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Scholarships & Financial Need

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HWDSB

Please visit HWDSB’s scholarship page here.

Scholarship Assembly

Thank you for joining us in the auditorium on Thursday, October 3 at lunch for our scholarship assembly with information on financial aid, scholarships, and bursaries!

In case you missed it:

The Scholarship Report

This resource has been purchased on your behalf by HWDSB and cannot be shared publicly. Please check your HWDSB e-mail account each month for a copy of The Scholarship Report. This is an excellent resource and all students in grade 11 and 12 should review this.

“THE BIG SIX” + Special Cultural Awards 2025-2026

Are you one of Canada’s best students? If so, please keep reading! Some national scholarships require a nomination by Ancaster High School in order to apply:

Scholarship Summary – Big 6 for 2025-2026 – October 2025

  1. LORAN Scholars Foundation Award
    • This no longer requires school nomination
  2. University of Toronto Book Award & University of Toronto National Scholarship 2025-2026
    • We are using the criteria for the U of T National Scholarship criteria in order to choose the winner of the U of T Book Award
    • Please check your e-mail for a way to express interest in the book award
  3. TD Scholarships for Community Leaders 2025-2026
    • This does not require school nomination
  4. Queen’s University Major Admission Awards (includes Queen’s Chancellor’s Award) 2025-2026
  5. Western University National Scholarship Program 2025-2026
    1. A reference copy of Western’s application is here. Do not submit this.
    2. Applications will be due to Mr. Nicholson on January 22, 2025 at 3 p.m. No exceptions. Students are asked to complete this fillable .pdf, identify themselves in the filename, attach it to an e-mail along with the required essay (please identify yourself in the filename) and use the subject heading “WESTERN” in all capitals
  6. Schulich Leaders Scholarship 2025-2026

    • This scholarship requires school nomination. Applicants must:
      • complete the Application for Ancaster High’s Nomination. Click here to download the application.
      • save as a .pdf (identify themselves in the filename)
      • attach to an e-mail titled “SCHULICH”  in all capitals and e-mail it to Mr. Nicholson before January 15, 2025 at 3 p.m.
  7. Reverend John C. Holland Awards (Applications Due January 17, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.)
    • 13 Awards Total (Scholarship + Bursary)
    • These awards are for students who identify as a Person of African Descent and are 16-24 years of age at time of application and have demonstrated a commitment to service in their school and or community
  8. African Caribbean Cultural Potpourri Inc. (ACCPI) Youth Scholarship (Check back in 2025)
    • This award is for students of African or Caribbean heritage and have demonstrated a commitment to service in their school and community.

Search Tools for Scholarships Not Requiring School Nomination

  1. Scholarships Canada
  2. Yconic
  3. OUInfo
  4. Individual universities’ websites. Use the internal search function for keywords like “financial, aid, scholarships, awards. bursaries”. McMaster University’s site is here
  5. Cost-estimators are a good tool. McMaster  University’s is here

Searching for Scholarship Opportunities

Scholarships which do not require an application – AUTOMATIC ENTRANCE SCHOLARSHIPS

Some universities will award students “Entrance Scholarships” for having a particular average based on 6 grade 12 U/M courses from high school. It is important to know whether these Entrance Awards are based on grades at “Early Offer of Admission” time, or whether they are based on “Final Grades” from June. It is also important to find out if an Entrance Scholarship can change if the final June grades are higher or lower than those at the time an offer of admission was received. Each university or college will have their own policies on Entrance Awards, so check out this information with the institution you plan to attend.

Some of these entrance awards are renewable (money will be awarded each year of university or college if a particular average is maintained), while some are a one time offer. Check the individual universities’ websites to clarify the terms of Entrance Scholarships.

Financial Need

Financial Aid for Postsecondary

Ontario/Canada Student Loans are available to students entering university and for students currently in university, who qualify. The process for assessment can be lengthy (10 weeks), so students are advised to apply for Ontario Student Loans as soon as they accept an offer of admission to university. Student Loan information is available on the OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Program) website. Students should be familiar with the process and with the information which will be required before they begin the application process formally.
Students can go to the OSAP Estimator to get a rough idea of how much (or little) student loans they would be eligible for.
Students can make an OSAP Application after they accept an offer of admission – applications for the next year are usually available in April.

Each university will have its own Financial Aid and Scholarship Office to assist students with their OSAP loans, scholarships and bursary applications.
The Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships at McMaster University can assist students once they have accepted offers of admission to McMaster.

The Canadian government has created a website to assist post-secondary students in saving for, planning for, and paying for a post-secondary education. Information on Canada Student Loans, Provincial Student Loans, and Study and Access Grants can be found on the Canlearn website.

Updated on Wednesday, January 22, 2025.
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