A scholarship is a monetary award based on academic merit or excellence in a specific area of study or discipline (athletics, music, volunteerism, etc.)
A bursary is a non-repayable awards given by universities, colleges, and other sources to students who demonstrate financial need
A grant is usually non-repayable awards based on need, provided by provincial or federal governments or private corporations
Speak with a counsellor in Student Services to gather more information.
There is a way to finance your post-secondary studies. Consider your options: scholarships, bursaries, loans, and part time work may all be necessary.
Set aside time to research awards. Many hours of reading, checking websites, and writing letters or essays will be necessary.
Get organized. Set up a folder or binder to keep track of the awards you find and apply for, a copy of your transcripts, letters of reference, etc. Photocopy the awards you apply for to keep for your records. What system works best for you to manage your materials?
Start early and keep going. You can continue to apply for scholarships throughout your entire academic career. Don’t become too frustrated if you don’t find immediate success- there are thousands of awards available. Be persistent.
Watch your deadlines.
What do you know about you? Create a personal profile- like a resume- that identifies your strengths that may transfer into a scholarship. Consider marks, skills, achievements, cultural background, area of study and parental and community affiliations. Store this information in your folder.
Pay attention to the school announcements and the Student Services bulletin boards. Sign up to receive Student Services Remind messages.
Network. Who else do you know who may lead you to a scholarship? Parents, relatives, employers, businesses, churches, community organizations, newspapers, web-sites, libraries, friends and teachers are some of your greatest resources.
Google the names of the top companies in Alberta and Canada (i.e. google “Canada’s top 500 companies”). Google the names of banks too.
Post-secondary institutions. Check the websites of the post-secondary institutions you are interested in and look specifically for entrance scholarships (these are for students coming directly from high school). Some schools offer renewable scholarships. This could be the difference in deciding which school to attend.
Private businesses. These are the scholarships most often advertised by your school through the announcements, SchoolZone, Remind or the school website. However, if you don’t see an ad from a certain company or business, make sure to ask. When in doubt, check.
Your first stop for scholarship funding is www.alis.alberta.ca/scholarships/ . You can explore a variety of awards available to supplement finding of your post-secondary education in these databases, including:
Alberta Scholarship Programs - Find scholarships administered by Student Aid Alberta. Learn about scholarships for students in high school, apprenticeship training, undergraduate and graduate studies. This section also includes information on the Rutherford Scholarship.
Apprenticeship Scholarships - Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board scholarships for apprentices and occupational trainees.
Post-Secondary Institutions - Many schools offer scholarships and bursaries for students attending their school.
Scholarship Connections - Search for awards administered by various organizations including businesses, private groups, associations, companies and unions to selected students.
www.canlearn.ca – Government of Canada Post-Secondary Financing site
www.epsb.ca/schools/goingtoschool/awards/ - Edmonton Public School Board awards and scholarships for students of Edmonton Public Schools.
www.ecfoundation.org/grants/student-awards - Edmonton Community Foundation Awards and Scholarships. Please read the criteria for each award.
http://www.humanservices.alberta.ca/family-community/15616.html - Advancing Futures Bursary for former youth in care of the Alberta Government.
University of Alberta -https://www.ualberta.ca/registrar/scholarships-awards-financial-support/index.html
NAIT - http://www.nait.ca/33720.htm
Concordia University - http://financialaid.concordia.ab.ca/scholarships/
King’s University - https://www.kingsu.ca/financial-aid
Norquest College - https://www.norquest.ca/prospective-students/funding-your-education/scholarships,-bursaries-awards.aspx
University of Calgary - http://www.ucalgary.ca/registrar/finances/awards
Mount Royal University - http://www.mtroyal.ca/Admission/MoneyMatters/ScholarshipsBursaries/
SAIT - http://www.sait.ca/admissions/tuition-and-financial-aid/student-awards
Bow Valley University College - https://bowvalleycollege.ca/student-resources/financial-services/scholarships-and-bursaries
Grande Prairie Regional College - https://www.gprc.ab.ca/services/financialaid/
Lakeland College - https://www.lakelandcollege.ca/campus-life/financial-aid-and-awards/awards-bursaries-scholarships/
Medicine Hat College - https://www.mhc.ab.ca/Services/FinancialAid/Scholarships-and-Bursaries
Olds College - https://www.oldscollege.ca/admissions/scholarships-awards/index.html
Red Deer College - http://rdc.ab.ca/future-students/costs-financing/applying-awards/awards-scholarships-listing
University of Lethbridge - https://www.uleth.ca/ross/student-finance
Lethbridge College - https://lethbridgecollege.ca/departments/student-awards-and-financial-aid/awards-and-scholarships
This is just a short list of some of the scholarships out there. This is by no means a complete list. Please see the websites for more information on criteria, deadlines and how to apply.
Scholarships Canada - A site dedicated to Canadian scholarships. Criteria varies.
Alberta Scholarships - A large listing of scholarships available to Alberta students. Criteria varies.
StudentAwards.com - A large database of Canadian scholarships. See site for details.
Scholarships.org - Database of international scholarships. See site for eligibility.
Terry Fox Humanitarian Award – A $28,000 prize awarded to Canadian grade twelve students who demonstrate the ideals of Terry Fox. February 1 deadline.
Lions Legacy Scholarship Program - Up to $1,000 scholarship presented to an Alberta student who demonstrates a commitment to humanitarianism.
Edmonton Refugee and Emerging Communities Awards - 10 $2000 scholarships awarded to immigrants or refugees from the Greater Edmonton Area. Application deadline is in May.
Schulich Leaders’ Award - Scholarship for academic excellence for students entering Engineering, Science, Math, or Technology. $80,000 and $100,000 prizes. Student must be nominated by the school.
RBC Scholarships - The Royal Bank of Canada offers a number of different scholarships, from $1,500 to $5,000.
TD Scholarships for Community Leadership - TD Bank offers Canadian scholarships to 20 recipients of up to $70,000.
CIBC Scholarships - Scholarships administered by the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.
Ted Rogers Scholarship Fund - Scholarships administered by the Ted Rogers Scholarship Fund. 150 scholarships given to students who are involved in partner community organizations. See website for more information.
Nelson Civic Leadership Scholarship - Three $10,000 scholarships open to Canadian students in their final year of high school who are making a difference in their community.
ManCap Foundation Education Grant - Six $5,000 grants to Alberta students showing entrepreneurial spirit.
Stacey Levitt Memorial Award - One $2,500 scholarship presented annually.
RE/MAX Quest for Excellence Program - Sixteen $1,000 awards given annually to students from Western Canada. Includes a hot air balloon ride. Mid-March deadline.
The Leonard Foundation Financial Assistance Program – Bursary of $1,000 to $1,500 for Canadian citizens and landed immigrants enrolled in a Canadian Post-Secondary Institution. March 15 deadline.
MindFuel Scholarships - Scholarships between $2,500 and $5,000 offered to students entering an applied science or science education program.
Horatio Alger Canada Scholarship Program - $5,000 and $10,000 scholarships awarded to those showing financial need. October deadline.
Chartered Professional Accountants - Listing of Scholarships both administered and supported by CPA.
Assumption Foundation Scholarships - Scholarships of $500 to $10,000 for students enrolled full-time in a Canadian post-secondary institution.
Hec Gervais Academic and Curling Scholarship - $3,000 scholarship open to students who are members in good standing with any curling district in Alberta.
Loran Scholars Foundation - Scholarships valued at $100,000 over a four-year undergraduate degree given to young Canadians on the basis of character, service and the promise of leadership. See website for criteria.
Alberta Blue Cross Scholarships for Aboriginal Students - Scholarships for students planning on attending an Alberta post-secondary institution. See website for criteria.
Rotary Club Ambassador Scholarships - Rotary club scholarships are given by individual clubs and are open to anyone except Rotary members and their families. Contact your local club for application information and eligibility requirements.
Dalton Camp Award - Essay contest for awards ranging from $2,500 - $10,000. Open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
Canadian Office Products Association - $2,000 scholarships open to students going into programs related to the field of office products.
Servus Credit Union Scholarship Endowments - Scholarships offered through five post-secondary institutes in Alberta.
Al Hamilton Scholarship - Two scholarships valued at $8,000 handed out by the Edmonton Oilers Hockey Association.
Learning Matters Education Charity Bursary - Six $2,500 scholarships awarded annually to a student demonstrating financial need.
Belacourt Brosseau Metis Awards - One hundred awards are given to assist Metis students who are Alberta residents based on financial need and involvement in the Metis community. Deadline is March 31.
Charmaine Letourneau Scholarship - $1,500 award to a student who is deaf or hard of hearing. Priority given to those involved in deaf and hard of hearing organizations.
LOUD Scholarships - Scholarships available for students showing an active involvement in the LGBTQ2S community.
John Hasselfield Endowment Foundation - Students presently enrolled in Alberta public schools can apply for a $400 Pursue Your Passion scholarship to support their interests in education, athletics and the arts. Deadline is in march.