University of Alberta Scholarships Guide

University of Alberta Scholarship Scholarship in Canada Eligibility Criteria, Who is this scholarship for?, What does it cover?, Maximum Value, and more.

The University of Alberta offers a wide range of scholarships and awards for both domestic and international students. With up to $120,000 in funding available, these scholarships help make post-secondary education more accessible and affordable. This guide provides an overview of some of the top scholarships offered by the University of Alberta, including eligibility criteria, coverage amounts, and application tips.

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Introduction

Attending university can be a major financial investment. Fortunately, the University of Alberta provides substantial scholarship opportunities to help offset the costs of higher education. The university offers scholarships based on academic achievement, leadership, extracurricular involvement, financial need, and other criteria.

There are three main categories of UAlberta scholarships:

• Entrance scholarships – Awarded based on high school grades when admitted
• General scholarships – Awarded based on the scholarship application
• Government scholarships – Awarded by government programs and external agencies

Scholarship values range from $1,000 to fully-funded awards worth over $100,000 over four years of study. By applying to as many scholarships as possible, students can reduce the costs of their degree and avoid taking on excessive student debt.

This guide will outline key details on who is eligible, what major scholarships cover, and how to apply to UAlberta awards. With early planning and preparation, prospective UAlberta students can access generous funding to invest in their academic and career success.

Major Scholarship Programs

The University of Alberta offers too many scholarship programs to list them all here. However, there are a few major awards that students should target in their applications. Here is an overview of some of the top UAlberta scholarship opportunities.

Entrance Scholarships

Entrance scholarships are awarded automatically to incoming undergraduate students based on academic achievement in high school. No separate application is required. The highest value entrance scholarships include:

• President’s Excellence Scholarship – Up to $40,000 ($10,000 x 4 years)
• Alexander Rutherford Scholarship – Up to $2,500 per year
• Dr. Iris Rich Memorial Scholarship – Up to $18,000 ($4,500 x 4 years)

Prestige Scholarships

The University of Alberta’s most prestigious and generous scholarships are:

• Schulich Leader Scholarship – $100,000 for engineering students
• National Scholarship – $120,000 ($30,000 x 4 years)
• Walter H Johns Scholarship – $120,000 ($30,000 x 4 years)

These awards provide substantial funding in addition to the President’s Excellence Scholarship. Competition is extremely fierce for these scholarships.

General Awards

Beyond automatic entrance scholarships, the University of Alberta offers over 1,000 general awards that require an application. These scholarships recognize academic achievement, extracurricular activities, volunteering, research potential, and more. Some notable awards include:

• Academic Excellence Scholarship – $5,000 to $14,000
• Citizen Scholar Award – Up to $80,000 ($20,000 x 4 years)
• Horizon Scholarship – $24,000 ($6,000 x 4 years)

Government Scholarships

The university also distributes scholarships from government agencies and external partners, such as:

• Alberta Scholarship Programs – Over $2.6 million available
• Scholarships Canada – Database of external scholarships
• Global Affairs Canada – For international students

Careful review of all available external scholarships can help students maximize their total award funding.

Eligibility Criteria

Scholarship eligibility varies depending on the award, but some typical requirements include:

• Canadian citizen/permanent resident status
• International student status
• Registered in full-time studies
• Minimum high school or post-secondary GPA
• Enrolled in specific program of study
• Demonstrated financial need
• Alberta residency

Some scholarships also have selection criteria like leadership qualities, community service, extracurricular activities, research potential, or communication skills.

Students should review award descriptions closely to determine if they meet basic eligibility standards. Meeting the minimum criteria makes an application eligible for review but does not guarantee a scholarship offer. The selection committees choose recipients based on merit.

What Scholarships Cover

UAlberta scholarships provide funding to help cover the costs of attaining an undergraduate or graduate degree. Typical expenses covered include:

• Tuition and mandatory fees
• Textbooks and supplies
• Room and board
• Travel or research costs
• Technology costs
• Incidental costs

Some awards are unspecified and can be used at the student’s discretion. Others are allotted to specific expenses like travel abroad. Students should understand what costs their scholarships cover when budgeting.

Application Tips

Applying strategically is key to accessing the most scholarship funding possible at the U of A.

Here are some top application tips:

• Meet all deadlines – Entrance awards close on March 1. General scholarships close January 10. Don’t miss key dates!
• Highlight achievements – Craft your application to emphasize academic excellence, leadership roles, unique talents.
• Get feedback – Have teachers, parents, peers review your application. Revise and improve it.
• Customize essays – Adapt personal statements for each scholarship’s goals. Don’t reuse essays.
• Follow instructions – Carefully adhere to word counts, formatting rules, supporting docs.
• Proofread thoroughly – Fix all typos, grammar errors, inaccurate details.
• Be organized – Create a spreadsheet to track scholarships, deadlines, requirements.

With attention to detail and a strategic approach, students can submit stellar applications and earn scholarship funding to achieve their academic dreams.

Application Process

The application process varies depending on the type of scholarship:

Entrance Scholarships

No application required. Based on final high school grades submitted when accepting UAlberta admission offer. Notified of scholarship offers in acceptance letter.

General Scholarships

• Complete online application form
• Upload transcripts, extracurricular and volunteer records
• Write personal statements and short answers
• Submit by January 10 deadline
• Notified by email of results

External Scholarships

• Follow application instructions from the awarding agency
• May require transcripts, reference letters, essays
• Submit by external deadline dates
• Results sent by awarding agency

Students should start preparing scholarship applications well in advance of deadlines to allow sufficient time. Talk to school counsellors for support in the application process.

Maximum Scholarship Values

The University of Alberta offers some of the most generous undergraduate scholarships in Canada.

Below are some of the highest potential values:

These awards provide substantial funding over a four-year degree. With multiple scholarship offers, students could reduce their educational costs significantly or even achieve a full-ride scholarship.

Conclusion

The University of Alberta offers one of the most generous and comprehensive scholarship programs in Canada. With awards ranging from $1,000 to $120,000 in funding over four years of study, students have incredible opportunities to make their post-secondary education affordable.

By applying to entrance scholarships, faculty-specific awards, university-wide scholarships, and external awards, students can access funding to cover tuition, books, housing, and other educational costs. With early planning and strategic applications, all prospective UAlberta students can find awards to invest in their bright futures. The time and effort put into scholarship applications pays off by reducing financial barriers on the path to academic and career success.