Bennett Family Award for Black and Indigenous Students

What you will need

• ✓ Complete the Scholarships and Awards application in MyFile (the York University student portal) between December 1 and April 1
• ✓ Submit all required supporting documents via email to FAAS@yorku.ca
• ✓ Possess a York student number (you must have applied to a York University program to get one)
• ✓ Self-identify as Black or Indigenous in the application

About this award

You can get up to $7,500 per year for 4 years, up to $30,000 in total. This is a scholarship, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you identify as a Black or Indigenous student transitioning from high school to university. You must apply by April 1. You will be notified by email if you are selected between May and June, and the final decision will be reflected in your MyFile portal starting in June. The award is based on financial need, and you need an admission average of at least 75%. In the application you must self-identify as Black or Indigenous. The money is applied directly to your York Student Account and will show up on your August statement. Confirm with York University if there are any other specific payment steps you need to take. The award renews for 3 more years as long as you keep a sessional GPA of at least 6.0. You cannot hold it together with another renewable entrance scholarship, the York University Automatic Entrance Scholarship or the York University Continuing Student Scholarship.

Who qualifies

To qualify, you must identify as Black and/or Indigenous, have an admission average of at least 75%, be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person, live in Ontario and show financial need. You must also be a Canadian high-school applicant. You must be less than 21 years old by the end of the calendar year in which you are admitted to the university (for example, if you start in the Fall, you must be under 21 by December 31). Additionally, you must have been out of full-time high school studies for less than two years from your graduation date and you must not have previously attempted studies at an accredited college or university.

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.

• ✓ Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person
• ✓ Open to high school students
• ✓ Resident of Ontario

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

   Submit your application

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

Tips for applying

• ApplicationAvoid waiting until the last minute to submit your materials. Instead, complete your application in MyFile as soon as it opens on December 1 to ensure you are considered for the maximum number of awards. Submit all supporting documents to FAAS (the Financial Aid and Awards Services office) via email immediately.
• StrategyAvoid assuming that meeting the basic eligibility means you will win. Instead, focus on presenting your strongest final grades and personal achievements, as York University uses a variety of criteria to select recipients.
• RealismAvoid relying solely on this funding for your entire four-year plan. Instead, treat this as one part of your financial strategy and confirm the exact renewable terms with York University so you know what to expect in years two, three, and four.

Questions students ask

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