Scholarships – Think Outside the Box!
It’s not always easy to see how you’re going to be able to afford a post-secondary education. The most obvious solution to your post-secondary financial stress may be scholarships. While most scholarships are based on grades, or some combination of grades and extracurricular activities, leadership skills, contributions to the community etc, you might want to keep in mind that there are also a number of other criteria for which you may be uniquely qualified.
At Western, we offer two basic kinds of Scholarship – some of which are based purely on marks, others which require applications or nominations.
Scholarships (guaranteed – no application necessary!) – Based on a minimum final Grade 12 average of 88%, these scholarships range in value from $1,000 for one year, to $10,000 ($2,500 each year for four years). In order to be eligible for an admission scholarship, a student must apply directly from secondary school to Western’s main campus for full-time first-year studies. International students are eligible to be considered for the Western Admission Scholarships. Eligibility is based on successful completion of the secondary school diploma and on the student’s final admission average including prerequisite courses, as calculated by Western, for which the student has confirmed acceptance.
Scholarships (requiring application/nomination) – Our National Scholarships are designed to recognize all-round excellence. They are awarded on the basis of outstanding academic performance to candidates who demonstrate ability for creative and innovative thought and a passion for the pursuit of learning. National Scholarships also recognize exceptional achievement in extracurricular activities such as the arts and athletics. A special emphasis is placed on a candidate's commitment to community service through ongoing contributions to school and community life.
In addition, though, there are very specific awards which may be obtained. For example, students entering Western’s main campus who were members of the local regional winning team of the “Reach for the Top” Quiz contest are eligible to receive $1,500.
Visit Western University's scholarship website »
A quick scan of the eINFO “Scholarship” section provides a fascinating glimpse at what’s also available from other Ontario universities. For example:
- Many universities have earmarked awards for students in their local area, based on relationships with local high schools.
- $1,500 is available for qualified applicants who attended one school’s “Fall Open House” the previous year.
- Another makes available $1,000 to “Children or Spouses of a Corporate Employee of Mac’s Convenience”, in addition to a $500 award to the student who is the child or grandchild of one of its graduates.
- One university may award $1,105 to a student involved in, or who contributes to, the African or Caribbean communities, while it also provides $12-15,000 a year with a “preference to students from Rural and Remote areas”. A number of universities will also offer awards for eligible candidates within specific programs or faculties (e.g. Arts, Science, Engineering, Music).
In addition to university-specific awards, you should also check out sites such as ScholarshipsCanada.com for comprehensive listings of available awards. If you take a little time, with a little research you may find unexpected sources of funding that may be available just by virtue of applying for them.
Subscribe to our newsletter