A.H. Atkinson Education Fund Scholarship

What you will need

• ✓ Activate your MacID (the unique McMaster University identification account) and log in to AwardSpring
• ✓ Complete the common application
• ✓ Submit the Faculty of Engineering Entrance Awards application by February 19, 2027, at 11.59 p.m. (ET)
• ✓ Provide contact information for two referees
• ✓ Ensure two reference letters are submitted by February 21, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. (ET)
• ✓ Answer three short-answer questions

About this award

You can receive a $2,500 scholarship, and there is 1 available. This is a scholarship, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you are a high-achieving high school student who balances strong grades with leadership roles and community volunteering. You must submit your application by February 19, 2027, at 11.59 p.m. (ET). Your reference letters must be submitted by February 21, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. (ET). Ask McMaster University – Faculty of Engineering how and when you will be notified of the result. Winners are chosen from the Faculty of Engineering entrance award application, based on an admissions average of 90% or higher, leadership, extra-curricular and/or volunteer involvement, and letters of reference. Only 1 is available. Ask McMaster University – Faculty of Engineering during your application how the money will reach you – some awards pay students directly, others apply funds to tuition. Confirm this so you can plan your cash flow. Renewal conditions aren't listed – if you're counting on this for multiple years, confirm with McMaster University – Faculty of Engineering whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

You must be an applicant from high school entering one of these programs: Bachelor of Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or Integrated Biomedical Engineering & Health Sciences. You need an admissions average of 90% or higher. You must also show leadership experience and attributes, along with involvement in extra-curricular or volunteer activities in your community.

This is what the award's official page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm on the award's official page before you apply.

• ✓ Open to high school students
• ✓ Studying Bachelor of Technology, Computer Science, Engineering or Integrated Biomedical Engineering & Health Sciences

How to apply

1. 1

   Read the award's official page

   Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.

2. 2

   Ask for reference letters2 weeks

   Give your referees at least two weeks' notice, and send them your résumé.

3. 3

   Submit your application

   Save a copy, and submit at least a day before the deadline shown above.

Tips for applying

• Community LeadershipAvoid just listing the names of the clubs you joined. Instead, describe the specific impact you had while leading a project or volunteering. Give one concrete example of a time you helped others.
• RefereesAvoid choosing references who only know you as a student in a classroom. Instead, pick people who can speak to your character and leadership outside of school. Contact your referees early to ensure they meet the February 21 deadline.
• StrategyAvoid leaving the optional special circumstances section blank if you have faced genuine hardships. Instead, use that space to explain how those challenges shaped your leadership skills. Connect your personal history to your future goals in engineering.
• RealismAvoid assuming that a 90% average is enough to win, since only 1 is available. Instead, focus on making your extracurricular and volunteer sections as detailed as possible. Treat this as one part of a broader financial plan for university.

Questions students ask

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