Faculty of Science Entrance Scholarship

What you will need

• ✓ No application is required

About this award

You can receive a one-time payment of $500 to $1,000 for one year. This is a scholarship, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. Specifically, if your early May admission average is 85% or higher, you get $1,000; if it is between 80% and 84.9%, you get $500. This is for you if you are a high-achieving student entering the Faculty of Science for the first time. No application deadline is posted because no application is required. You will hear back in mid-May through your University of Waterloo applicant portal. Winners are chosen automatically based on your early May admission average. You get it in addition to any President's Scholarship of Distinction, President's Scholarship or Merit Scholarship your average earns. Ask University of Waterloo 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. This scholarship is for one year only.

Who qualifies

You must be entering your first year of full-time undergraduate studies in the Faculty of Science. This is open to all programs in the faculty except for Aviation, Optometry, and Pharmacy. To qualify, you need an early May admission average of at least 80%.

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 international student
• ✓ Open to high school students
• ✓ Studying Environmental Sciences, Honours Science, Medical Sciences, Science and Aviation, Science and Business, Science and Financial Management, Life Sciences or Physical 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

   Check this year's deadline

   We don't have a confirmed date for this round. The award's official page will have it.

Tips for applying

• Academic AverageAvoid focusing only on your final June grades. Instead, ensure your early May admission average is as high as possible, as this is the specific metric used for these awards. Check your transcript for any gaps before May.
• Portal AccessAvoid checking your email exclusively for news. Instead, log into your University of Waterloo applicant portal frequently starting in mid-May. This is where the official award details are listed.
• StrategyAvoid assuming this is your only source of funding. Instead, look for other faculty or program awards you can receive in addition to the President's or Merit Scholarships. Make a list of all potential overlapping awards.
• RealismAvoid counting on this amount until you see it in your portal. Instead, remember that these are awarded based on academic achievement and are processed once the school receives updated grades from Ontario high schools.

Questions students ask

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