Search for awards
Start by searching for awards that you can apply for. Some awards will have a nomination or application deadline – but what’s the difference? When awards are open for nominations, you can’t apply for them yourself, but a third party, such as your high school, can nominate you if you are a good fit.
A good example of a nomination-based scholarship is the Schulich Leader Scholarship, awarded to high school students pursuing undergraduate studies in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics). This scholarship is valued at $100-120,000+ ($20-30,000 yearly) each over four years.
The deadline to apply for this scholarship is Wednesday, January 29, 2025.
“The Schulich Leader Scholarship really helped relieve a lot of financial stress, which allowed me to focus on my studies, spend time giving back to the community and extracurriculars. If I didn’t have the scholarship, a lot of that time would be spent working.”
While some scholarships are program-based, others recognize students for community involvement, leadership and resilience. A great example would be York’s Tentanda Via Award, which is named after the University’s motto, “The way must be tried.” This award is valued at valued at $40,000 ($10,000 yearly), and can be renewed for four years if you meet the requirement. If you are a student who has faced significant personal barriers and have overcome them to pursue post-secondary education or are a changemaker who is dedicated to making a difference – you should check out this award.
The deadline to apply for this scholarship is Saturday, February 15, 2025.
Pro Tip: Did you know that there are Entrance Scholarships available to domestic high school applicants who have been admitted to a direct-entry undergraduate program? No application is required, and is renewable during your studies.
Check the application deadlines
Award descriptions and application pages will note their deadlines, and it is important to consider this before applying – not all dates will be the same. When searching for awards on the Scholarships, Awards and Bursaries for Incoming Students webpage you will see several pieces of information such as: the award title, dollar amount and how to send in your application. Keep these differences in mind by writing down the awards you’d like to apply for and their dates – this will help you stay on track.
Begin your application before the start of the term
Once you’ve browsed the available awards and found the ones you’d like to apply for, you can start your application. When you become a York student, you can apply for scholarships, awards and bursaries at the beginning of every term. This can help significantly when paying for tuition.
We can’t wait to have you join us at York University, and we look forward to hearing about all the great accomplishments you’ve had in your life so far.