Sankofa Scholarship (Dalhousie)

What you will need

• ✓ Complete the General Entrance Award application via the application portal by February 15, 2027
• ✓ Submit your official first-semester transcript OR your provincial student ID number (for Nova Scotia and Ontario applicants)
• ✓ For applicants not yet accepted to a program: Pay the $70 CAD admissions application fee

About this award

Depending on your residency, you get either $32,000 ($8,000 per year renewable for 4 years) as a domestic student or $48,000 ($12,000 per year renewable for 4 years) as an international student. This is a scholarship, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you are a student of Black/African descent starting an undergraduate degree and you are of Caribbean heritage, African Nova Scotian, or (for the international award) from the Caribbean. You must apply by February 15, 2027. Dalhousie University reviews applications after this date and will notify you in the spring if you receive an award. Selection criteria aren't published — ask Dalhousie University how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. The money is applied directly to your student account in two equal instalments: once in mid-August and once in mid-December. To keep the scholarship, you must remain registered full-time. This means a minimum of 9 credit hours per term for degree students or 6 credit hours per term for technology students. Since the award is renewable for 4 years, confirm with Dalhousie University if you need to maintain a specific GPA to keep the funding each year.

Who qualifies

You are eligible if you are applying directly from high school or are a mature student with no transferable post-secondary study, and you intend to start in the Fall term. You typically need an 80% average or 26 predicted/anticipated IB (International Baccalaureate — a global standardized curriculum) points. There are three specific awards available: 1. One award for a domestic student of Black/African descent of Caribbean heritage. 2. One award for a Black/African Nova Scotian student entering an undergraduate degree program. 3. One award for an international student of Black/African descent from the Caribbean entering an undergraduate degree program; a preference is given to those from the former British West Indies.

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

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

   Submit your application

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

Tips for applying

• Academic RecordAvoid only submitting your final grades. Instead, ensure you provide your official first-semester transcript or your provincial student ID number immediately so the committee can verify your 80% average. Check your portal to ensure the document uploaded correctly.
• Application PortalAvoid waiting until the last minute to log in. Instead, access your Dalhousie University application portal early to see if the General Entrance Award application is visible. Set a calendar reminder for January to double-check your submission.
• StrategyAvoid treating this as a separate application. Instead, remember that you apply for this through the General Entrance Award application. Make sure your personal profile clearly reflects your heritage and residency to match the specific award categories.
• RealismAvoid counting on the award based on grades alone. Instead, recognize that there are only three awards available across these specific identities. Apply for other bursaries at the same time to diversify your funding options.

Questions students ask

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