Entrance Awards

Students who apply by February 15 for the September intake will be assessed for admissions scholarships within the applicant candidate pool. Scholarships are competitive and are based on academic merit.

Students applying to Saint Mary's through a tuition reduction program (e.g. NSISP, CAIS) are not eligible for admissions scholarships.

General Entrance Awards

Saint Mary's offers many scholarships, bursaries and awards for new students. There are also awards that have been established with the generous support of alumni, staff, community members and businesses.

Students must have a completed undergraduate application and be accepted (or admissible) by the February 15 deadline to be considered for Entrance Awards, which includes our Major Renewable Scholarships.

As Entrance Awards have been established to meet a variety of student needs, there are different eligibility criteria, such as community involvement, extracurricular activities, academic achievement or financial need. Students can fill out one application and provide supporting documentation as requested to be considered.

 

Requirements

• Must be a new student entering an undergraduate degree at Saint Mary’s University directly from high school.
• Must have a completed undergraduate application and be accepted (or admissible) by February 15.
• Students applying through a tuition reduction program (e.g., NSISP, CAIS, etc.) are not eligible.

 

Application Instructions

An in-depth overview of the application can be found in the SMU Entrance Awards Program Application Guide (opens in new window)! The guide will walk you through every question and includes tips for how to prepare the strongest possible application.

The application is in 3 parts:

Part 1 (Required): Entrance Awards Program Application (link will be posted here on October 15)

• Required for all applicants. No supporting documents are required.

Part 2 (Optional): Financial Need-Based Entrance Awards

• Only required if you wish to be considered for Entrance Awards that take into consideration the applicant's financial need.
• Must submit a personal statement of financial need (no minimum length required).

Part 3 (Optional): Major Renewable Scholarships

• Only required if you wish to be considered for our Major Renewable Scholarships: Sobey National Innovator Scholarships and Presidential Scholarships. The additional eligibility criteria and application supporting documents are described below.

 

Application Deadline and Awarding Decisions

The application for the 2027 Entrance Awards Program will be open from October 15, 2026, at 9 a.m. until February 15, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. AST. Only applications received during this time will be considered. Early or late submissions will not be reviewed. If the same individual applies more than once, we will use the most recently submitted application.

Only those who have been selected to receive an Entrance Award will be contacted.

Major Renewable Scholarships

Valued at $50,000 over four years, our Major Renewable Scholarships are presented to exceptional students from across Canada with a record of leadership and/or community service, in recognition of their accomplishments and as encouragement and support for their studies at Saint Mary's University.

Our Major Renewable Scholarships include:

• Sobey National Innovator Scholarships: available to students entering the Sobey School of Business, and,
• Presidential Scholarships: available to students entering the Faculty of Science/Engineering, and the Faculty of Arts/Environmental Studies

 

Eligibility Requirements

• Must be either a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident of Canada
• Must have a minimum admission average of 93% or higher, or IB results/predicted results of 33+/42

 

Application Instructions

• To be considered, you must complete the Entrance Awards Program Application (available October 15).
• You must also submit a 750-word essay that describes your leadership, community involvement and contribution to school life. This could include examples of:
  • • Participation in student government
    • Academic excellence
    • Athletic achievements
    • Extra-curricular activities
    • Volunteer commitments
    • Employment or paid work
    • Entrepreneurial pursuits
• In your essay, you are also encouraged to explain why you chose your program of study and to describe your future goals, both during your time at SMU and beyond.
• Check out the SMU Entrance Awards Program Application Guide (opens in new window) for plenty of tips, including details on what you should and shouldn't write in your essay.

 

Renewal Criteria

In your first year, students admitted in September 2027 or later must achieve a grade point average of 3.70 in a minimum of 24 credit hours between September and April.

In your second and third year, students admitted in September 2027 or later must achieve a grade point average of 3.70 in 30 credit hours between May and April for renewal.

Harrison McCain Scholarship/Bursary

Open to any high school student in Canada, with preference given to Canadian citizens and/or permanent residents. The criteria for the awards include a minimum 85% average in Grade 12 University Preparatory courses, demonstrating financial need, leadership qualities and a recognized initiative in funding their own education.

Application Instructions

To be considered, you must submit the following:

• Harrison McCain Scholarship/Bursary Application form (available here on October 15)
• High school transcript
• Personal letter indicating what this scholarship/bursary would mean to you (one page limit, please).
• Personal essay outlining your extra-curriculars, leadership, financial need, work experience and career plans (two page limit, please)

Please send your completed application package to the Financial Aid & Awards Office by e-mail (financial.aid@smu.ca). The deadline for receipt of the completed application package is March 1.

The Tribe Network Award is a Nova Scotia provincial government-funded program to align Computer Science programs at Saint Mary’s University with initiatives to develop pathways for Black and Indigenous youth, with a particular focus on engaging African Nova Scotian and Mi’kmaq youth participating in programming through the Tribe Network and associated partners. The Tribe Network is a community of racialized people pursuing entrepreneurship and innovation. Their mission is to foster a culture of leadership, collaboration, creativity, and growth for racialized individuals. 

Award Criteria: 

• Meet undergraduate admission requirements to a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Commerce program, with a major in Computer Science or Management Information Systems and Analytics or
• Be a current SMU student in the Bachelor of Science program, majoring in Computer Science or Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Management Information Systems and Analytic. 
• Self-identify as Black (African Nova Scotian, African Canadian or Black Immigrants) or Indigenous (First Nation, Métis, Inuit)
• Be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident of Canada
• Participation in Computer Science or Entrepreneurship programming between the Tribe Network, Saint Mary’s Entrepreneurship Centre, and associated partners.

This award can be renewed for up to three years, provided the recipient maintains the eligibility criteria as listed on the application.

How to apply:

1. Submit online application. Please note, the application should have 2026-2027 in the title. You may need to clear your browser cookies in order to view the most up-to-date version of the application.
2. In 250 words (maximum one page) tell us about your interest in Computer Science and your connection to community.  You should also include what receiving this scholarship would mean for your academic and career development.
3. Your resume (this will help with matching applicants to internship opportunities).

After submitting the online application please email your write-up and your resume to financial.aid@smu.ca with "Tribe Network Award Application" as the subject line.  

Deadline:

• Applications received after June 1st will be reviewed as funding allows.  

Committee:
Award selection will be determined by representatives from the Tribe Network, Saint Mary's University and associated partners.

Students recipients will have access to a subsidized internship at the end of their first year of study at Saint Mary's University.  Management of the internship program will be through the Office of Innovation and Community Engagement with oversight by the AVP Research & Dean, Graduate Studies & Research. 

Techsploration Science Award

Techsploration gratefully acknowledges the generosity of Saint Mary’s University in providing a renewable $2,000 scholarship to young women and gender diverse people pursuing a Science, Technology or Engineering Degree. Applicants may include Techsploration Alumni as well as all female and gender diverse grade twelve graduates of Techsploration schools in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

Applicants must be accepted into a Saint Mary’s University science, engineering or technology program as full-time students. In order for the scholarship to be renewed, the student must maintain full-time status each academic year.

 

Scholarship Criteria

• Academic achievement: 80% average upon leaving high school (in order for the scholarship to be renewed on an annual basis a minimum of 3.0 GPA must be maintained)
• One page essay (see application for details)
• Completion of the SMU Techsploration Award Application (opens in new window)

If more than one candidate is identified as a finalist, we may consider financial need as further criteria.

The scholarship is valued at $2,000 per year and is renewable on an annual basis. Applications must be received by the Award Committee by June 1. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Saint Mary’s University gratefully acknowledges the generosity of Mr. David Wang in providing eight scholarships per year to academically talented Chinese students enrolled in a Canadian curriculum high school in China.

Eligibility

• Enrolled (Grade 12) in a Canadian curriculum high school in China
• 80% or higher admission average
• Letter of recommendation from a high school Counselor, Principal or Teacher
• A 500-750 word essay (in English) outlining why you wish to study in Canada, and at Saint Mary’s University
• A minimum 2.5 GPA (and full-time enrolment at Saint Mary’s University) is required for renewal

Value of awards

• Eight awards annually, valued at $5,000 CAD per year/per student (to a maximum of $20,000 CAD per student).

The award will be applied directly to student tuition in two installments per year (the first in September and the second in January). To be eligible, students must be enrolled in full-time undergraduate degree studies, or Intensive English Language Programs at The Language Centre (at Saint Mary’s University).

Application deadline

• The David Wang Scholarship Application (opens in new window) (along with essay and reference letter) must be received by April 1. Students must be accepted or conditionally accepted (for undergraduate degree studies) by Saint Mary’s University before applying for these awards.

KW Legacy and Saint Mary’s University have teamed up to offer two exclusive scholarships for student leaders in the Kitchener-Waterloo Region, valued at $12,000 per year and renewable for up to $48,000!

What makes this unique?

This scholarship, created through a partnership between KW Legacy and Saint Mary’s University, supports students who:

• Graduate from a public high school in Kitchener-Waterloo
• Are admitted to an undergraduate program at Saint Mary’s
• Have at least an 85% average
• Demonstrate leadership, community involvement, and financial need

How to Apply

1. Submit your application to Saint Mary's.
2. Submit your KW Legacy Scholarship Application through kwlegacy.ca
3. Apply for SMU Entrance Awards on this page.
4. If you’re a top-ranked KW Legacy applicant and meet all criteria, you’ll be considered for the KW Legacy-Saint Mary's University Scholarship.

Nova Scotia High Skills Major Entrance Award (NSHSM)
Number of Awards:

Two (2) non-renewable entrance awards will be awarded annually.

Terms of Reference:

The Nova Scotia High Skills Major (NSHSM) Entrance Awards are awarded annually to graduates of a Nova Scotia high school who have successfully completed any Nova Scotia High Skills Major program and enrol directly from high school at Saint Mary's University as full-time students (minimum 24 credit hours). Recipients are not required to enrol in a degree program related to their High Skills Major.

Awards are based on academic achievement (minimum 80% high school scholarship average for consideration) and demonstrated leadership within the student's High Skills Major through academic success, work experience, and related certifications. Recipients are selected by Saint Mary's University Enrolment Services. Awards are competitive and are granted based on the number and strength of eligible applicants each year.

 

Application Instructions

To be considered for the NSHSM Entrance Award, students must apply to the Entrance Awards Program (link will be available on October 15) by the application deadline of February 15, 2027.