Important:ÌýTuition waivers can only be applied toÌýtuition charges on your HÂþ» student account.ÌýIf tuition is being paid to another institution, the waiverÌýcannot be used.
HÂþ» employees and families
Post-care tuition waiver
This programÌýhelpsÌýstudents who haveÌýlived in government careÌýand may faceÌýadditionalÌýfinancial and systemicÌýbarriers toÌýaccess andÌýsucceedÌýinÌýpost-secondary education.
ThisÌýwaiverÌýsupports HÂþ»â€™s commitment toÌýaccess and inclusion, particularly for groups overrepresented in the child welfare system, including:
- Indigenous (especially Mi’kmaq) students
- African/Black students (especially African Nova Scotians)
- Students with disabilities
- 2SLGBTQIA+ students
Up to 10 renewable waivers are available each academic year and include:
- Renewable tuition waiver for undergraduate studies
- Transition programming and student supportsÌý
Ìý
You must:
- Have lived in careÌýin Canada’s child welfare systemÌýor have been in receipt of services through the Department of Community Services, Youth Services Program, or equivalent in your province or territoryÌýforÌýat least one yearÌý(cumulative or accumulated)
- Be enrolled in or admitted to a HÂþ» undergraduate programÌýwith tuition and associated fees in the upcoming academic year
- DemonstrateÌýfinancial need
- Not already have full educational funding
- Consent toÌýa release of informationÌýforÌýverification of your time in care
Preference is given to:
- Students connected to the Nova Scotia child welfare systemÌýincluding Mi’kmaw Family and Children’s ServicesÌýof Nova ScotiaÌý– as defined by the Children and Family Services Act, 2017
- Students completing theirÌýfirst undergraduate degree
- Students fromÌýgroups overrepresented in the child welfare system, including:
- Indigenous (especially Mi’kmaq) students
- African/Black students (especially African Nova Scotians)
- Students with disabilities
- 2SLGBTQIA+ students
- ApplicationsÌýareÌýnow open for 2026–2027
- ApplicationsÌýare accepted in three review rounds each year:
| Application received by | Decision communicated by |
| April 1 | April 30 |
| June 1 | June 30 |
| August 1 | August 31 |
IfÌýyou'reÌýnot selected in an earlier round, your application will continue to be considered in future review roundsÌýas long asÌýyou meet the eligibility requirements. Once awarded, the waiver renews automatically for up to six years, or until you complete your degree, provided you continue to meet theÌýrenewal requirements (see below).
ToÌýmaintainÌýyour post-care tuition waiver, you must:
- Maintain a scholarship GPA of 2.0 or higher
- Complete 18 credit hours over 2 academic terms each year
If circumstances beyond your control affect your academic progress, you may be able to appeal. Information about the appeal process is provided in your award letter.
Transition Year Program
Students who complete theÌýTransitionÌýYearÌýProgramÌýwill be eligible for a tuition fee waiver which would coverÌýtuition-relatedÌýexpenses for their first undergraduateÌýdegree.
Eligibility
- African Nova Scotia/Black and Nova Scotia First Nations Persons who are preparing forÌýUniversityÌýcredit study.
- WhileÌýcompletingÌýtheÌýTransition Year Program,ÌýstudentsÌýmay be eligible for the University Prep Bursary fund. Contact Open Learning and CareerÌýDevelopmentÌýfor more information.
Following graduation from the Transition Year Program, students will be eligible forÌýHÂþ» undergraduate bursaries in their first registeredÌýterm.
Senior citizen tuition waiver
You may qualify if you:
- Are aÌýCanadian citizen or permanent resident
- AreÌý65 years of age or olderÌýat registration
- Are enrolled in an undergraduateÌýnon-professional degree program
- Tuition fees only
- Incidental fees
- Auxiliary fees (e.g. music, theatre, costume studies)
- Residence and housing
Apply to HÂþ» as an undergraduate student. If you meet the eligibility criteria, your tuition waiver will be applied to your student account.