Directory of Canadian scholarships, prizes, awards and bursaries available in universities and colleges in Canada.
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships in Canada are awarded on various criteria, usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor of the award. Scholarship values can range from a few hundred dollars, to full payment of all tuition and student fees. However, the most commonly awarded scholarships have values of $1000-$5000 per year.
Merit-based scholarships in Canada include both scholarships awarded by the individual college or university and those awarded by outside organizations. Merit-based scholarships are typically awarded for outstanding academic scores (generally an average of at least 80%), although some merit scholarships can be awarded for special talents, leadership potential, or other personal characteristics. Scholarships may also be given because of group affiliation (eg. YMCA). At most post-secondary schools in Canada, admitted students are automatically considered for merit scholarships. Scholarships do not need to be repaid as long as you meet all scholarship requirements.
Student-specific scholarships are special types of scholarships where applicants must initially qualify by race, gender, religion, or family history. Minority scholarships such as those awarded to First Nations students are the most common type.
Post-secondary school awards career-specific scholarships to students planning to pursue a specific field of study. Often the largest awards are given to students pursuing careers in high-need areas such as education or nursing. Nursing students are in high demand, and many schools will give future nurses full scholarships to enter the field, especially if the student intends to work in a high-need or remote community.
Athletic scholarships are a form of merit aid that takes athletic talent into account. In Canada, athletes can only get funding once they enter their second year of school (entrance scholarships are not available, unlike in the United States). Even then, no one student can receive the bulk of the award; it has to be shared among the team members equally.
