ontario Funding and the Community Partnerships Office will not be able to issue a new letter of acceptance to cover these costs.

Second career students are allowed to work no more than 19 hours per week. Always consult with your EO Case Manager or MTCU Representative before you begin work and report all supplemental income, not identified on your original SC contract.

• If you are not officially a Better Jobs Ontario student, you are eligible to apply for OSAP. Applications can be filled online at: OSAP . Applications should be submitted no later than two months before the start of the semester. Other options to consider might be researching and applying for Scholarships/Awards/Bursaries or augmenting your income with part-time employment. Check with the Financial Aid Office for additional information.

The MTCU does not typically grant program switches. However, the Ministry reviews each student’s application on an individual basis and may take into consideration extenuating circumstances or the nature of the program switch and its impact on your length of study. Students should first speak with their EO Case Manager or MTCU Representative and the College’s Better Jobs Ontario Program Officer (Community Partnerships Office) before making any changes to their program pathway.

Students should always notify their EO Case Manager or MTCU Representative before withdrawing. Leaving school without notifying the MTCU could result in an overpayment of Better Jobs Ontario funding, which you may be required to pay back. Before making any changes to your registration status always speak to your EO Case Manager or MTCU representative for further guidance.

If you have failed or dropped courses, speak to your Program Coordinator or program department to determine when you can retake this course(s) and to revise your class schedule. Also speak to the College’s Better Jobs Ontario Program Officer to assist with any necessary revisions to your SC documentation. Better Jobs Ontario funding may not be extended for course/semester re-takes. Students must advise their EO Case Manager or MTCU Representative of changes to their course load.

Contact Accessible Learning Services to get assessed. As a student registered with Accessible Learning Services, you may be eligible for a reduced course load (accommodations are determined by the nature of your disability and supporting documentation from your healthcare team), which could result in changes to the length of your program of study. While Better Jobs Ontario funding is not generally extended beyond two years of study, the MTCU reviews each student’s application on an individual basis and may extend funding for students with disabilities. You will need to contact the College’s Better Jobs Ontario Program Officer (Community Partnerships Office) to obtain a revised SC Letter of Acceptance/SC Cost Estimate that documents your new study schedule. Make sure to follow up with your EO Case Manager or MTCU Representative to apprise them of any program pathway/schedule changes.

The MTCU does not provide SC funding during breaks in a student’s program of study. Students should always contact their EO Case Manager or MTCU Representative to discuss the nature and length of the break and whether they plan to return to school at a later date. Students contemplating a break from school should also speak to their Academic Department and/or Program Coordinator to discuss how breaks in training might impact their program length and their eligibility for and date of return. This information will be very important and should be submitted to your EO Case Manager or MTCU Representative. Students returning from a break in their programming will likely be required to submit revised documentation (SC Letter of Acceptance/SC Cost Estimate from the College) to the MTCU in order to reinstate SC funding.

Maintain a good relationship with your EO Case Manager and/or MTCU Representative and keep their contact information. If you are having trouble communicating with them, speak with the Manager of the EO Center where you submitted or SC funding application or contact the MTCU branch where your application was processed. Keep receipts for all books and expenses related to your program.

Take advantage of support services provided at GBC, such as the Community Partnerships Office, Counselling, Disabilities Services, Career Services, Financial Aid, Student Association, etc. The more you reach out, the better you will be able to advocate on your own behalf.

FAQ on second career website.