To encourage academic excellence and support access to higher education, scholarships for Canadian high school students were incorporated into the educational system.
With the scholarships, high school students can be able to cater to their needs such as payment for tuition, transportation, books, and supplies, to mention but a few.
Aside from boarding schools for low-income families, scholarships are a great means for reducing the financial burden on the families of students as they acquire their education.
To be eligible for scholarships, certain criteria must be met by the applying student which may involve nomination, citizenship, age, G.P.A., among others. You must be willing to carefully scrutinize the various scholarship opportunities available and apply for the ones that suit you.
Whether you are a Canadian, American, or international student wishing to study abroad in Canada, this article is for you as it is an eye-opener to scholarship opportunities for high school students in Canada.
Table of Contents
20 Scholarships for Canadian High School Students
1. Alberta Centennial Award
The Alberta Centennial Award is one of the scholarships for Canadian high school students long treasured by the students. Essentially, this award is one of the three Alberta Citizenship Awards which is distributed to recognize students who have positively contributed to their communities.
The award takes the recipients on a state-high pedestal. The Alberta Centennial Award is given to Albertan students for service to their communities.
Award: $2,005 annually for 25 students.
Eligibility:
- Only Alberta high school students who receive the Premier’s Citizenship Award can be considered for the Alberta Centennial Award
2. Canada Star Secondary School Scholarship Award
Canada Star Secondary School is renowned for offering high school scholarships in the Metro Vancouver area. If you are considering scholarships for Canadian high school students, you should take a look at this scholarship.
This scholarship award intends to extend an opportunity to students entering grades 8 through 12 to thrive in an intellectually stimulating learning atmosphere.
Remarkably, 95% of graduates from Canada Star Secondary School have successfully gained admission into their preferred universities both within Canada and, across the globe.
This scholarship is for international and new immigrant students from around the world who are dedicated to pursuing and fulfilling their education and personal goals.
Award:
- 100% tuition waiver for the first year of full-time study for a student at the school
- CAD 5,000 for 6 outstanding performance applicants.
Eligibility:
- Applicants must demonstrate outstanding performance in the following four areas: sports, visual arts & design, music, and performing arts.
- Applicants must be international students or new immigrants from a nationality that is under-represented in the CSSS community, and they are expected to act as ambassadors for the school and attend the CSSS Diversity Scholarship presentation.
3. Premier’s Citizenship Award
The Premier’s Citizenship Award is one of the three Alberta Citizenship Awards that acknowledge students who have made contributions to their communities through service and volunteering.
Every high school in Alberta will nominate one graduating grade 12 student to be honored with this award. The Government of Alberta presents one award each year to a student enrolled in every school across the province. Each recipient is also sent a letter of commendation from the Premier.
Award: Unspecified
Eligibility:
- Must be nominated for the awards
- Must have demonstrated leadership and citizenship through public service and voluntary services.
- Must have made a positive impact in the school/community
- Must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or a protected person (visa students are not eligible)
- Must be an Alberta resident.
4. British Columbia High School Entrance Scholarship
The British Columbia High School Entrance Scholarship is normally provided to excellent-performing high school students who are entering their first year of post-secondary training in British Columbia, Canada.
This scholarship’s purpose is to recognize and reward academic excellence, leadership, and other outstanding achievements of high school and college students.
Award: CAD 5,000 annually for 5 students
Eligibility:
- You apply to study at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV).
- You are in your graduating year, having a minimum overall CGPA (cumulative GPA) of 3.0 on all approved grade 12 courses (taking or completing at least three of them).
- You are an international high school student attending one of the following:
- A secondary school in B.C.
- An offshore high school that has been inspected and certified by the B. C. government.
5. Social Media Ambassador Scholarship
The Social Media Ambassador Scholarship is a prestigious student ambassador award for Canadian students and makes the list of scholarships for Canadian high school students.
Applications are available for Abbey Road Programs Summer Fellowships.
The scholarship requires recipients to share their summer experiences by posting videos, photos, and stories on their social media accounts.
Profiles of the work of the Distinguished Ambassadors will be presented and displayed on the Abbey Road website.
Award: $500 for 3 to 5 students.
Eligibility:
- Must be a high school student aged 14-18
- Must be a student from the United States, Canada, Spain, Italy, France, Greece, UK, or other Central European countries
- Must demonstrate high academic and extracurricular performance
- Should have a competitive overall G.P.A.
6. Cestar High School Scholarship For International Students
Cestar High School which prides itself as the leading private high school for international students in Toronto, offers a comprehensive entrance scholarship for international students with exceptional academic performance.
This scholarship aims to aid international students moving into Canada for high school education in reducing their expenses, and overall education costs.
Award: Full Scholarship
Eligibility:
- Any international student applying for Cestar High School is eligible to apply for the International Scholarship.
- Students must have an academic average of 85 percent or higher in their current high school courses, demonstrated through professionally translated transcripts if necessary.
7. Adult High School Equivalency Scholarship
The Adult High School Equivalency Scholarship is an award for high school students. The scholarship is one of several Canadian high school scholarships that encourage postsecondary seniors to continue their education toward a second degree.
Award: $500 for 200 students
Eligibility:
- Must be a Canadian citizen, Permanent Resident, or Protected Person (visa students are not eligible),
- Must be an Alberta resident
- Must have been out of high school for a minimum of three (3) years before starting a high school equivalency program
- Must have completed a high school equivalency program with an average of at least 80%
- Must be currently enrolled full-time in a post-secondary institution in Alberta or elsewhere
- Must have obtained a signed nomination by the head of the institution at which the applicant completed their high school equivalency program.
8. Toronto French School (TFS) Entrance Scholarship Program
The TFS Entrance Scholarship Program offers an opportunity for extremely good college students entering Grade 7 or above to benefit from enriched learning surroundings.
All of the selected students will graduate bilingual in English and French and be accepted into their college of preference, in Canada and worldwide.
TFS will award scholarships to college students who display high educational status, and involvement in their college and/or network, in addition to economic want.
Entrance Scholarships are renewable each year till graduation if the student maintains an average of 80% and other conditions prescribed by the school.
Award: Unspecified
Eligibility:
- The Entrance Scholarship is open to Canadian residents only.
- Students with families have an annual income of less than $80,000.
9. Green Ticket Scholarships
This is one of Abbey Road’s scholarships for Canadian high school students. The Green Ticket Scholarship is a scholarship that seeks to reward students who have been dedicated to their environment and nature.
This is a scholarship that inspires college students to be more conscious of the natural environment and their local communities.
Award: Round-trip airfare to any Abbey Road summer program destination (2 tickets— 1 full and 1 partial)
Eligibility:
- Must be a high school student aged 14-18
- Must be a student from the United States, Canada, Spain, Italy, France, Greece, UK, or other Central European countries
- Must demonstrate high academic and extracurricular performance
- Should have a competitive overall G.P.A.
10. Chris Meyer Memorial French Scholarship
The Chris Meyer Memorial French Scholarship is another Canadian scholarship offered by Abbey Road.
This scholarship is provided exclusively to students of French Language and Culture.
The award recipients get enrolled into the Abbey Road’s 4-week French Homestay and Immersion Program in St-Laurent, France.
Award: One full (tuition paid) and one partial (50% of tuition paid)
Eligibility:
- Must be a high school student aged 14-18
- Must be a student from the United States, Canada, Spain, Italy, France, Greece, UK, or other Central European countries
- Must demonstrate high academic and extracurricular performance
- Should have a competitive overall G.P.A.
11. National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NLSI-Y)
High school students can take advantage of this scholarship as it is available to Canadians with permanent residence in the US.
The program seeks applications from every area of the US, to reflect diverse communities of the U.S.
The application is designed to promote the mastering of the eight important NLSI-Y languages — Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Hindi, Korean, Persian (Tajik), Russian and Turkish.
Award recipients will gain a complete scholarship to learn one overseas language, stay with a host family, and acquire intercultural experience. There isn’t any guarantee of an excursion to historical sites at some point in the academic ride until it’s compulsory for a specific course.
Award: Full Scholarship
Eligibility:
- Must be a high school student.
- Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- Must be interested in obtaining an intercultural experience through learning one of the 8 critical NLSI-Y languages.
12. Lives to Change Scholarship
The Lives to Change Scholarship from the AFS Intercultural Program is designed as one of the outstanding scholarships for Canadian high school students as it provides an opportunity for them to participate in a program to study abroad without incurring any participation fees.
Recipients of the scholarship have the privilege to pick out their desired study location. Throughout the program, the students will be immersed in studying the local culture and language of their chosen host country.
Students who are awarded the scholarship will live with families in the host country which will provide the best insight into the life and culture within the environment.
Award: Full Scholarship
Eligibility:
- Must be aged 15 – 18 before the day of departure.
- Must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada.
- Must have submitted medical records for assessment.
- Must be a full-time high school student who has good grades.
- Must demonstrate motivation to experience an intercultural experience.
13. ExpressVPN Future Of Privacy Scholarship
ExpressVPN Future Of Privacy Scholarship is a partial Funding international scholarship offered by ExpressVPN for international students.
This scholarship can be taken for pursuing Any subject.
Award: $5,000 (USD)
Eligibility:
- Essays must be written in English.
- Applicants must be currently enrolled in a high school.
- There is no age or citizenship requirement.
14. Viaggio Italiano Scholarship
The Viaggio Italiano scholarship is a scholarship for high school students who have never learned Italian before and wish to do so.
It is open to Canadian high school students who wish to learn the Italian language and culture.
However, it is a need-based scholarship for families earning $65,000 or less as household income.
Award: $2,000
Eligibility:
- The applicant is expected not to have prior knowledge of the Italian language
- It is open to all nationalities.
15. Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Abroad Program
The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) abroad program is an initiative that offers high school scholarships to international students who are seeking to pursue an education in the United States for either one semester or a full academic year.
This scholarship is based on merit and is specifically designed for high school students residing in predominantly Muslim communities.
Some YES students are selected to play the role of ambassadors by representing their communities during their time in the U.S.
Canadian citizens or permanent residents are eligible to submit applications for the program.
Award: Full-scholarship.
Eligibility:
- Must be interested in obtaining an intercultural experience in a host country with a significant Muslim population.
- Must be a U.S citizen or permanent resident
- Must be a high school student at the time of application.
16. Halsey Fund Scholarship
The Halsey Fund Scholarship is a scholarship under the School Year Abroad (SYA) program. The SYA program is designed to incorporate real-world experiences into the daily life of high school students.
With the SYA program, the selected high school students are provided with the opportunity to have a year of intercultural engagement with students from countries other than theirs.
Halsey Fund Scholarship remains one of the most enlightening scholarships for Canadian high school students. The scholarship fund is allocated to any selected student for the SYA program which covers the round-trip airfare as well as the engagement in the new country.
Award: Unspecified
Eligibility:
- Must be a high school student
- Must demonstrate exceptional academic ability,
- Must be committed to their home school communities
- Must be passionate about exploring and learning other cultures.
- Should show need for financial aid
- Applicants can be of any nationality.
17. Key Club/Key Leader Scholarship
The Key Club/Key Leader Scholarship makes our list of scholarships for Canadian high school students. The scholarship is meant for students who have leadership potential and are a member of the Key Club.
Leadership traits such as tolerance, flexibility, integrity, open-mindedness, and courage are some of the things that a student must demonstrate.
In the course of the application process, an essay may be required from the students.
Award: $2,000 award for tuition to 1 student
Eligibility:
- Must be a Key Club member or Key Leader
- Must hold a 2.0 for summer programs and a 3.0 GPA or better on a 4.0 scale for year and semester programs.
- Previous recipients of a YFU scholarship are not eligible.
18. Need-Based Summer Abroad Scholarship
In need of an abroad scholarship to encourage and assist you in gaining knowledge and experience about diverse cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds as a Canadian high school student? Think no further, as the Need-Based Summer Abroad Scholarship is here for you. Immersive cross-cultural programs are offered by this scholarship and provide an avenue for students to explore new cultures.
This scholarship is meant for high school students who have shown leadership potential and demonstrated their abilities in civic engagements and volunteer activities.
Award: $250 – $2,000
Eligibility:
- Must be a high school student
- Must have shown leadership skills through practice
- Must have been involved in civic engagements and volunteerism.
19. CIEE Program Scholarships
The CIEE Program Scholarship is a great scholarship for Canadian high school students and was established to increase access to opportunities to study abroad for students in different nations.
Creating a more peaceful global community is a key point objective of this program as it increases intercultural engagement between students of diverse backgrounds.
Financial aid from this scholarship is provided to young people from Canada, the United States, and around the world to study abroad.
Award: Unspecified
Eligibility:
- Applicants can be from any nationality
- Should have an interest in learning about other cultures and peoples
- Must have applied to an institution abroad.
20. Yoshi-Hattori Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to recipients based on two factors: merit and need, but is available for only one high school student to be sponsored throughout a full year at the Japan High School Program.
In memory of Yoshi Hattori, the scholarship program was initiated and is aimed at promoting intercultural growth, connection, and understanding between the U.S. and Japan.
During the application process, some essays will be written by the students.
Award: Full Scholarship to 1 student.
Eligibility:
- Must be a high school student who is either a US citizen or a Permanent Resident
- Must have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Must have made thoughtful essay submissions for the scholarship.
- The family of the candidate who will qualify must have $85,000 or less as household income.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Types of Scholarships for Canadian High School Students?
The scholarship opportunities that were given in this article are meant for Canadians living in Canada, Canadians living as citizens or permanent residents in the U.S. as a closure, or international available scholarships which Canadian high school students can apply for.
What are the Criteria for Obtaining this Scholarship?
The criteria for scholarships for Canadian high school students vary from one scholarship to another. However, some scholarships prioritize some criteria over others. Some of these criteria include: nomination, citizenship, age, and G.P.A., among others.
What are the Tips for Writing a Good Scholarship Essay?
To prove academic capabilities of the applying students, some scholarships require applying high school students to engage in essay writing. Some tips to put up a convincing essay include: writing an essay on compelling topics, showing personal experiences and volunteering in detail, emphasizing your academic achievements, and effectively conveying your goals and aspirations clearly and concisely.
Conclusion
Scholarships for Canadian high school students serve as a means of financing for many families of students as these students can now cater to their needs at school. To choose the best candidates for these scholarships, certain eligibility criteria must be met by applying students. So, due diligence is expected from you when seeking suitable scholarship opportunities.
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