Applying for entrance awards and scholarships
If you’re entering HÂþ» in the fall term, you can apply for entrance awards through the General Entrance Award application.Ìý
If you are starting your studies in the winter or summer term, visit the Current undergraduate student awards and Bursaries pages to learn about available funding.
IfÌýyou’reÌýapplyingÌýto HÂþ» directlyÌýfrom high school (or have no transferable post-secondary study), complete theÌýGeneral Entrance Award applicationÌýafterÌýsubmittingÌýyourÌýadmissionÌýapplication through the .
Through this application,Ìýyou’llÌýbe considered for hundreds of awards, including:
- Scholarships:ÌýBased primarily on academic achievement
- Bursaries:ÌýBased on financial need
- Hybrid awards:ÌýBased on a combination of merit, leadership, and need
Awards may be one-time, or renewable for up to 4 years.
Selection criteria
Entrance awards are awarded based on a combination of:
- Academic achievement
- Leadership and initiative
- Extracurricular involvement
- Community service
- Financial need
- Cultural identity
We assess each student individually based on their full application.
Some awards require aÌýseparate application, which you can complete after applying to HÂþ».
Eligibility
You’re eligible to apply if you:
Are applying directly from high school, or are a mature student with no transferable post-secondary study
Are applying to start in the Fall term
Meet the academic requirements (typically an 80% average or 26 predicted/anticipated IB points)Ìý
Eligibility FAQs
You should still apply. Not all awards are based on financial need.Ìý
Some entrance awards are based on academic achievement, leadership, community involvement, cultural identity or ancestry, and other accomplishments.Ìý
Award decisions are based on your Grade 12 first-semester final grades. Grades received later will not be used to reassess your award.
How to apply
To be considered for entrance awards, you must complete your application and submit all required documents before the deadline.
The 2027–2028 General Entrance Award program opens onÌýOctoberÌý1, 2026,Ìýwith an application deadline of February 15, 2027.
How you apply depends on where you are on your journey to HÂþ»:
Application FAQs
- Your school or issuing institution must send your transcript directly to admissions.documents@dal.ca for it to be considered official.
- You must submit your General Entrance Award application yourself through your
- If you need to provide supporting documents for your entrance award application—such as financial or disability-related documents—upload them directly in the General Entrance Award application in the
You usually do not need to submit a transcript if your OUAC number or Nova Scotia Student ID number is already on file with the Admissions Office. Your grades will be received automatically.
If you have questions about your transcript, OUAC number, or NS Student ID, contact Admissions at admissions@dal.ca or 902-494-2450.
If your transcript, OUAC number, or Nova Scotia Student ID number does not appear on your admission application status page,Ìýcontact Admissions at admissions@dal.ca or 902-494-2450.
Transcripts are added to student files manually, so it may take a few business days for them to appear. They will show on your admission application status page, not in Dal Online.
You do not need to submit them again if your first-semester transcript, OUAC number, or Nova Scotia Student ID number has already been submitted to the Admissions Office.Ìý
If you’re unsure, contact Admissions at admissions@dal.ca or 902-494-2450.
You still need to provide your official first-semester final grades to be considered for the General Entrance Award program, unless HÂþ» has already received your OUAC number or Nova Scotia Student ID number.
If you were admitted using self-reported grades, you must still submit an official record of your first-semester results. Applications with self-reported grades alone will not be considered for the General Entrance Award program.
No. Entrance awards are based only on the information included in your General Entrance Award application.
For the General Entrance Award program, references do not need to send any documents, and reference letters are not accepted.
Some entrance awards require separate applications, which may require reference letters. Please review the application instructions carefully for more details.
International applicant FAQs
To be considered for entrance awards, you need to provide your Grade 12 first-semester marks.
If your school does not use semesters, it can submit your grades from the first half of the school year. These may be called predicted grades or mid-term grades.
If you do not have an Income Tax Notice of Assessment, you can submit:
Official government tax or income documents from your home country showing your parent(s)’ or guardian(s)’ income, or
An official letter from your parent’s or guardian’s employer confirming their income
If the document is in a language other than English or French, please include an English translation.Ìý
After you apply
We review entrance award applications after theÌýFebruary 15 deadline. If you receive an award,Ìýwe’llÌýnotify youÌýin theÌýspring.
You can accept your awardÌýby accepting yourÌýrelevantÌýoffer of admission through your Application PortalÌýand paying your admission deposit.
Early entrance award offers must be accepted by paying your admission deposit by January 31. This guarantees you to receive no less than your early award amount.Ìý
If you are awarded a General Entrance Award (GEA) in addition to your Early Entrance Scholarship, you will keep the higher-value award:Ìý
- If your GEA is higher than your Early Entrance Scholarship, you’ll receive the GEA amount.Ìý
- If your GEA is the same, you’ll receive only the GEA amount.Ìý
- If your GEA is lower, you’ll keep your Early Entrance Scholarship.Ìý
We continue to review General Entrance Award eligibility as students make decisions about their offers of admission and awards, and as higher-value or additional awards become available. This allows us to extend support to as many deserving students as possible.
You can defer your entrance award only to the winter term, and only if your admission deferral has been approved.
ÌýIf you defer your admission to the following academic year, you will be eligible to re-apply for the General Entrance Award program, provided you do not complete transferable post-secondary study during this time.
How your award is paid
Your award will be applied to yourÌýstudent accountÌýinÌýtwo equal instalments:
- mid-August
- mid-December
To receive the funds, you must beÌýregistered full-timeÌý(minimum 9 credit hours per term for degree students and 6 credit hours per term for technology students) at HÂþ» University for the term(s) in which the scholarship is awarded.
If there is moneyÌýremainingÌýafter your tuition and fees are paid, you canÌýrequest aÌýrefund from Student AccountsÌýafter theÌýlast day to add classesÌýin each term.
If you are expecting a refund but need money sooner for urgent costs such asÌýtextbooks, you may want toÌýapply forÌýaÌýemergencyÌýloan.
Awards for specific student groups
Some entrance awards are designed to support specific student communities and experiences.Ìý
You can apply for these through theÌýGeneral Entrance Award application, unless otherwise noted.
Black students
Value:ÌýIn addition to financial support, Faculty of Management advisors will provide academic and career support, includingÌýassistanceÌýin finding work terms and career mentors to support long-term career aspirations.Ìý
Eligibility:ÌýBlack and Indigenous students with priority given to African Nova Scotian and Mi’kmaq students admitted to the Bachelor of Commerce or Bachelor of Management programs.
Value:Ìý$32,000 ($8,000 per year renewable for 4 years)Ìý
Eligibility:ÌýIndigenous Black and First Nations students from Atlantic Canada whoÌýdemonstrateÌýgood academic standing and financial need.
Value:ÌýUp to $80,000 (up to $20,000 per year renewable for 4 years)Ìý
Eligibility:ÌýBlack African Nova Scotian students who alsoÌýdemonstrateÌýfinancial need and extracurricular involvement.
Value:Ìý$12,000 ($4,500 per year renewable for 4 years)Ìý
Eligibility:ÌýPreference is given to Canadian students of Black African descent, with second preference to Black Bermudian students at HÂþ». Preference is also given to students entering a Bachelor of Science.
Value:Ìý$32,000 ($8,000 per year renewable for 4 years)Ìý
Eligibility:ÌýA domestic undergraduate student from an under-represented or underserved group entering an undergraduate degree program.
Domestic students: $32,000 ($8,000 per year renewable for 4 years)
International students: $48,000 ($12,000 per year renewable for 4 years)
Eligibility:
- Two awards forÌýdomestic students:
- One award for a student of Black/African descent of Caribbean heritage
- One award for a Black/African Nova Scotian student entering an undergraduate degree program
- One award for anÌýinternational studentÌýof Black/African descent from the Caribbean (preference to those from the former British West Indies) entering an undergraduate degree program.
Value:ÌýUp to $10,000 over 2 years ($5,000 entrance scholarship and $5,000 for year two of your studies (dependent on academic performance)Ìý
Eligibility:ÌýStudents of African descent with priority given to African Nova Scotian studentsÌýandÌýBlack CanadiansÌýadmitted to the Bachelor of Computer Science or Bachelor of Applied Computer Sciences.Ìý
Indigenous students
Value:ÌýIn addition to financial support, Faculty of Management advisors will provide academic and career support, includingÌýassistanceÌýin finding work terms and career mentors to support long-term career aspirations.Ìý
Eligibility:ÌýBlack and Indigenous students with priority given to African Nova Scotian and Mi’kmaq students admitted to the Bachelor of Commerce or Bachelor of Management programs.
Value:Ìý$32,000 ($8,000 per year renewable for 4 years)Ìý
Eligibility:ÌýIndigenous Black and First Nations students from Atlantic Canada whoÌýdemonstrateÌýgood academic standing and financial need.
Value:Ìý$32,000 ($8,000 per year renewable for 4 years)Ìý
Eligibility:ÌýA domestic undergraduate student from an under-represented or underserved group entering an undergraduate degree program.
Value:ÌýUp to $10,000 over 2 years ($5,000 entrance scholarship and $5,000 for year two of your studies (dependent on academic performance)Ìý
Eligibility:ÌýStudents who identify as a status or non-status Indigenous person, Metis, or Inuit admitted to the Bachelor of Computer Science or Bachelor of Applied Computer Science. Preference toward applicants who identify as Mi'kmaq.
Value:ÌýUp to $20,000 per year
Eligibility:ÌýStudents who identify as indigenous who have been admitted to the Bachelor of Commerce program and have demonstrated financial need.
Students with a disability
HÂþ» offers a range of bursaries and scholarships for students with disabilities, including:
Value:Ìý$4,000 ($1,000 per year renewable for 4 years)Ìý
Eligibility:ÌýStudents with a permanent disability and financial need.
Value:Ìý$4,000 ($1,000 per year renewable for 4 years)Ìý
Eligibility:ÌýStudents with a permanent disability and financial need.
Value:Ìý$5,000–$20,000 ($1,500–$5,000 per year renewable for 4 years)Ìý
Eligibility:ÌýStudents withÌýa permanentÌýdisability and financial need.
Value:Ìý$1,500Ìý
Eligibility:ÌýStudents withÌýa permanentÌýdisability and financial need.
Value:Ìý$4,000Ìý
Eligibility:ÌýStudents withÌýa permanentÌýdisability and financial need.
International students
International students areÌýconsidered forÌýentrance awards byÌýsubmittingÌýtheÌýGeneral Entrance Award application.ÌýExamples include:
Value:Ìý$15,000Ìý
Eligibility:ÌýStudents from India entering the Bachelor of Commerce program whoÌýdemonstrateÌýgood academic standing.
Value:Ìý$88,000 ($22,000 renewable for 4 years)Ìý
Eligibility:ÌýStudents from Jamaica entering the Bachelor of Engineering program,Ìýwith a preferenceÌýforÌýCivilÌýEngineering,ÌýwhoÌýdemonstrateÌýgood academic standing and financial need.Ìý
Ìý
Value: $48,000 ($12,000 per year renewable for 4 years)
Eligibility: One award for anÌýinternational studentÌýof Black/African descent from the Caribbean (preference to those from the former British West Indies) entering an undergraduate degree program.
Awards requiring a separate application
Value:Ìý$120,000 (Engineering) or $100,000 (Science,ÌýTechnology,Ìýand Math)Ìý
Eligibility:ÌýStudents entering HÂþ» University directly from a Canadian high school to study in a STEM program. Awarded based on academic merit, leadership, and financial need.
How to apply:ÌýApply through the Schulich Leader Scholarships program.
Value:Ìý$24,000 ($6,000 per year)Ìý
Eligibility:ÌýStudents entering HÂþ» University directly from high school into the Music program or who intend to major in Theatre.Ìý
Deadline:ÌýMarch 1
How to apply:ÌýApply through the Fountain School of Performing Arts.
Value:Ìý$16,000
Eligibility:
- High school applicants who areÌýCanadian citizens or permanent residentsÌýand entering an undergraduate program (excluding Pre-Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Technology, and others intending to pursue veterinary studies).
- Scholarships will be given to students whoÌýdemonstrateÌýfinancial need, initiative to fund their own education, and strong leadership skills.
Deadline:ÌýMarch 1
How to apply:Ìýand email the required documentation toÌýawards@dal.caÌýbefore the application deadline.Ìý
Value:Ìýup to $5,000 eachÌý
Eligibility:ÌýApplicants entering the Bachelor of Computer Science or the Bachelor of Applied Computer Science program directly from high school.Ìý
Deadline:ÌýMarch 1
How to apply:ÌýApply through the Faculty of Computer Science.Ìý
Value:Ìý$10,000 (over 2 years)Ìý
Eligibility:ÌýCanadian and international applicants entering the Bachelor of Computer Science or the Bachelor of Applied Computer Science program. Preference will be given to applicants who identify as female.Ìý
Deadline:ÌýMarch 1
How to apply:ÌýApply through the Faculty of Computer Science.Ìý
Value: $24,000 ($6,000 per year)
Eligibility:ÌýApplicants from Cole Harbour High School, N.S. entering eligible programs in:
- Architecture & Planning
- Arts & Social Sciences
- Computer Science
- Engineering
- Health
- Management
How to apply:ÌýContact theÌý for an application.
Athletic scholarships are managed by HÂþ» Athletics.Ìý
How to apply:ÌýPlease contact a coach or complete a prospectiveÌýrecruitÌýform for more information.