Award FAQs

• Students applying to Dalhousie directly from high school for September 2025 can apply for the General Entrance Award Program.
• Mature students who have not completed any transferrable post-secondary study are also eligible to apply.
• All applicants regardless of citizenship are eligible to apply for the General Entrance Award Program.
• Transfer applicants are not eligible to apply to the General Entrance Award program with the exception of Indigenous Black and First Nations students from the Maritimes who wish to be considered for the First Nations and Indigenous Black Student Scholarship.

Award amounts typically range from approximately $1,000 for your first year to $80,000 over four years. We assess all students individually based on their complete application submissions. Some awards are offered based on academics and other achievements, some are based on financial need, and others are hybrid awards and consider a student's grades, involvement outside of the classroom, and financial need. As a result, we do not list award values based on grades alone. 

Transcripts must be sent to the Registrar's Office directly by your school or issuing institution to be considered official. Learn more about submitting transcripts, OUAC numbers, and NS Student ID Numbers here. 

Students should submit the General Entrance Award application themselves. Visit our Entrance Awards page for specific instructions. 

Supporting Entrance Awards documents (i.e. financial or disability-related documents) will be uploaded directly to your General Entrance Award application in your application portal.

We require your first semester, grade 12 marks for entrance award consideration. If your school isn’t semestered, your school can submit grades from the first half of the school year. They may be referred to as predicted or mid-term grades.

If your OUAC or NS ID number is on file with the Registrar’s Office we will receive your grades automatically and electronically. If you have any questions about your OUAC number, NS Student ID number or transcript, you can contact the Admissions team at admissions@dal.ca or by calling 902-494-2450.

If your transcript or OUAC number is not on your admission application status page you can follow up with the Admissions team at admissions@dal.ca or (902) 494 2450.

As transcripts are uploaded to student files manually it can take a few business days for your transcript or OUAC or NS Student ID number to show in the admission application status page. It will not appear on DalOnline (the site you login with your netID).

If your first semester transcript, NS ID number, or OUAC number is already on file with the Registrar’s Office you do not need to submit another copy.

Learn more about submitting transcripts, OUAC numbers, and NS Student ID Numbers here. 

If you have any questions about your OUAC number, NS Student ID number or transcript, you can contact the Admissions team at admissions@dal.ca or by calling 902-494-2450.

We require your official first semester final grades (or OUAC/NS ID Number) to be eligible for consideration for General Entrance Award program. If you were admitted based on self-reported grades we will require an official copy of your first semester final grades (or OUAC or NS Student ID number).

Learn more about submitting transcripts, OUAC numbers, and NS Student ID Numbers here. If you have any questions about your OUAC number, NS Student ID number or transcript, you can contact the Admissions team at admissions@dal.ca or by calling 902-494-2450.

No. We only take the information included in General Entrance Award Application into consideration.

We do not require additional documentation from your references, and we do not accept reference letters.

You can submit official government tax or income documentation from your home country if it includes an indication of your parents or guardians' income, if that is available. You could also submit an official letter from your parents'/guardians' employer confirming their income for 2023.

Once all General Entrance Award applications are assessed, all recipients, including those with early entrance scholarships will be asked to accept their offers through DalOnline.

This initial award offer will be re-evaluated for additional or higher valued awards based on academic merit, community involvement, cultural identity/heritage, financial need, and more. Learn more about applying here. 

We assess everyone for entrance awards after the February 15th deadline. Students will be notified of their award offers in Spring.

As long as you have not completed any transferrable post-secondary study, you can apply to the General Entrance Award program.

Yes. Athletic scholarships are managed by Dalhousie Athletics. Please contact a coach or complete a prospective recruit form for more information.

Dalhousie Tigers (Halifax)

Dalhousie Rams (Truro)

Yes! Students are considered for entrance awards based on academic merit, other achievements, cultural identity/ancestry, community involvement, and more. Only some awards consider financial need. 

Our General Entrance Award program is open to students applying to start their studies in September only. Once enrolled at Dalhousie there are other awards and bursary opportunties for students to explore.

Unfortunately, we are not able to re-assess awards based on final grades.  Grades may go up or may go down after the first semester finals but your award decision will be based on first semester finals.

You can accept your award by logging in and selecting your award within the Application Portal. 

Entrance awards may only be deferred to the winter term with an approved admissions deferral. More information about admissions deferral is available here.

IN-COURSE SCHOLARSHIPS & AWARDS

Halifax Campus students: You are automatically considered for Dalhousie In-Course Scholarships each year if you do not currently hold a renewable scholarship. To be eligible, you must have completed a full course load over two terms (minimum 30 credit hours) within the previous academic year (excluding transfer credits). Award amounts vary each year.

A small number of in-course awards require application. Learn more here.

Agricultural Campus students: All students enrolled in any program in the Faculty of Agriculture are encouraged to apply to the Faculty of Agriculture In-Course Award program in September of each year. Check here for more details.

BURSARIES

Dalhousie University's Bursary program provides funds to assist students in financial need. Bursaries are typically smaller amounts of money, intended to supplement other funding sources. Students can apply for bursaries in each term they are registered in at least 6 credit hours. Deadlines and more information online here.   

Many academic departments also award scholarships.  In some cases, applications are required. You can find additional information through your Faculty/School/Department directly.

Your award will be credited to your student account in two equal installments (mid-August and mid-December), provided you are registered full-time. If there is money left over from your scholarship after your fees are paid, you can request a refund from Student Accounts after the last day to add classes each term. If you know that a rebate will be coming but you have a more urgent need (ie - textbooks) consider applying for a Temporary Loan.

All undergraduate awards (excluding bursaries) are listed on your transcript. The name of your award may change to reflect the name of a donor to the University. In this case, you will be notified by email. The year of record will reflect the end of the academic year in which the award is held.

Graduation constitutes completion of a program. If you hold a renewable award and choose to graduate earlier than planned, and then you decide to return for an honours certificate or advanced major certificate, you will forfeit your renewable award and will not be assessed for in-course scholarships.

You should keep all award documentation you receive, and bring copies with you if you are moving to attend Dalhousie. If you've lost your offer letter, email the Awards and Financial Aid Office for a replacement.

If you have received an entrance award, your high school may be sent a list of entrance scholarships offered to their students. Your scholarship(s) will be included unless you specified on your application for admission that you did not wish to participate. High schools are not notified of entrance bursaries. Your name, hometown, and program of study will be provided to the donors of your awards to encourage continued support of the awards program. We are required to report awards to the appropriate provincial student aid authority and to the federal government for income tax purposes for all recipients.

Normally, a student's exemptions are sufficiently high so that you do not pay taxes. You will be issued a T4A form in late February, which will cover all monetary awards awarded during the previous tax year. This is a condition of accepting awards. Ensure that we have your Social Insurance Number for tax purposes. Your Social Insurance Number can be updated through phone at: 902-494-2450.

You must remain registered in an eligible undergraduate degree/diploma program offered in the Faculties of Agriculture, Architecture & Planning, Arts & Social Sciences, Computer Science, Engineering, Health, Management or Science, or in the School of Dental Hygiene.

In order to receive your scholarship, you must register as a full-time student (minimum 9 credit hours per term for degree students and 6 credit hours per term for technology students) at Dalhousie University for the term(s) in which the scholarship is awarded. This is the minimum registration requirement and some awards may require more credit hours per term. Students registered at King's College are not eligible for Dalhousie scholarships.

Even though you may have already earned your renewal, you must still register as a full-time student in order to receive your funding.

Please review your offer letter carefully. If you have been offered a renewable award, the renewal criteria is clearly defined in your letter and you should keep a copy for your records. Your renewal criteria can be found in Dal Online under Awards & Financial Aid, and then select View My Student Aid.

A. Scholarship Grade Point Average (SGPA)
Unless otherwise noted in your letter of offer, a minimum Scholarship Grade Point Average (SGPA) of 3.70 is required in order to maintain a renewable scholarship. The SGPA does not appear on your transcript, but represents the average you have achieved over all the courses you have completed in the fall and winter terms (or summer term for co-op students) which are used for your scholarship assessment.

B. Credit Hours
Unless otherwise noted in your letter of offer, the specified SGPA must be achieved while completing a full course load over two terms (30 credit hours for degree students, 20 credit hours for technology students) within the previous academic year. Transfer credits are not counted towards the credit hour requirement for scholarship assessment.

Co-op students who complete one work term during the year must also complete a full course load over the two remaining academic terms (fall, winter or summer) to be eligible. Those who complete two work terms within the academic year must complete a minimum of 15 credit hours during their one academic term.

If you meet renewal requirements, you can receive your renewable scholarship for up to an additional three years of undergraduate study.  If you do not meet the requirements to renew, you will not be eligible to receive your scholarship for one year.  In some cases, you can earn the scholarship back in subsequent years if your SGPA and/or courseload returns to the required level within the three years that you are eligible to renew.

Renewal Criteria

I am completing one work term during the academic year:

You must complete your required credit hours and achieve your SGPA over two terms (fall, winter or summer). You are not permitted to complete one work term and only one academic term; you must complete two academic terms as per your renewal criteria.

I am completing two work terms during the academic year:

You are required to complete half of your minimum required credit hours in one academic term. You must attain your required SGPA in that one term. For example, if your criteria state you must complete 30 credit hours over two academic terms and attain a 3.7 SGPA, when you are completing two work terms in a year you would be required to complete 15 credit hours in one academic term and attain a 3.7 term GPA.

Receiving your funding

Awards are applied to your student account in fall and winter each year. If you are on co-op during fall or winter, your award will still be applied to your student account. The funding can go toward future fees, or you can contact Student Accounts to request a refund.

Length of study

The large majority of our renewable awards are offered on a four-year schedule. If co-op extends your period of study into a fifth year, you will not be eligible for a renewal in that year. After your fourth year of study (and final year of your renewable award), you will be assessed for an in-course scholarship. If eligible, you will receive this award in your fifth year.

If you reduce your courseload below full-time status or withdraw from the university, these funds are expected to be returned. Depending on the time of your course load reduction or withdrawal you may be entitled to retain a portion of your award. Contact the Awards and Financial Aid Office prior to dropping classes or withdrawing to review your situation.

If you are entering Nursing directly from high school, you will study for a total of three academic years. Most of our renewable awards are offered on a four year schedule. If you receive or confirm an offer to Nursing after you have already received a renewable award offer, contact the Awards Office to make sure your total award amount is distributed over three years instead of four.

Completing more than one class per term on a letter of permission at another institution will result in you being ineligible for in-course scholarship consideration or the renewal of your current scholarship. This does not apply to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science (Nursing) program in Yarmouth, Costume Studies students taking courses at NSCAD, and students on Dalhousie-approved exchange programs.

Audited courses are not for credit, and therefore not counted when determing courseload requirements for award purposes.

If you decide to change your faculty or program after you have been awarded your scholarship, contact the Awards and Financial Aid Office so we can review your options with you as your scholarship amount may change.

You must remain registered as a full-time student to be eligible to keep your scholarship. If you hold a renewable scholarship, check your scholarship letter of offer for your renewal criteria before dropping classes. Consideration for in-course scholarships requires that you complete 30 credit hours over two terms within the academic year between September 1 and August 31. 

You may be eligible to receive your scholarship while participating in a Dalhousie-approved exchange program. Award holders who plan to study abroad should contact the Awards and Financial Aid Office before departure to discuss their funding schedule.

The academic year consists of three terms: fall, winter, and summer. Scholarship renewals (both campuses) and in-course scholarships (Halifax campus) are normally assessed during the summer, based on the previous year's SGPA. Co-op students who are completing a work term during the fall and/or winter term(s) are assessed at the end of the summer term.

If you do not meet your renewal criteria you will receive an email letting you know. If extenuating circumstances impacted your ability to meet your renewal criteria, further details on how to submit your appeal will be provided through email.