Undergraduate Aid and Awards

Saint Mary's University is committed to ensuring your success by providing more than 275 scholarships, bursaries, and awards totalling $15.7 million each year to students. Check this site regularly for 'Awards Currently Available.' All awards are listed below with their criteria, application instructions, and deadlines.

 

Award applications available for the 2024-2025 academic year:
 
Resources for writing personal statements for Saint Mary's University scholarship applications:
 
Awards available throughout the academic year:

Accounting Achievement Awards

Faculty members of the Department of Accounting have initiated and funded these student achievement awards. They are designed to recognize the performance of our Accounting Majors who have demonstrated an outstanding personal commitment to support, and who have “breathed life” into, elements of the mission of the Sobey School of Business.

The mission indicates that: 

The Sobey School of Business, through active learning and the creation and mobilization of scholarship, prepares citizens of the world to lead sustainable, entrepreneurial businesses and communities. 

  • Accounting Achievement Awards – are available to students who can demonstrate how they have supported one or more elements of the above mission statement. Normally, three accounting achievement awards are given each year.
  • In addition, the Nicola Young Financial Accounting Award – will be given to a student who has demonstrated a particular interest and strength in financial accounting and reporting. Evidence of an understanding of the importance of financial accounting standards to both private and public sectors would strengthen any application.

Award Requirements:

To be eligible, students would normally have:

  • Declared Accounting as their Major and have completed at least 90 credit hours toward their BComm degree
  • Earned a minimum GPA of 3.3 in all accounting courses completed at the time of application
  • Completed ACCT 3323, 3335, 3350 and 3351

Award winners will receive the scholarship, a certificate of accomplishment, an award notation on their university transcript, and public recognition at an official ceremony.

Application:

The application for the 2024-2025 Accounting Achievement Awards is now closed.

Application Deadline:

For questions about this application you can contact the Financial Aid & Awards office at financial.aid@smu.ca.

David G. Smith Memorial Award

Awarded to a returning undergraduate or graduate student studying on a full-time or part-time basis whose experiences and endeavors help to reduce the stigma sometimes associated with mental illness, either through first-hand experience which provides an example of the strength and resilience of people living with mental illness, or by supporting and celebrating others who are living with a mental illness.

Students may nominate themselves or be nominated by someone else for this award. When nominated by someone else, the nomination form will require the nominator to confirm the nominee’s willingness to be considered for the award. All nominees will be asked to submit a statement of reflection after the nomination is received.

Application: 

The application for 2023-2024 David G. Smith Memorial Award is now closed. The application for the 2024-2025 academic year will be available in the winter 2025 term. 

For questions about this application, please contact the Counselling Centre at counselling@smu.ca.

David M F Chapman Bursary in Astrophysics

David M F Chapman, MSc, FRASC, is a retired Defence Scientist, has been an amateur astronomer for 57 years and is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. He is an experienced and dedicated night-sky observer who has mentored many amateur astronomers. His initiatives include the creation of a formal Partnering Agreement established between Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site and the RASC Halifax Centre, promoting the night sky lore of the Mi’kmaq First Nation and establishing (with others) the first Dark-Sky Preserve in Nova Scotia. He was editor of the annual RASC Observer’s Handbook for the 2012-2016 editions.

The David M F Chapman Bursary for Astrophysics will be awarded to a full-time undergraduate student who has successfully completed two years of study. First preference is for a student majoring in astrophysics and second preference is for a student majoring in physics. To be eligible, students must demonstrate financial need and meet the minimum academic requirements for a bursary as defined by the University. While this bursary is not renewable, students may be able to apply more than once, provided that the student maintains all eligibility criteria. Award selection will be determined by Enrolment Services on the recommendation of the Chair of the Department of Astronomy and Physics.

Application:

Apply through the Saint Mary’s University Undergraduate Scholarship Program (see below).

Award Decisions: Applications are assessed over the summer months and throughout the upcoming academic year. Students are contacted directly when selected for an award.

Financial Need-Based Bursary

Saint Mary's University provides a Financial Need-Based Bursary program to assist students in need. Bursaries are typically smaller amounts ($500-$750) and are intended to supplement other funding sources. Students experiencing financial difficulty should apply for the financial need-based bursary program. 

Bursary Requirements:

  • Enrolled in an undergraduate degree, diploma or certificate program at Saint Mary’s University.
  • Complete the Financial Need-Based Bursary application and demonstrate financial need.
  • Grade point average (GPA) of at least 1.70.

Application:

The application for the 2024-2025 Financial Need-Based Bursary is now closed. Only applications received by the deadline (October 31, 2024 at 11:59pm) will be considered. If we received multiple applications from the same individual within the application period, only the most recent submission will be reviewed.

Bursary Decisions:

The review process begins once the application period is over. All applicants are contacted with the decision made regarding their application within 30 days. 

Significant Financial Difficulty:

Students experiencing significant financial difficulty at any time should meet with Financial Aid & Awards.

Montreal Women's Memorial Scholarship

This award is a tribute to the memory of the fourteen female engineering students who died violently at the École Polytechnique de Montreal on December 6, 1989.

Award Requirements:

  • Be a female student enrolled in the Engineering program at Saint Mary’s University;
  • Complete the online application and attach a copy of your resume and a personal statement of your personal and academic goals, why you would like to be considered for this award, and what this memorial means to you.
  • Please note that this award will be presented at the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women Ceremony. The recipient of this scholarship is typically asked to attend this ceremony.

Application: The application for the 2024-2025 academic year is now closed.

Application Deadline:  The application deadline is Thursday, November 28th, 2024 at 11:59pm. 

 

Saint Mary's University Alumni Golf Tournament Bursary

The Alumni Golf Tournament is an annual fundraiser that seeks to raise funds for student bursaries. Through the generous donations of alumni and community members, the tournament raises funds to be distributed amongst the selected students. Tournament funds generate bursaries which are personally delivered to each student at the end of the event. The tournament has been running for 40 years and is one of the flagship events of the SMU Alumni Association.

Bursary Requirements:

  • The student must have successfully completed a minimum of one year of full-time studies at Saint Mary's University.
  • The student must be registered full-time for the next academic year.
  • The financial need of the student will be assessed. 
  • The student must be available to volunteer at the annual Alumni Golf Tournament in late August.

Application:

The application for the 2024-2025 academic year will be available in March 2024.

Application Deadline: 

May 1, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.

Award Decisions: Applications are assessed over the summer months and throughout the upcoming academic year. Students are contacted directly when selected for an award.

Saint Mary's University Alumni Leadership Award

This award was established in 1984 by the Saint Mary’s Alumni Association and is awarded to students based on satisfactory academic standing, financial need and leadership qualities.

‌Award Requirements:

  • The applicant must be an undergraduate student at Saint Mary’s University. 
  • The applicant must have successfully completed a minimum of one year of full-time study at Saint Mary’s University. 
  • The student must be registered full-time for the next academic year.
  • The applicant must have participated in Varsity Athletics at Saint Mary’s University during the previous year. 
  • The applicant must continue to play on a Varsity team for the next academic year.  

Application:

Recipients of the Alumni Leadership Award are chosen by the Athletic Director. Student-athletes who wish to be considered for an Alumni Leadership Award should speak with their coach. 

Saint Mary's University Faculty Union Scholarship for Academic Excellence

The Saint Mary’s University Faculty Union Scholarship has been established for students with high academic achievement, financial need is also considered. This scholarship is open to full-time and part-time students in the Arts, Commerce, Engineering or Science faculties and entering their final year at SMU. The award is determined by the Saint Mary’s University Faculty Union and applications are submitted to the SMUFU via the Financial Aid & Awards office.

Scholarship Requirements:

  • The student must have successfully completed a minimum of one year of studies at Saint Mary's University.
  • The student should have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.75.
  • The financial need of the student will be assessed. 
  • Primarily available to full-time undergraduate students in their final or Honours year, but graduate, part-time and third-year students can apply.

Application:

The application for the Saint Mary's University Faculty Union Scholarship for Academic Excellence for the 2024-2025 academic year is now closed.

Application Deadline: 

May 1, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.

Award Decisions: Applications are assessed over the summer and throughout the upcoming academic year. Students are contacted directly by the Faculty Union Office when selected for an award.

Halifax Longshoremen's Association Local 269 I.L.A. Scholarship

The International Longshoremen's Association, AFL-CIO is the largest union of maritime workers in North America, representing upwards of 65,000 longshoremen on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, Great Lakes, major U.S. rivers, Puerto Rico and Eastern Canada. This scholarship will be awarded to a full or part-time student who is entering or continuing at Saint Mary's University. The recipient must be a member of Halifax Longshoremen’s Association Local 269 I.L.A or a member’s immediate family.

Scholarship Requirements:

  • Full or part-time undergraduate students.
  • Member of Local 269 I.L.A. or a member's immediate family.
  • Entrance students must forward transcripts to Financial Aid & Awards by July 5, 2023.

Application:

The application for the Halifax Longshoremen's Association Local 269 I.L.A. Scholarship for the 2024-2025 academic year is now closed.

Application Deadline: 

May 1, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.

Award Decisions: Applications are assessed over the summer months and throughout the upcoming academic year. Students are contacted directly when selected for an award.

 

Saint Mary's University Undergraduate Awards Program

Over 250 Undergraduate Scholarships, Bursaries & Awards have been established by alumni, parents, corporations and friends of the University. 

These are available annually to returning Saint Mary’s students. The criteria for these awards vary from awards for specific faculties, academic achievement, and financial need, to awards that look at extra-curricular activities, volunteer work and community involvement in or outside of the Saint Mary’s community.

All students are encouraged to apply each year and outline their unique, individual qualities.

Awards Requirements:

  • Must be pursuing an undergraduate degree at Saint Mary’s University.
  • Full-Time Awards: Must have completed at least one term of full-time studies in the preceding academic year.
  • Part-Time Awards: For students who completed part-time studies in the preceding academic year and will continue to do so in the upcoming academic year.

Application:

The application for the Saint Mary's University Undergraduate Awards Program for the 2024-2025 academic year is now closed. 

Application Deadline: 

May 1, 2024 at 11:59 pm.

Award Decisions: Applications are assessed over the summer months and throughout the upcoming academic year. Students are contacted directly when selected for an award.

Student Leadership Recognition Award

This award is to formally recognize students that possess, display, and apply leadership qualities and skills within the classroom, the Saint Mary's University Community and Beyond. Semi-annually, the award recognizes three students from each Faculty (Arts, Graduate Studies, Science and Commerce). The award is non-renewable. 

Award Requirements: 

  • Undergraduate students are required to have completed 15 credit hours and to be enrolled full-time
  • Graduate students are required to be enrolled with full-time status
  • Currently be volunteering or must have accumulated over 60 hours of volunteer services in the past 12 months
  • Assisted or organized at least two significant on-campus events in the past 12 months
  • Be actively involved at Saint Mary's University and/or the greater community

More Information, Application & Deadline:

Please visit the Career and Experiential Learning webpage for more information.

Dr. Geraldine Thomas Travel Award 

Established through the generosity of Dr. Geraldine Thomas, her friends, and colleagues. Dr. Thomas was a professor in the Department of Modern Languages and Classics. She retired at the end of the 2006/07 academic year. Dr. Thomas has been recognized for her teaching and educational leadership with a SMUSA award in 1991, the AAU Instructional Leadership award in 1993 and a national 3M Teaching Award in 1993.

The Dr. Geraldine Thomas Award for Travel is awarded annually to a full-time, undergraduate student majoring or minoring in Ancient Studies, and who wishes to broaden his or her learning experience through travel (for example, field schools, study abroad, relevant conferences, major museums).

Award Requirements:

  • Be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student at Saint Mary's University majoring or minoring in Ancient Studies.
  • Have a minimum GPA of 3.0.
  • 500-word proposal (1 page single spaced or 2 pages double spaced) outlining the project for which the money will be used (include dates of travel, budget, other sources of funding applied for and any other relevant information)

Application:

The application for the 2023-2024 Dr. Geraldine Thomas Travel Award is now closed. The application for the 2024-2025 academic year will be available in the winter 2025 term. 

Harry & Lily Rutte Award for Spirituality and the Workplace

Awarded to a deserving undergraduate or graduate student in any faculty at Saint Mary’s University for the best paper, or action/research project, or any product result, in the field of spirituality and the workplace. Papers or projects may be submitted from previous or current Saint Mary’s courses. The selection of the award recipient will be determined by the Spiritualty and the Workplace Oversight Sub-Committee

Application:

Email SobeySchool@smu.ca and include: (1) cover letter with name, email phone number and A number, (2) PDF of your paper or project, and a link to your video or website. Note: One submission per student.

The Edna and Velma Thomas Kane Writers Award

Launched in the fall of 2021, this award may be presented to an undergraduate student in the Faculty of Arts upon graduation. To be eligible for the annual $30,000 award, students must:

  • be Canadian citizens or permanent residents who identify as Black/African descended, with priority going to African Nova Scotian students;
  • have demonstrable financial need;
  • be in good academic standing; and
  • aspire to be a career in writing, broadly defined.

Application: The application is available here. Students looking for support in the application process are warmly invited to contact Dean of Arts, Dr. Mary Ingraham, at Mary.Ingraham@smu.ca.

Application deadline: The application for the 2024-25 academic year has now closed. 

To apply, submit the online application form above. Applications must include a personal statement of about 500 words; a financial statement; and a small digital portfolio of work samples and accomplishments. See the form for details. A short list of applicants will be invited to personal interviews with the Edna and Velma Thomas Kane Writers Award Selection Committee, chaired by the Dean of Arts.

The award aims to mitigate the burden of financial debt for African Nova Scotian students and students of Black/African descent in the Faculty of Arts, and to support them in pursuing further post-secondary studies or training to advance their aspirations for a career in writing. A career in writing could include, but is not limited to, creative writing, poetry, film/television writing, publishing, digital communications, or an academic career path in an Arts and Humanities discipline.

For more information, see the application form and this article, New SMU Scholarship Supports Aspiring Writers of African Nova Scotian Descent.

Questions or Concerns?

Questions regarding scholarships, awards and bursaries should be directed to Financial Aid & Awards at financial.aid@smu.ca.

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