Overview of Scholarships
St. Thomas University's scholarship programme is one of the reasons it is able to maintain a community of exceptional scholars and dynamic leaders. More than half of first-year students hold an entrance scholarship, and one in nine holds a renewable scholarship ranging in value from $8,000 to $50,000. Here are four ways our scholarships work for you:
Entrance Scholarship Guarantee - Academic Excellence
Our entrance scholarship guarantee rewards first-year students who demonstrate academic excellence. If you are a Canadian applicant with a minimum admission average of 80 per cent, you automatically qualify for a scholarship. The higher your average, the greater the scholarship's value.
- Average 80-89% - $1,000
- Average 90+% - $2,000
Our guaranteed entrance scholarships are renewable for $1,000 in second, third, and fourth year if the student maintains a grade point average of 3.5 (high B+).
Major Awards - Academic Excellence
Our major scholarships are our largest awards, honouring the best academic minds among incoming students. Applicants with a minimum admission average of 90 per cent (or the equivalent for international applicants) should complete and submit a scholarship application form in order to be considered for major awards. Renewable scholarship recipients are selected primarily on the basis of academics:
- admission average
- Grade 12 courses and level of difficulty
- rank in graduating class
- Grade 11 record
Other selection criteria include letters of academic reference, scores on standardized tests (optional) and, for some awards, leadership qualities, extracurricular activities, and financial need.
Student Leaders Scholarships - Leadership
A university needs leaders to thrive. That's why our Student Leader Scholarships are designed to attract high-impact student leaders who are a perfect fit for our vibrant community. These scholarships are valued at $2,000 annually and are renewable for three years to a total of $8,000. The Student Leader Scholarships are awarded in addition to the guaranteed entrance scholarship. The selection criteria includes a combination of:
- leadership through extracurricular activities
- volunteerism
- demonstrated commitment to the benefit of others
- minimum admission average of 80 per cent
Millennium Entrance Bursaries - Financial Need
St. Thomas University offers Millennium Bursaries to students in financial need entering university for the first time. Funded by donations from faculty, staff, and friends of St. Thomas University, bursaries are valued between $500 and $2000. Students who wish to be considered for a Millennium Entrance Bursary must submit a letter to the Admissions Office which outlines why they feel they qualify along with a Millennium Bursary application form.
Upper-Year Scholarships
A year at St. Thomas University can bring out qualities in students that they didn't even know they had, making them better academics, better citizens and better leaders. We celebrate these students with generous Upper-Year Scholarships.
Before visiting the specifics of each scholarship category, please read the important information on selection and procedures for applying noted below.
Selection Criteria
Our entrance award programme is highly competitive and open to students with high academic standing. Canadian and international candidates admitted on the basis of their high school records to the first year of full-time study on the St. Thomas campus are eligible to apply for entrance awards. Normally, applicants with previous university experience are ineligible for entrance scholarships.
In selecting entrance scholarship recipients, academic record is the primary criteria. The selection committee considers admission average, Grade 12 programme (courses and level of difficulty) and rank in graduating class as well as programme and performance in Grade 11. Other factors considered include letters of academic reference and scores on standardized tests including provincial achievement examinations, SATs, etc. In addition to the academic selection criteria, leadership qualities, extracurricular activities and financial need are considered in awarding some scholarships.
Application Procedure
Scholarship candidates should submit a completed scholarship application form with supplementary documents. Scholarship application forms are available from the Admissions Office, in high school guidance centres or (for high school applicants) at Entrance Scholarship Application.
A letter of reference which comments on scholastic, co-curricular and extracurricular accomplishments is required. On the scholarship application form candidates must provide information about rank in graduating class, academic honours, other awards and accomplishments, extracurricular and community activities, and any leadership positions held. To be considered for awards with other special selection criteria, candidates should also address qualifications for these awards on the scholarship application form. For example, financial need is a criterion for some major awards. Candidates for these awards should provide details on their financial status as indicated on the scholarship application form.
The application deadline for renewable scholarships is March 1.