President's scholarships
President's Scholarships
Eligibility and conditions
How you’ll be notified
The President's Scholarships
If you're admitted to a full-time, first-year program and are beginning post-secondary studies for the first time in fall 2013, and your early May admission average is 85% or more, you'll be awarded one of the following scholarships.
No application is required. You must accept your Offer of Admission by the date specified on the offer to remain eligible for these scholarships.
| Admission average* | Scholarship Name | Amount |
| 95% or higher | President’s Scholarship of Distinction | $2,000 Entrance Scholarship, PLUS a $1,500 International Experience Award**, and/or a $1,500 Research Award** |
| 90 - 94.9% | President’s Scholarship | $2,000 Entrance Scholarship |
| 85 - 89.9% | Merit Scholarship | $1,000 Entrance Scholarship |
*Based on marks available in early May.
**These awards are available in your upper years if you choose to claim them and if you complete your first year with at least an 80% average. The International Experience Award is available only to Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents.
President's Scholarship of Distinction
If you meet the conditions outlined below, you’ll be awarded a University of Waterloo President’s Scholarship of Distinction valued at $2,000 and a $1,500 International Experience Award and/or a $1,500 Research Award.
- Your early May admission average, including required courses, must be 95% or higher for the program for which you’ve received and accepted an Offer of Admission.
- You must accept your Offer of Admission by the date specified on the offer.
- You must be enrolled at Waterloo in full-time studies (minimum 2.5 course units) for the entire fall 2013 term.
International Experience Award
The International Experience Award will be awarded to Distinction Scholars who participate in an international study or work experience. It is available in your upper years should you choose to claim it and is subject to the following conditions:
- You must must complete your first year with an average of at least 80%.
- You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- You must be in your second year or higher at Waterloo.
The International Experience Award may also help you meet the requirements for the Global Experience Certificate.
Research Award
The Research Award will be awarded to Distinction Scholars as full or partial payment for an on-campus research position with a Waterloo professor or for a research-based co-op position with the University of Waterloo. You will be invited to find a Waterloo professor to engage you as full- or part-time research assistant for a term to carry out research under his or her supervision. It is available in your upper years should you choose to claim it and is subject to the following conditions:
- You must complete your first year with an average of at least 80%.
- You must be in your second year or higher at Waterloo.
President's Scholarship
If you meet the conditions outlined below, you’ll be awarded a University of Waterloo President’s Scholarship valued at $2,000.
- Your early May admission average, including required courses, must be 90 - 94.9% for the program for which you’ve received and accepted an Offer of Admission.
- You must accept your Offer of Admission by the date specified on the offer.
- You must be enrolled at Waterloo in full-time studies (minimum 2.5 course units) for the entire fall 2013 term.
Merit Scholarship
If you meet the conditions outlined below, you’ll be awarded a University of Waterloo Merit Scholarship valued at $1,000.
- Your early May admission average, including required courses, must be 85 - 89.9% for the program for which you’ve received and accepted an Offer of Admission.
- You must accept your Offer of Admission by the date specified on the offer.
- You must be enrolled at Waterloo in full-time studies (minimum 2.5 course units) for the entire fall 2013 term.
Eligibility and conditions
1. Admission average
- Your admission average will be calculated using your top 6 Grade 12 U or M courses (based on marks available in early May), including all required courses for the program(s) to which you’ve applied.
- To remain eligible for a President's or Merit Scholarship, your admission average must be 85% or higher for the program for which you’ve received and accepted an Offer of Admission.
- If you receive an Offer of Admission to more than one program, your admission average may qualify you for a President's or Merit Scholarship in one program but not another because your admission average must include required courses, which vary from program to program.
- If your early May average is below 85% but your final average is 85% or higher, you will be awarded the appropriate President’s or Merit Scholarship.
- You'll be notified after we've received final grade reports in July.
2. Attendance
To remain eligible for the full value of the scholarship, you must
- be admitted to full-time, first-year degree studies at Waterloo for fall 2013
- be starting post-secondary studies in a degree program for the first time in fall 2013
- remain enrolled in full-time studies (minimum 2.5 course units) at Waterloo for the full 4-month fall term
Note: This scholarship program pertains to admission to the University of Waterloo only and is not applicable at Renison College or St. Jerome’s University, who offer their own scholarships.
3. Other entrance scholarships
- Other Waterloo entrance scholarships may be awarded in addition to the University of Waterloo President’s or Merit Scholarship. Alternatively, some entrance scholarships are awarded to students with an admission average below 85%.
How you'll be notified
University of Waterloo President’s and Merit Scholarships
If you qualify, you’ll receive a letter with your Offer of Admission.
- If you receive your scholarship offer before May 2013, you must meet all the conditions specified above. Once we’ve reviewed your marks available in early May, we’ll confirm your University of Waterloo President’s or Merit Scholarship by email.
- If you receive your scholarship offer in May 2013, we will already have reviewed your marks available in early May. You must still meet all other conditions specified above.
In August 2013, you’ll receive an email with instructions about how to use the award to help pay your tuition and fees.
Other Entrance Scholarships
If you’re eligible for one of our other entrance scholarships, you’ll receive specific information in mid-May 2013.
In August 2013, you’ll receive an email with instructions about how to use the award to help pay your tuition and fees.
