BMO Leader of Tomorrow Scholarships

What you will need

• ✓ Completed University of Manitoba application for admission
• ✓ Payment of the university admission application fee
• ✓ Grade 11 high school transcript
• ✓ One letter of recommendation from your high school Principal
• ✓ One letter of recommendation from your high school teacher or counsellor
• ✓ One letter of recommendation from a community member

About this award

You get $16,000 for this scholarship, paid as $4,000 in each year of a four-year undergraduate degree. 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 school graduate with a strong record of leadership, community involvement, and academic excellence. For fall 2027 entry, your scholarship application, your University of Manitoba admission application and fee, your Grade 11 transcript and all three references are due December 1, 2026. Short-listed applicants are interviewed in early March 2027, and decisions are released by email and in your application portal in mid-March 2027. A selection committee ranks applicants on a holistic review of grades, extra-curricular activities, reference letters and an interview. Applicants who are not selected for an interview do not get a decision. Ask the University of Manitoba's Financial Aid and Awards office (lotawards@umanitoba.ca) 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. To receive the award, you must keep a 90% average in the Grade 12 (40S) courses the University of Manitoba uses to calculate general entrance scholarships.

Who qualifies

You must be a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident entering any of the direct-entry programs of the University of Manitoba in September 2027. There are nine awards total: six awards for students graduating from high school within Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario, and three awards at the national level for students graduating from a Canadian high school outside of Manitoba. Three more awards are set aside for First Nations, Métis and Inuit students graduating from a high school in Manitoba or Northwestern Ontario (the BMO Indigenous Leader of Tomorrow Scholarships). You must have a high school average of at least 90 per cent in English 30S (or Français 30S and Anglais 30S), Mathematics 30S (pre-calculus or applied only), and your three highest marks among Biology 30S, Chemistry 30S, Physics 30S, History 30F, Geography 30S, Computer Science 30S, or another 30S level language. You also need to show evidence of leadership potential, high-level communication skills, community involvement, and special abilities such as artistic, athletic, or linguistic skills.

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 or permanent resident
• ✓ Open to high school students

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

   Order your transcript1–2 weeks

   Your school's registrar can take a week or two.

3. 3

   Ask for reference letters2 weeks

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

4. 4

   Submit your application

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

Tips for applying

• ReferencesAvoid choosing recommenders who only know you casually. Instead, pick people who can provide detailed evidence of your leadership and character. Reach out to your referees early to ensure they have time to meet the December 1 deadline.
• SupportAvoid sending the same generic request to all three references. Instead, tell each recommender specifically which trait—like community service or academic grit—you want them to highlight. Provide them with a summary of your achievements to help them write a stronger letter.
• StrategyAvoid waiting until the last minute to apply for admission to the university. Instead, complete your University of Manitoba application and pay the fee well before December 1. Remember that you are ineligible for the scholarship if your admission application is late.
• RealismAvoid ignoring the strict 90 per cent average requirement. Instead, calculate your average using only the specific 30S courses listed in the eligibility rules. If your average is below this mark, focus your energy on awards with different academic thresholds.

Questions students ask

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