Free Scholarships in Canada

1. BeMo Diversity Advocacy Scholarship

The BeMo Diversity Advocacy scholarship aims to get students thinking about how they can advocate for more diversity within their school, community or society at large. The scholarship is intended primarily for pre-med and pre-residency students who want to get the best preparation possible to help them get into their preferred medical school or residency program.

Eligibility Requirements  

This scholarship is for pre-med students and pre-residency graduates only. Students and graduates who are longer than 12 months away from applying to their program are not eligible. All applicants must be within the 12-month period of applying to their preferred school or program to be eligible for this prize.

Prize/Award Amount

This scholarship awards the winning applicant $10,000 worth of BeMo consulting services for pre-med students or pre-residency graduates.

Check out a past winner of our scholarship:

2. Liburdi Engineering Academic Grant

Offered by: McMaster University

This bursary is aimed at engineering students entering their second, third or final year of studies at McMaster University, in the School of Engineering. Students do not need to apply, but must demonstrate excellence in various areas, including academics, extracurriculars for college and GPA. Students must be enrolled in any of the following bachelor degree programs offered by the School of Engineering:

• Technology
• Computer Science
• Engineering
• Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences

Eligibility Requirements

The Liburdi grant is an entrance scholarship so all students who meet general scholarship requirements are eligible. If a student meets the general requirements, they are eligible for any of the entrance scholarships offered by the School of Engineering, not only the Liburdi award. The Liburdi or any engineering entrance scholarship is awarded to students who:

• Attain and maintain a grade average of 90% or higher
• Demonstrate leadership qualities
• Participate in extracurricular activities
• Submit college recommendation letters

Prize/Award Amount

If admitted students meet the eligibility requirements, they will be awarded a total prize of $40,000 or $10,000 per each year of the four-year degree. 

3. Bruce and Pat Murdoch Bursary

Offered by: University of Northern British Columbia

This memorial award is offered only to female varsity basketball players enrolled full-time within any area of study at the University of Northern British Columbia. The scholarship is awarded to any player nominated by the coach of the team, so players cannot nominate themselves.

Eligibility Requirements

Aside from being on women’s varsity basketball team and being enrolled full-time at UNBC, the award stipulates that eligible recipients achieve and maintain a GPA of 2.67 to be eligible for the prize.

Prize/Award Amount

The bursary awards a single prize of $500 to the eligible winner.

4. Genevieve Mallon Hazelton Bursary in Arts & Social Sciences

Offered by: Carleton University

This memorial prize was bequeathed by the late Barclay Taylor Hazelton, in honor of his first wife, to Carleton University, which is one of the many universities in Ontario that offer free scholarships in Canada. This prize is aimed specifically at undergraduate students earning a Bachelor of Arts degree at the university and either entering their first or second year.

Eligibility Requirements

Aside from the requirement that recipients are enrolled in any Bachelor of Arts program at Carleton, they must also meet other requirements to be eligible, which include:

• Being a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person in Canada
• Demonstrate financial need
• Be legal residents of Ontario according to OSAP requirements

There is no specific application for the award, but students must complete the general undergraduate bursary application form online for all bursaries offered by the school.

Prize/Award Amount

The prize amount is unknown.

5. Alexander David McKenzie Scholarship

Offered by: York University Osgoode Hall Law School

This scholarship is aimed at graduates from the York University Osgoode Hall Law School in honor of one of its original graduates, Alexander David McKenzie. The award is given only to graduates of the JD program; the other degree programs offered at Osgoode are not eligible. Graduates must meet certain eligibility requirements but do not need to apply for the scholarship separately.

Eligibility Requirements

Graduates who meet the following requirements will be considered by the scholarship committee for the prize:

• Graduate within the top ten percent of the class (A- or greater)
• Be active within the sphere of Ontario politics

The school does not have any other requirements and any graduate of the school, regardless of residency or citizenship status will be considered.

Prize/Award Amount

Graduates who meet the eligibility requirements will be awarded a single $5000 prize.

6. Harry and Henrietta Kostman Family Entrance Scholarship

Offered by: McGill University

This award is named for McGill University alumnus Henrietta Kostman, who bequeathed the funds to create this scholarship in honor of her late husband Harry. The prize is awarded to any undergraduate student in good academic standing who is enrolled full-time in a Faculty of Arts program at McGill University.

Eligibility Requirements

The only two requirements that undergraduates need to be considered are:

• Being enrolled full-time a Faculty of Arts program
• Achieve and maintain good academic standing
• Demonstrate financial need

Maintaining good academic standing is important as the prize is renewable. Students who maintain a satisfactory academic grade during their studies are eligible to have the award renewed for every successive year. However, students from either Nova Scotia or British Columbia will be given preference.

Prize/Award Amount

The scholarship pays out an award of $5000 each year to a single qualifying student.

7. Mandell Pinder LLP Indigenous Law Scholar Award

Offered by: University of Victoria, Faculty of Law

This award is given to any undergraduate or graduate First Nations member who is either entering or continuing their studies in the Faculty of Law at the University of Victoria. Eligible candidates must demonstrate excellence in several areas (from volunteering to community service and academics to graduate work), but also exemplify qualities such as resilience, determination, and compassion.

Eligibility Requirements

Students do not need to apply for this scholarship, but they will be chosen based on the factors listed above but also things such as:

• Academic excellence
• Community service
• Overcoming obstacles or barriers
• Financial need

Prize/Award Amount

Mandell Pinder LLP, the private consulting firm which sponsors the prize, awards deserving students (the number of scholarships available changes every year) $5000.

8. Stetson Scholarship in Engineering

Offered by: University of Alberta

The Stetson Scholarship in Agriculture and Engineering are aimed at incoming undergraduate students into the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Alberta. The scholarship is awarded to incoming students who demonstrate financial need. Applicants' residency is also another consideration as one of the eligibility requirements states that applicants must have Alberta residency.

Eligibility Requirements

The only requirements for this no application scholarship are that potential winners must:

• Be continuing studies at the Faculty of Engineering
• Entering their third or fourth year
• Must have lived in Alberta for at least five years

9. A L Cochrane Scholarship

This scholarship is open to incoming students at the University of Toronto, St. George campus, enrolled in any type of program (bachelor’s, diploma, certificate, associate, etc.). It awards up to $5000 for each year of their four-year program for students who self-identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, or People of Color).

Eligibility Requirements

This is an entrance scholarship for students admitted to Victoria College at the U of T, St. George Campus who identify as Black, Indigenous or Person of Color. There are few other eligibility requirements other than students must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Applicants must also maintain good academic standing to be eligible, while students from Northern Ontario will be shown preference.

Prize/Award Amount

The award pays out $5000 annually over four years.

10. Dominic Rosart Academic Grant

Offered by: McMaster University

This grant was endowed by John D. and Dominic J. Rosart of Burlington in recognition of incoming high school students who have achieved the highest academic average from their high school graduating class and demonstrate financial need, as defined by the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). Eligible students must be entering either the Faculty of Health Sciences or the School of Earth, Environment and Society.

Eligibility Requirements

There is no separate application needed for this bursary award. Eligible students will be chosen based on their academic standing, their preferred choice of program and whether they demonstrate financial need. But, as the prize is renewable, winning students must maintain an average of 9.5 for their Fall/Winter classes.

Prize/Award Amount

The grant awards prizes of up to $5000 for individual students, which may be renewed for up to four years.

11. George A. Gray O.A.C. '51 Varsity Scholarships

Offered by: University of Guelph

This scholarship is named in honor of George A. Gray, an offensive lineman who played at the University of Guelph and is aimed at varsity athletes who are also enrolled full-time at the university. While this scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need, applicants must demonstrate other qualities to be eligible for this scholarship.

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible scholars must submit a Financial Need Assessment Form with the university and indicate they want to be considered for the scholarship. Along with the form, applicants must submit letters and documentation outlining their leadership and volunteer activities. While any student athlete can apply, preference will be given to students who play football. Students must also have an academic average of 70% or higher.

Prize/Award Amount

The scholarship awards two prizes of $4500 each to two students every year. Past winners of the scholarship remain eligible to apply and receive the award in subsequent years.

12. William & Nona Heaslip Scholarship

Offered by: University of Guelph

This scholarship is aimed at incoming high school students who have achieved a final academic average of 70% or higher, which they must maintain throughout the duration of their studies, if they are awarded the scholarship. Students do not have to apply directly to the scholarship program, as it is an internal scholarship, but they must submit a Financial Need Assessment Form to be considered.

Eligibility Requirements

Aside from the two stated requirements, eligible applicants for this program must also:

• Be Canadian citizens or permanent residents
• Have completed between 4 and 6 credits of any program
• Have a 70% average or higher
• Demonstrate financial need

Prize/Award Amount

The scholarship awards two winning students a renewable prize of $15,000 each.

13. Ellen and Petrus Berg Family Bar None Award

Offered by: University of Alberta

The Bar None Endowment Fund is a scholarship fund started by graduates of the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences, to help future students enrolled in these programs pay for university. The Ellen and Petrus Berg Family awards students enrolled in any ALES program including the following programs:

• Bachelor of Science in Agriculture
• Bachelor of Science in Agricultural/Food Business Management
• Bachelor of Science in Animal Health
• Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Food Sciences

Eligibility Requirements

Students must be enrolled full-time in any of the above-mentioned degree programs, but also meet a few other eligibility requirements, such as:

• Achieving a 3.0 GPA for a total of 24 credits for one semester
• Have resided in Alberta for the last five years
• Participate or be involved in some volunteer or community service organization
• Demonstrate financial need

Prize/Award Amount

The award gives out prizes in the amount of $4,750 every year to eligible students. Students who have already won a Bar None scholarship must wait until the next year to apply again for the scholarship.

14. John H. Clark Award

Offered by: Nipissing University

This particular award is offered by Nipissing University, which is one of the universities in Ontario that is located in Northern Ontario, such as the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. The award is given to students enrolled in the undergraduate business administration program and helps pay for their education if they demonstrate financial need but other qualities as well.

Eligibility Requirements

The only eligibility requirements for this award are that students must be:

• Enrolled full-time in the Bachelor of Business Administration program
• Demonstrate financial need
• Distinguished academic record

Applicants must either also be entering or continuing their studies in the Business Administration program.

Prize/Award Amount

This scholarship awards a single $4,675 prize to a winning student.

15. Aron Avraham Tanny Scholarship in Cinema Studies

Offered by: University of Toronto

This scholarship is awarded to returning students (3^rd or 4^th year) enrolled in the Cinema Studies program at U of T and is based on financial need and academic excellence within the Cinema Studies program. Students do not have to apply for this scholarship, but must meet certain eligibility requirements to be awarded the single prize.

Eligibility Requirements

Aside from being enrolled full-time in the Cinema Studies program at U of T, eligible applicants must:

• Be Canadian citizens or permanent residents
• Reside in Ontario
• Demonstrate financial need

If students in Ontario are currently receiving financial aid via the Ontario Student Assistance Program, this fulfills all three of the requirements, as applying for OSAP is a regular part of how to get into university in Ontario.

Prize/Award Amount

The Aron Avraham Tanny Scholarship in Cinema Studies awards winning students a single prize of between $3,500 - $4,500 depending on the availability of funds.

16. Equine Foundation of Canada/George F. Wade Memorial Scholarship

Offered by: University of Prince Edward Island

This prize is automatically given to Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students enrolled full-time at the University of Prince Edward Island who are specializing in equine studies. There is no application for this scholarship and students who demonstrate financial need as well as have distinguished themselves academically will be considered.

Eligibility Requirements

The $3500 scholarship is awarded primarily on the basis of academic merit and financial need. Winners will be determined by both the Equine Foundation of Canada and the University of Prince Edward Island scholarship committee. Students do not have to submit any additional information or supporting documentation to apply for the program.

Prize/Award Amount

The prize amount is a single scholarship totaling $3500.

FAQs

To your success,

Your friends at BeMo

BeMo Academic Consulting

Want more free tips? Subscribe to our channels for more free and useful content!

TikTok

YouTube

Instagram

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

LinkedIn

Twitter