Service Centre

Scholarships & Bursaries

Financial Need-Based Bursaries

2011-2012 Winter Term Bursary Application - Deadline: 4:00 PM Wednesday February 15, 2012

Each year Saint Mary's University sets aside a bursary fund intended to assist students experiencing financial difficulty. These students may apply for a Financial Need-Based Bursary twice a year (once each semester during the academic year).

Students must submit a completed application form that details their estimated financial expenditures and resources during the academic year. Incomplete or late application forms will not be considered.

Students are advised to read the application carefully, attach all required information / documentation and ensure their application is submitted by the deadline. In order to be eligible, students must have a GPA of at least 1.70 and must also be enrolled in a degree, diploma or certificate granting program at Saint Mary's University. Students who are in a non-degree granting program, visiting, upgrading or enrolled in the Master of Finance program are not eligible.

The Financial Need-Based Bursary application deadline is normally in mid-October for the fall semester and the end of January for the winter semester. Exact deadlines will be posted in the Financial Aid & Awards Office (McNally Main 108) as well as in “The Journal” and on bulletin boards around campus.

Applications are available through the link below. Please note that bursary funds are limited and vary from year to year.


2011-2012 Winter Term Bursary Application - Deadline: 4:00 PM Wednesday February 15, 2012

Financial Aid & Awards - Undergraduate Awards

Saint Mary’s University offers an assortment of Undergraduate Awards available exclusively to Saint Mary’s students. These awards are as diverse as Saint Mary’s itself. Awards may focus on academic achievements, volunteer commitments, University involvement, extracurricular activities, athletics, heritage, leadership skills or a variety of other qualities and conditions. Review the awards listed below to find one perfect for you!

Undergraduate Academic Achievement Scholarships


If you are a Saint Mary’s student who meets the requirements detailed below, you will automatically be eligible for an Undergraduate Academic Achievement Scholarship. No application form is required for this scholarship; students meeting these requirements will be notified by letter each fall.

Basis of Award

Students must achieve Dean’s List Academic Standing (G.P.A. of 3.67+) and must have completed 30 credit hours in the preceding 12 month period of study running from July 1 to June 30.

Special Conditions

All courses within this time frame are used for G.P.A. calculations. Successful recipients must be pursuing their first undergraduate degree and must be registered as full-time (18 credit hours or more) at Saint Mary’s University in the following academic year. Students must also maintain and complete these credit hours. Students who withdraw or complete their studies after one semester will receive one half of their scholarship. Students are responsible for ensuring that all academic information pertaining to this award appears on their transcript by July 25. For additional information please refer to Saint Mary’s Academic Calendar, or contact the Financial Aid & Awards Office.

Please note: The Undergraduate Academic Achievement Scholarship regulations are currently under review. This review may well result in revisions to these criteria.

Named Undergraduate Awards

At Saint Mary’s University, a growing number of university-administered scholarships and bursaries are available to qualifying students. Alumni, parents, corporations, and other friends of the University have established many of these awards. Over 200 Named Undergraduate Scholarships are available to Saint Mary’s students.

They are awarded on the basis of academic standing and the special conditions set by the donors of each award. Such financial support from these benefactors provides significant assistance to both the University and the annual recipients of the awards.

The University Community is grateful for this generosity and support. Others are encouraged to support Saint Mary's in this manner. Should you wish to establish a scholarship or bursary at Saint Mary's, please contact the Director of University Advancement at (902) 420-5495.

Please note: Students need only complete one application if they wish to be considered for the Named Undergraduate Awards unless they are applying for one of the following four awards: The Alumni Leadership Award, The Alumni Golf Tournament Bursary, Saint Mary’s University Faculty Union Scholarship, or the Halifax Longshoreman’s Association Local 269 I.L.A. Scholarship. These four Named Undergraduate Awards have individual application forms included in the Named Undergraduate Scholarship Application package below.

Description of all Named Undergraduate Scholarships and Bursaries

Named Undergraduate Award Regulations and Application Procedures

  1. Scholarship candidates must apply each year to the Financial Aid & Awards Office for the Named Undergraduate Scholarships, Alumni Leadership Awards, Alumni Golf Tournament Bursary, Saint Mary’s Faculty Union Scholarships and The Halifax Longshoremen’s Association Local 269 I.L.A. Scholarship.
  2. Students can obtain application packages from the Financial Aid & Awards Office starting in February or apply online (see below). A personal statement must accompany applications. Applications also require one letter of reference from a faculty member (see recommendation form: faculty, below). Application deadline is May 1.
  3. The Financial Aid & Awards Office will notify award recipients in September. Each award is granted for one academic year only. However, scholarships may be renewed each year on a competitive basis, provided the students reapply and re-qualify.
  4. Students are responsible for notifying the Financial Aid & Awards Office of late course completions and grade changes, which were not recorded at the time when scholarship applications were filed. These must also reach the Financial Aid & Awards Office by May 25.
  5. Students must have completed at least 18 credit hours in the preceding academic year to be considered for a Named Undergraduate Scholarship or Bursary specifically for full-time students. Those students enrolled in less than 18 credit hours in the precediing academic year will be considered for part-time awards. The Senate Scholarship Committee will consider courses taken at other institutions on a Letter of Permission, provided that they appear on the student's record by May 25 or that the student notifies the Financial Aid & Awards Office in writing of any possible courses taken at other institutions on a Letter of Permission by that date. Please review the above Description of Named Undergraduate Scholarships and Bursaries for details on each award.
  6. Applicants must be pursuing an Undergraduate Degree Program at Saint Mary's University.
  7. Students who receive a Named Undergraduate Scholarship or Bursary from Saint Mary's University based on full-time enrollment are required to register in at least 9 credit hours per semester to receive the award. Named Undergraduate Scholarships or Bursaries for student's in part-time studies require that recipients register in 3 - 6 credit hours per semester. An exception will be made for those students who are registered clients of the Atlantic Centre for Students with Disabilities.
  8. Students who are full-time in one semester and part-time in another, or withdraw or complete their studies after one semester, will receive half of their scholarship.
  9. Students who receive scholarships and fail to qualify for a renewal may re-enter the competition for scholarships, should they subsequently re-qualify.
  10. Scholarships are taxable income. The University will automatically prepare a T-4A form.
  11. At registration, scholarship recipients are required to pay the balance of fees not covered by the award. If you have been awarded a Saint Mary's University scholarship, the value of which is equal to or greater than $400.00, no tuition deposit is required for registration.

Please note: The regulations for Named Undergraduate Awards are currently under review. This review may well result in revisions to these criteria.

Named Undergraduate Scholarships & Bursaries Online Application

Applications for the 2011-2012 Named Undergraduate Awards are now available.

Students have two options to submit the application; they may

  1. print the Downloadable Application Forms or
  2. complete the Online Applications.

For more information please visit the Financial Aid & Awards Office (McNally Main 108).

As stated above, students need only complete one application if they wish to be considered for the Named Undergraduate Awards unless they are applying for one of the following four awards: The Alumni Leadership Award, The Alumni Golf Tournament Bursary, Saint Mary’s University Faculty Union Scholarship or the Halifax Longshoreman’s Association Local 269 I.L.A. Scholarship. These four Named Undergraduate Awards have individual application forms.

Downloadable Application Forms

Students may print, complete and submit a paper application to the Financial Aid & Awards Office before the submission deadline. Students are reminded to read the instructions closely that are included within the Application Package to ensure that they submit a complete application.

2012-2013 Named Undergraduate Scholarship Package - Coming Soon!

Online Applications

To complete the online application students must complete Part One - Applications, Part Two - Personal Statement and Part Three - Projected Budget (if students want to be considered for awards based on financial need). Each applicant must have a Faculty Recommendation Form completed and forwarded to the Financial Aid & Awards Office before May 25th. Those students who wish to be considered for an award based on varsity athletic involvement please have a coach complete and forward a Coach Recommendation Form before May 25th.

Part One - Applications

Part Two - Personal Statement

Part Three - Projected Budget

Coaches Recommendation Forms (pdf)
Faculty Reccommendation Forms (pdf)

Award Opportunities for Students Studying Abroad


For information on award opportunities available to Saint Mary’s students planning on studying abroad please contact the Department of International Activities at (902) 420-5177 or via email at international.activities@smu.ca.

Information on these awards can also be viewed at: Awards


Undergraduate Award Information for Co-operative (Co-op) Education Students

General Information


Co-op students who are awarded scholarships based on the previous academic year’s study-term will have the amount credited to their account regardless if they are on a work-term or study-term. Co-op fees will be deducted and the student may request the balance according to University policies.

While on a work-term, students will not be eligible for further awards unless they receive grades for that term. The student will re-qualify for all awards upon resumption of a study-term

Undergraduate Academic Achievement Scholarships


Co-op students who are on a work-term for one semester and a study-term for another in any academic year should write to the Senate Scholarship Committee to be considered for a Full-time Academic Achievement Scholarship valued at one-half of the normal amount. These requests must be received by the Senate Committee by August 31.

The University is currently reviewing how the 12-Month Academic Achievement Scholarship will affect Co-op students. Co-op students may wish to review the award regulations found in Saint Mary’s Academic Calendar. Co-op students may then contact the Financial Aid & Awards Office to discuss their eligibility for this award. Any such inquiries must be made by August 31.

External Awards

These awards are administered by outside organizations (organizations other than Saint Mary’s).

Information concerning external awards is available in the Financial Aid and Awards Office and through the various links below.

This information is also forwarded to each Academic Dean and is posted on the Awards Bulletin Board located at the Service Centre (McNally Main 108).

Please contact the Financial Aid & Awards Office for further award information, application procedures, eligibility, and deadlines.

Undergraduate Awards are organized into the following groups:

  • Outstanding Achievement
  • Arts
  • Science
  • Commerce
  • General
  • Essay Writing
  • Students With A Disability
  • Students Belonging to a Minority Group
  • Female Students
  • Recent High School Graduates
  • Religions
  • Other
  • Guides

This page last modified Tuesday, 24-Jan-2012 14:49:25 AST