Merit Awards & Scholarships
Scholarship Applications
Below is a list of awards which require an application and their deadline dates. Information on the award criteria can be found on the application, or on the UTSC Awards Database.
Introduction to Merit Awards & Scholarships
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Up to date and accurate information on specific awards, scholarships, prizes or bursaries can be found at one of the following locations:
The official award records are on file in the Financial Aid & Awards Office. |
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Academic awards are made possible because of the generosity of donors and the primary purpose of an award or prize is to recognize the academic achievements of students and graduates. While adhering to U of T's Policy on Student Awards, UTSC offers a variety of opportunities to students registered in full time or part time studies at UTSC. Some awards require an application while others are automatically granted. All candidates applying or being considered for an award must meet the award criteria. Decisions are made by student award committees.
Some awards also come with a monetary value, which we call a scholarship. Scholarships reward academic excellence and are a non-repayable type of financial support.
Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Fund Awards (OSOTF*)
The Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Funds were established by the Government of Ontation to encourage companies and indiciduals to contribute to permanent endowment funds to assist students with financial need. This program has allowed UTSC to establish awards that benefit academically qualifieds students who, for financial reasons, would not otherwise be able to attend UTSC.
To qualify for consideration for awards which are identified as OSOTF (or OTSS) awards, students must qualify for consideration for the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). Eligible candidates must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents and satisfy the Ontario residency requirements as defined by OSAP.
UTSC Policy on Student Awards
- A general condition for holding an entrance or in-course award is that the student must register at the University of Toronto Scarborough in the following academic year with degree status.
- Students who have been awarded a scholarship, which is based on enrolment in a particular program of study, must continue in that program to receive the award.
- U of T Scarborough reserves the right to withdraw an award a scholarship, if, in a particular year, the academic achievement of the candidate is not of high standard.
- In order to give more students an opportunity to be recognized for excellent academic achievement the policy of the University of Toronto Scarborough Awards Committee permits a student to hold only one major award.
- Students are considered for in-course awards after completing the 5th, 10th, and 15th credit.
- The UTSC Awards Committee exercises discretion in allowing a limited number of transfer credits (maximum of 2) to be used for the purpose of determining eligibility for in-course awards. Students must complete at least 3.0 credits at UTSC to be eligible for an in-course award. However, the student would not be eligible to receive the scholarship, if any, for the relevant award.
- Decisions are normally made in the Summer (July) for students who have completed the 5th, 10th, or 15th credit during the previous three sessions. For example, in 2010, eligible candidates are selected from 2009 Summer, 2009 Fall and 2010 Winter sessions.
- We endeavour to send notification of an in-course award and/or scholarship in August.
- For graduation awards, students who graduate at the fall convocation are considered for awards at the following spring convocation in competition with the spring graduands.
- Students enrolled in three-year degrees are not considered for in-course awards.
Groups of Five Credits Policy
For awards purposes, a year of study is defined as the completion of 5 credits. Students do not always accumulate their credits in groups of five per academic year (September to April), or in cumulative totals divisible by five. The Financial Aid & Awards office produces a list of eligible candidates for awards by using a method of calculating the Scholarship Grade Point Average (SGPA) on each group of five credits. This methodology is considered to treat all candidates fairly without regard to whether they have been registered full time or part time. Here is an example of the calculation for a student who has completed 4 credits at the end of their first winter session (2 in Fall and 2 in the Winter) and then earned 1.5 credits in the following summer session:
| Session | #Credits | GPA | Calculation | Result | SGPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | 2 |
3.8 |
2 x 3.8 |
7.60 |
|
| Winter | 2 |
3.7 |
2 x 3.7 |
7.40 |
|
| Summer | 1 |
4.0 |
1 x 4.0 |
4.00 |
|
| Total | 5 |
19.00 |
3.80 |
The Scholarship GPA is calculated by dividing 19.00 by the total number of credits, 5.
Payment of In-Course Scholarships- Students should ensure the address information on ROSI is accurate.
- Students may also receive refunds electronically. In order to do so, banking information must be entered on ROSI (under personal information).
Co-op Students on Placement
- Co-op students who are participating in a co-op work term in the Fall and/or Winter sessions are expected to notify our office in writing (email is fine).
- Payment will be deferred to the session in which they are registered in a full time course load.
Students Who Do Not Register at UTSC
- UTSC scholarships are not transferable. If a student doesn't register at UTSC the following year, the student will not receive the monetary portion of the award. The scholarship cannot be applied towards costs at another institution or at another college or faculty at U of T.
- Payment of a scholarship can be deferred for one year for any student who does not register for the following academic year, but is intending to return to UTSC. A student can notify our office in writing (email is fine) of his/her plans. Please do so within 2 weeks of the November in-course awards ceremony.
Contact Details for Student Awards
Maria Pacheco, Assistant Registrar - Financial Aid & Awards1265 Military Trail, AA142
Toronto, ON M1C 1A4
mpacheco@utsc.utoronto.ca
University of Toronto Scarborough Awards and Scholarships
University of Toronto Scarborough seeks to attract, recognize and reward the academic achievements of students registered in undergraduate degree programs. We have allocated approximately $2.3 million worth of financial support (scholarships and aid programs) for students attending the University of Toronto Scarborough. We consider students for awards in the following categories:
- Admission Awards and Scholarships: Available to new students entering University of Toronto Scarborough directly from secondary school. There are two types of awards:
a) Automatically awarded
b) Application or Nomination based
- In-Course Awards and Scholarships: Available to students continuing their degree studies at the University of Toronto Scarborough. In this category there are two types of awards:
a) Automatically awarded
b) Application or Nomination based
- Graduation Awards: Available to student who have completed their degree and are awarded in the year in which the student is graduating.
UTSC Entrance Awards and Scholarships
U of T Scarborough allocates entrance scholarships to students entering first year directly from secondary school. A limited number of entrance scholarships are available to international students. Successful applicants will be notified of awards received at the time they receive an offer of admission to the University. In considering students for scholarships, the University reserves the right to give preference to students whose marks are the result of a single attempt at each course.
Visit the Admissions & Student Recruitment website for specific information.
Click here to search the UTSC Award Database for awards and scholarships.
TopUTSC In-Course Awards and Scholarships
University of Toronto Scarborough recognizes outstanding students enrolled in undergraduate degree programs by awarding scholarships, prizes and bursaries to eligible students. Students are considered for in-course scholarships and prizes at the end of the session in which they complete their 5th, 10th and 15th full credit. Decisions for automatic in-course awards are made in the summer and notification letters are normally sent out in August.
Automatically awarded:
- University of Toronto Scarborough Honours List
University of Toronto Scarborough publishes an honours list, annually, including the names of all degree students who have achieved a grade point average of 3.70 or better in their most recent year of full-time study or equivalent amount of part-time study. Students are considered for the honours list at the end of the session in which they complete their 5th, 10th, 15th and 20th credit.
- University of Toronto Scholars Program
Outstanding undergraduate degree students will be considered for University of Toronto Scholars Program at the end of the first, second and third year of their programs. At UTSC, there are approximately 20 scholarships at each level. These in-course awards are tenable with other in-course scholarships.
- A.D. Allen Memorial Scholarship
Awarded to the outstanding student in each year at University of Toronto Scarborough, in any field of study. The scholarships are awarded in memory of Dr. A. D. Allen, a former Principal of U of T Scarborough.
- Vincent Bladen In-course Scholarships
Two scholarships for each of first, second and third year are awarded on the basis of exceptional academic achievement. The scholarships are awarded in memory of Professor V. Bladen, a former member of the faculty in Economics.
Recognizing Academic Excellence
UTSC holds an annual celebration, usually in late November, to honour the recipients of in-course scholarships and present them with their award. Click here to download the program from the most recent academic awards ceremony.
UTSC Awards
In addition to the awards listed above our office administers numerous awards, prizes and scholarships in all areas of study. We are currently working on a database to help facilitate your search for a scholarship or award. The database will be easy to use and will give you the opportunity to view the following information for an award:
- criteria
- deadline (if applicable)
- type of award: automatic, nomination or application based
You will be able to search by department and also download an application. Below is a list of the departments at UTSC. Before using the database you need to know which department teaches your program. Most awards require the student to be in a major or specialist of a particular program.
- Biological Sciences
- Computer & Mathematical Sciences
- Humanities
- Management
- Physcial & Enviromental Sciences
- Psychology
- Social Sciences
- English
- Philosophy
Unfortunately, we are revising and updating our files. Check back in the near future.
Other U of T In-Course Scholarships
We have included a small number of awards that are open to UTSC students but are administered through Admissions and Awards at the St. George Campus. Visit their website to read more about all the awards and scholarships available at U of T. Go there now.
TopUTSC Graduation Awards
All graduating students are automatically considered for a variety of Graduation Awards and Prizes. Graduation awards are awarded in June at a special ceremony which usually takes place one or two days prior to the June convocation. Students who graduate in November will be considered for graduation awards in June.Graduating students are automatically considered for the following:
Graduation With High Distinction
University of Toronto Scarborough students who have completed at least ten full-credits while registered at U of T Scarborough will graduate with high distinction if their cumulative grade point average is 3.50 or better .
- Graduation With Distinction
- University of Toronto Scarborough Honours List
University of Toronto Scarborough publishes annually an honours list, including the names of all degree students who have achieved a scholarship grade point average of 3.70 or better in their most recent year of full-time study or equivalent amount of part-time study. Students are considered for the 4th Year Honours List at the end of the session in which they complete their 20th credit.
Other Graduate Awards & Prizes
The Department of Student Life site contains additional graduate awards from UoT.
Additionaly, one my apply for the Governor General's Academic Medal (Silver for undergraduate students).
The John Black Airrd Scholarship is a scholarship awarded annually to the top student graduting from an undergraduate degree program from UoT.
External Scholarships
There are many organizations and associations outside of University of Toronto Scarborough that offer scholarships and awards to students. There is an abundance of information available on the Internet. Some of the websites will ask you to complete a questionnaire thus enabling you to receive a list of scholarships and awards that are suitable to the profile you created. You can even receive emails to alert you to new awards or upcoming deadlines. Please see the next section for links to these websites.
In addition to the links we provide below, you can also visit the U of T Admissions & Awards website to view information on external awards.
Scholarship & Awards Links
Queen Elizabeth II Aiming for the Top Scholarship (Deadline - approximately mid-June)
This scholarship is awarded to students graduating from Ontario high schools and recognizes students who have shown academic excellence at the high school level. The value of the scholarship ranges from $100 to $3,500. To be considered for the full amount of the scholarship, you must complete the entire OSAP application.
If you want to apply for the basic merit amount of $100 only, you do not need to complete the entire 2008-2009 OSAP application but you must fill out the Queen Elizabeth II Aiming for the Top Scholarship Application for Basic Merit Amount.
This scholarship has a deadline to apply (usually mid June) and is renewable for up to four years, provided you keep your grades up. In order to maintain your eligibility for renewal in subsequent academic years, students must meet the following criteria:
- You must continue to be enrolled and attending the University of Toronto.
- You must achieve an average of at least 80%.
Students who receive this award can renew the scholarship for up to 4 years of their program of study.
- If you complete your program in 3 years, the scholarship would be awarded for those 3 years only, provided that you have met all the standards for renewal.
- If you complete your program in more than 4 years, the scholarship would only be available for up to a total of four years.
Full details are available on the OSAP website.
Talbots Charitable Foundation, Inc. (Deadline - beginning of January)
This is a unique scholarship program for women. Scholarships totaling $120,000 were awarded in 2009 to women who were enrolled or were planning to enrol in a full or part time undergraduate course of study at an accredited institution. More information on the eligibility criteria is available on the website. Applications normally become available in mid October/early November here. Read about this foundation at their website.
BMO financial Group/Lime Connect Canada Scholarship (Deadline - January 31 annually)
The full name of this scholarship is BMO Financial Group/Lime Connect Canada Scholarship & Internship Program for Students with Disabilities. This is a scholarship designed for students who are interested in a career in financial services and this scholarship together with an opportunity for an internship is perfect for launching that career. Visit their website to download an application.
Eco-Spirituality Bursary - Ursulines of the Chatham Union (Deadline - March 19 annually)
The Ursulines of the Chatham Union is a religious order based in Canada who promote the advancement of women through education in its broadest sense. This bursary is offered to Canadian women pursuing studies focusing on the relationship between Earth issues and Spirituality at a Canadian Institution. Applications are available at the Registrar's Office or at the website.
Electro-Federation Canada - EFC Foundation (Deadline - July 1 annually)
Are you in BBA or Computer Science? If yes, then you can apply online for this scholarship.
Eligible applicants:
- have completed at least their first year of study;
- must be Canadian citizens; and
- must have maintained a minimum 70% average (applies to EFC Foundation Scholarships only); and
- are registered for full time studies.
Other corporate scholarships are also available. For individual award descriptions, visit the EFC Foundation website.
Basilicata Cultural Society of Canada Scholarships
The Basilicata Cultural Society of Canada offers 3 scholarships of $2,000 each. This scholarship is intended to assist students enrolled in college or university who are residents of Canada and who have family originally from Basilicata (i.e. at least one grandparent or great-grandparent).
Additional criteria can be found on the Society's website. Applications can be downloaded from the website of the Basiclicata Cultural Society of Canada.
Fessenden - Trott Scholarships
This scholarship from the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) is open to students who have completed their first year of an undergraduate degree and are continuing into second year. It is renewable for 3 consecutive years, and changes province it is available to each year.. More information can be obtained from here. Deadline is in mid to late June.
Other Sites of Interest
- Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) is a non-profit association that represents Canadian universities and colleges both in Canada and abroad. Information for both undergraduate and graduate students can be found here.
- CanLearn is Canada’s one-stop resource site for information and planning tools for post-secondary education. You will find a scholarship search tool too!
- StudentAwards.com – A Canadian website that has thousands of scholarships and other types of financial support on a database.
- Scholarships Canada is one of Canada’s most comprehensive scholarship portal with information on student loans and budgeting.
- Graduate Studies Scholarship Database Search Engine is an online searchable database maintained by University of Waterloo.
- Community of Science is a privately held company founded by John Hopkins University to create an international database of university-based scientific research. There are several opportunities in Ontario.
- The Leonard Foundation has a charitable trust and a financial aid program for students enrolled in an undergraduate degree program. This program is open to all students attending a post-secondary institution that is a member of AUCC.
- The Rotary Foundation has a program known as Ambassadorial Scholarships whose purpose is to foster greater international understanding and friendly relations among people of different countries. The program sponsors several types of scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students.
- National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation - offers 4 major programs to First Nations (status and non-status), Inuit and Métis students.