Awards Requiring Individual Applications

You are required to submit individual application forms to be considered for these scholarships, bursaries, and awards.

Please pay close attention to deadlines, eligibility information, and instructions on where/how to submit your application.

The following awards have been made available thanks to the generosity of Queen's donors.

 

Commitment Scholars

The Commitment Scholars Award celebrates and recognizes demonstrated leadership in, and commitment to, racial justice, social justice, or diversity initiatives by a student in their high school or in their community. 

The award provides dedicated financial, academic, and career support to help students complete their degree.

Please email us with any questions.
 

Ten renewable awards of $12,000 per year.

Mentorship and Advising for Commitment Scholars

Students will be connected to dedicated advisors who will provide one-on-one guidance on:

  • Academics
  • Financial planning
  • Career preparation

Students will also receive support from peer advisors, and connections to other networks.

Celebrating Student Scholars – Queen's Gazette, September 29, 2022

Queen's Welcomes First Commitment Scholars - Queen's Gazette, August 3, 2021 

Students must meet the following criteria: 

  • Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or a protected persons of Canada  
  • Applicants must be entering full-time studies in the first year of a first-entry undergraduate degree program at Queen's in September 2023 
  • Self-identification as a member of an underserved or underrepresented group, including Black, Indigenous* and other racialized students, Persons with Disabilities, and 2SLGBTQ+ individuals  
  • Demonstrated leadership in, and commitment to, racial justice, or EDII initiatives in their high school or their local community 
  • Given the value of this award, candidates who receive this award will not receive other merit-based awards 

*Indigenous students are required to provide evidence of Indigenous ancestry 

  1. Apply for admission to Queen’s University
  2. Complete the Commitment Scholars application on the SOLUS Student Centre

Deadline

The 2024-25 Commitment Scholars application will be available in October 2023 via your SOLUS Student Centre. Navigate to the Financial Aid tile and select Online Award Applications to access the application. 

The deadline to submit the 2024-24 Commitment Scholars application is February 15, 2024.

The practice application is located on the forms page


Application Process

  1. The online application includes 3 questions. It is recommended that you prepare your responses in advance and copy and paste them into the form before submitting
  2. The practice application contains the questions that will appear in the online application form. There will not be any additional questions
  3. The application must include contact information for a verifier who is able to validate and confirm the information in the application
    • The verifier should be knowledgeable of accomplishments and personal attributes that make the applicant a strong candidate for consideration of this award
    • In addition to confirming the information in this application, the verifier should be able to speak to the impact of the applicant’s actions, and level of community engagement
    • The selection committee may contact your verifier during the selection process. A verifier should be an adult and should know the applicant well. Verifiers cannot be family members 

Commitment Bursary

A separate Commitment Bursary is available to eligible first-year students who self-identify as a member of an underserved or underrepresented group through the Admission Bursary applicationLearn more about the Commitment Bursary.

 

"The Commitment Scholars program recognizes our students’ commitments and significant contributions to racial justice, social justice and equity, diversity, inclusion and Indigenization in their schools, their communities, and at Queen’s. This program also reflects and supports our commitments to advancing EDII in recruitment and admissions.”

Ann Tierney, Vice-Provost and Dean of Student Affairs

Direct Entry Undergraduate Programs

Established in January 2013 by Queen's University and awarded on the basis of demonstrated academic achievement to students who are the dependants of Canadian Police or Peace Officer personnel who have died in the line of duty. The student will be entering the first year of any first entry undergraduate degree program. The award is renewable for three subsequent years provided a satisfactory academic average is maintained each year. Applications must be supported by a letter of nomination including confirmation of funding and continued eligibility each year from the Police and Peace Officers' Memorial Ribbon Society.

Established by the class of Science 1948 1/2 on the occasion of their 50th reunion in 1998. Awarded by the Dean of Smith Engineering on the basis of financial need to a mature student entering the first year program in Smith Engineering. Applicants must have been out of a traditional system of education for at least three years and demonstrate the potential for academic success to the Dean of Smith Engineering. The bursary is renewable for three more years provided that a GPA of 2.0 is maintained and that financial need remains evident. Recipients of the bursary, who will be known as The Science 1948 1/2 Scholars, must be Canadian citizens. Application should be made to the Office of the University Registrar, Financial Aid and Awards by February 15.

Category Details
Total value $80,000
Program of study Engineering
Criteria
  • This award was established to assist mature students demonstrating financial need that did not have the opportunity to pursue a post-secondary degree
    • Applicants with a post-secondary degree are not eligible
  • Mature student out of a traditional system of education for at least 3 years
  • Entering first year of an undergraduate degree program in the Smith Engineering as a full-time student
  • Demonstrate financial need
  • Demonstrate potential for academic success
  • Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada
High school grades Variable
Duration Renewable for 3 subsequent years (4 years total) provided a 2.0 GPA is achieved in a full course load each year.  Some additional conditions for renewal may apply
Annual value $20,000
Number available 1
Deadline to apply February 15, 2024

Apply for this award via The Science 1948½ Mature Student Entrance Bursary application.

Faculty of Education

Established in 1987 by John R. McCarthy, B.A.'43, LL.D.'67, former Deputy Minister of University Affairs and Deputy Minister of Education for the Province of Ontario. Awarded to a student who has graduated with at least second-class standing from either a three-year or four-year degree program in the Faculty of Arts and Science at Queen's University who is normally domiciled in Ontario and will be enrolling in the Faculty of Education at Queen's University in the fall session immediately following graduation. The student selected will have displayed leadership in student government and student affairs, made a personal contribution to the life of the University, shown a fondness and aptitude for sports and displayed leadership and sense of fair play in athletic endeavours. A letter of application, a resume, and two letters of reference must be submitted to Student Services at the Faculty of Education by January 15. Reference letters should be sent directly by the referees, to the Faculty of Education. All documents can be submitted either by mail or email.

Deferral of Admission Awards

Information about a deferral of admission can be found on the Undergraduate Admissions website.

If Undergraduate Admission grants a deferral of your admission to the program of study that you have accepted (e.g. Commerce), then your scholarship will also be deferred.

Please note this is for merit-based scholarships only.

Any award that has financial need criteria cannot be deferred. Bursaries are granted based on your current level of financial need. If you are not able to attend in a given year you cannot defer your bursary to use in another year. You may apply for a General Bursary when you are a registered student at Queen’s University and your financial need will be evaluated based on your circumstances at that time.

 

Thank Your Donor

If you received a donor funded award then we will provide you with further information about how you can express your appreciation in the coming weeks. Donors enjoy learning more about the recipients of their awards; this acknowledgement provides them with a first-hand understanding of what their gift has meant to you.