Applying for Scholarships and Bursaries at York University

Did you know that you can apply for awards at York before getting an offer of admission? Here's how to get started.

When applying to schools for your undergraduate education, there are a lot of things to consider. One of the biggest things to think about is the financial aspect of studying at a university and exploring the resources available to help make your load a bit lighter.

After you've applied to York University, you can start applying for awards, too. Don't delay it, find out how to get a head start.

1. Browse available 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, which is awarded to high school students who are pursuing undergraduate studies in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) fields. This scholarship has two awards available, valued at $100,000+ ($20-30,000 yearly) each over four years. The deadline to apply for this scholarship is Tuesday, January 30, 2024.

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." There are 45 awards available valued at $40,000 ($10,000 yearly), including awards for international students. This award can be renewed for four years if the student meets the requirements such as maintaining a good academic standing and completing a minimum of 24 credits per term.

If you're 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 Thursday, February 15, 2024.

2. 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.

If you are applying for an award that asks you to send in supplementary documentation, such as an essay or reference letters, you can submit these in PDF format by email to bursary@yorku.ca. When sending via email, make sure to properly identify yourself so your submission does not get missed — including your name and York reference number will help staff identify you.

3. Before the start of a new term, you can begin your application

Once you've browsed the available awards and found the ones you'd like to apply for, you can start your application. Once 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. Learn more about how scholarships have helped and inspired other York students by reading about Schulich Leader Scholarship recipient Luca Filippelli.