| Canadian Scholarships and Bursaries
Scholarships are a great way to pay for your education and to mark your scholastic achievements. You may also qualify for bursaries that are awarded primarily on the basis of financial need and sometimes require a reasonable level of academic merit.
The Government of Canada provides scholarships and bursaries through the Canada Millennium Scholarships Program (including the Millennium Bursary, Excellence Awards and Access Bursary). There are also many other sources of scholarships and bursaries available to Canadian university and college students.
Canada Millennium Scholarships
Millennium Scholarships are distributed by the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation, which was created by the Government of Canada in 1998. The purpose of the awards is to lower financial and social barriers to postsecondary education and to encourage student achievement.
The Millennium Scholarship program is funded by the federal government through a $2.5 billion endowment to be distributed until 2009. As a result, the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation provides approximately $325 million in need-based bursaries and merit scholarships each year.
Millennium Bursary Program
The largest component of the Millennium Scholarships program is the Millennium Bursary. An amount of about $285 million is allocated annually among the provinces and territories on a per capita basis. The bursary has an average value of $3,000 and is awarded on the basis of financial need to students who have completed 60% of a year of postsecondary studies.
Students who apply for financial assistance from their province or territory are automatically considered for the Millennium Bursary. To be eligible, you must meet the following criteria:
- be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada;
- be enrolled as a full-time student in an eligible program at a Canadian postsecondary institution that is recognized by the Canada Student Loans Program;
- be eligible for student financial assistance in your province or territory of residence; and
- have successfully completed 60% of a year of postsecondary studies at the time the request for financial assistance is made.
Millennium Excellence Award Program
The Millennium Excellence Awards Program includes entrance awards and in-course awards distributed on the basis of merit without regard to financial need.
Entrance Awards
More than 1,000 of Millennium Excellence Awards are given each year to students beginning postsecondary education. The program offers three type of entrance awards: one-time "local awards" (the most common type) worth $4,000; renewable "provincial and territorial awards" with a total value of $16,000 over four years; and renewable "national awards" with a total value of $20,000 over four years.
The entrance awards are based on academic achievement, service to the community, capacity for leadership and interest in innovation. Application forms can be obtained at the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation website or at high schools, postsecondary institutions, volunteer centres, First Nations Friendship Centres and band councils. To be eligible, you must meet the following criteria:
- be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada, or designated protected person;
- be entering the first year of a full-time program of at least eight months duration (two years duration for national awards and provincial and territorial awards) leading to a first undergraduate degree, certificate or diploma; and
- be enrolling at a Canadian postsecondary institution recognized your provincial or territorial student loan program.
In-Course Awards
In addition to entrance awards, the Millennium Excellence Award Program includes in-course awards for students currently enrolled in postsecondary institutions. The awards are based on merit and financial need is not a factor in the selection process. In-course awards are distributed to students who have not been previously received a substantial merit scholarship.
The program offers three types of in-course awards: up to 900 one-time awards worth $4,000; up to 200 awards of $4,000 that can be renewed for one additional year; and up to 100 awards of $5,000 that can be renewed for one additional year.
The entrance awards are based on academic achievement, service to the community, capacity for leadership and interest in innovation. Applications are submitted to postsecondary institutions, who select the candidates to be nominated for review by an independent assessment committee. To be eligible, you must meet the following criteria:
- be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada, or designated protected person;
- be enrolled in an recognized full-time program of at least two years duration leading to a first undergraduate degree, certificate or diploma at an eligible and approved Canadian postsecondary institution;
- either: have completed the first year but not second year of a current program leading to a diploma or certificate; or have completed the second year but not third year of a current program leading to an associate bachelor or bachelor degree; or if a Québec CÉGEP student, have completed the first year but not second year of a current program leading to a DEC; or if a Québec university student with a DEC, have completed the first year but not second year of a current program leading to an associate bachelor or bachelor degree;
- have a cumulative postsecondary school GPA of at least B+ or equivalent; and
- have not previously received a substantial merit scholarship to support postsecondary education.
Millennium Access Bursaries
Millennium Access Bursaries were established in 2005 to assist students from low-income families and other under-represented groups. Approximately $50 million will be distributed by the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation annually until the end of the 2008-2009 academic year.
Details of the bursary and eligibility criteria differ by province or territory. In most cases, you will be automatically considered for the Millennium Access Bursary when applying for support from your provincial or territorial student financial assistance office.
Other Scholarships and Bursaries
The Government of Canada is the largest provider of financial assistance to Canadian students, but there are also thousands of other scholarships and bursaries available to support postsecondary education. Here are some of the best places to find awards for which you may qualify:
Contact Information
Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation
Alberta - Student Funding Contact Centre
British Columbia - Student Services Branch
Manitoba - Student Aid Branch
New Brunswick - Student Financial Services
Newfoundland and Labrador - Student Aid Division
Northwest Territories - Student Financial Assistance
Nova Scotia - Student Assistance Office
Nunavut - Student Assistance Office
Ontario - Student Support Branch
Prince Edward Island - Student Financial Services
Québec - Aide financière aux études
Saskatchewan - Student Financial Assistance Branch
Yukon - Student Financial Services |