Schulich Builders: Scholarships for Skilled Trades

What you will need

• ✓ An application for admission to the participating college, for a full-time eligible skilled trades program (you must meet the college's admission requirements)
• ✓ The college's own Schulich Builders scholarship application form (requirements vary by college)
• ✓ One letter of recommendation from someone directly connected to you, preferably a high school staff member, employer, co-worker or community service organization
• ✓ Financial need, as determined by the college
• ✓ Optional: a nomination from your Ontario high school (up to five students) or a community organization (up to ten); nominees receive an email invitation from Schulich Builders to apply
• ✓ 2026 application deadlines (all passed): Algonquin April 5; Cambrian, Humber and Mohawk May 30; Centennial, Conestoga, Durham, Georgian and Sheridan May 31; Loyalist June 29; Fanshawe and George Brown June 30

About this award

You can receive up to $40,000 for a two-year diploma ($20,000 per academic year) or $20,000 for a one-year certificate. This is a scholarship, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. The money is intended to help you cover the costs of your tuition, tools, and living expenses. This is for you if you are a hardworking and dedicated person who wants to build a career in the skilled trades and is ready to enter a full-time program in Ontario. The 2026 round is closed: each college set its own application deadline, from April 5 to June 30, 2026, and winners were confirmed by July 31, 2026. Dates for the next round are not posted yet, so check the award's official page and your college's Schulich Builders page for the next deadlines. Selection is based on your work ethic, character, and financial need. Each of the twelve participating colleges selects ten winners: five for one-year certificates and five for two-year diplomas. Because there are only 120 scholarships awarded annually across all schools, it is a competitive process. Ask Schulich Foundation 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. The two-year diploma award is paid as $20,000 per academic year. Participating colleges give the renewal rule on their own Schulich Builders pages; at Fanshawe and Loyalist, for example, you keep the scholarship by passing each semester and staying in full-time study, with no minimum average required.

Who qualifies

To qualify, you must be a Canadian citizen and meet the admission requirements for your chosen college. You must be enrolling in a full-time, eligible skilled trade one-year certificate or two-year diploma program at a participating college in Ontario (the 2026 round was for programs starting in Fall 2026). Note that each college maintains its own specific list of which programs are eligible, so you should check the college website to ensure your program qualifies.

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
• ✓ Open to certificate students
• ✓ Resident of Ontario
• ✓ Studying skilled trades

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

• RecommendationAvoid getting a generic letter that only confirms you were a student. Instead, ask a high school staff member, employer, co-worker, or community leader to write about your specific work ethic and character. Provide them with examples of times you showed dedication on the job or in class.
• SupportAvoid waiting until the last minute to find a nominee. Instead, reach out to your school counselor or a local community organization early to see if they can nominate you. Since high schools can nominate five students and community groups can nominate ten, getting on their list is a great first step.
• StrategyAvoid applying to just one college if you have options. Instead, check the deadlines for all twelve participating Ontario colleges to see which one best fits your program and has a later deadline. Make sure you apply to the college first, as you must meet their admission requirements to be eligible for the money.
• RealismAvoid assuming that meeting the basic requirements is enough to win. Instead, remember that each college only has ten spots—five for certificates and five for diplomas. Focus your application on proving your financial need and your strength of character to stand out among the 120 annual winners.

Questions students ask

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