The National Scholarship rewards original, creative and committed Canadian secondary school students. These are students who demonstrate superior academic performance, original and creative thought, and exceptional achievement in a broad context. They excel in academic pursuits, demonstrate enthusiasm for intellectual exploration and have a strong involvement in the lives of their schools and communities. Each year approximately ten students are named National Scholars (winners) and ten are named Arbor Scholars (runners-up).
Academic Year:
2017-2018
Value/Amount:
The National Scholarship covers tuition and incidental fees for four years, provides full residence support in first year, and includes an additional, renewable monetary award based on individual financial circumstances. The scholarship is tenable only at the University of Toronto. Finalists not designated as National Scholars receive Arbor Scholarships at a value of $7,500 in the first year and $1,500 per year for three additional years of undergraduate study. The scholarship is tenable only at the University of Toronto.
Full Eligibility Requirements: Students who have been nominated by their schools as National Book Award recipients may submit applications to the National Scholarship Program. In addition, students who identify themselves as meeting the scholarship criteria are invited to apply directly for the National Scholarship, without having been nominated for the Book Award.
Eligibility Criteria:
- an original and creative thinker
- committed to school and community
- a high achiever in academic and creative pursuits
- enthusiastic about learning and intellectual exploration
- a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person
- currently in your final year of Canadian secondary school or first-year CEGEP
- intending to begin university the following academic year
- a National Book Award nominee or self-identify as meeting the criteria above
How to Apply: To apply, you’ll need to:
- Click here to apply to the 2017 National Scholarship Program. You will be prompted to create an account before proceeding to the application form. Please remember your username and password.
- Complete the online application, including a series of short essays and exercises. You must complete all sections of the application. Limits with respect to the number of words must be followed.
- Upload a transcript of your complete high school record to date, including current ongoing grades and final results for your last full academic year. Official transcripts will be requested from students who are selected as finalists. You will be contacted by January if an official transcript is required.
- Arrange for a letter of reference. Please have someone in your school or community write a confidential reference letter supporting your application. You must supply the name of your referee and his/her institutional email address on your application form. Once you’ve submitted your application, an email will be sent to your referee with instructions for submitting the reference online. We strongly recommend contacting your referee well before submitting your application, to allow him/her ample time to prepare and submit a reference letter. Referees will have until one week after the application deadline to submit a letter of reference.
- Submit your online application. Once you have submitted your application, you will not be able to make any further changes. You will receive a confirmation email after submitting your application.
On the basis of application criteria, about twenty students are selected as finalists. These finalists will be invited as guests of the University of Toronto for on-campus selection interviews held in late February or early March. From these meetings, the selection committee selects approximately ten students as National Scholars (winners) and the remaining finalists as Arbor Scholars (runners-up). These scholarships are tenable only at the University of Toronto.
Deadline to Apply:
November 4th