Graduating high school seniors and college students in Canada who play soccer can qualify for one of the soccer scholarships in Canada if they have good academic standing and excellent athletic ability in soccer. A list of these soccer scholarships is curated here to help you find them and apply for them.
Canada is widely known as a popular study destination for international students but it is also a great place to source for athletic scholarships and, in fact, all types of scholarships. The country is known for providing generous scholarships to domestic and international students to assist them with the cost of tuition.
Some of the common scholarships in Canada include entrance scholarships and athletic scholarships. Entrance scholarships do not require an application and are awarded based on merit. Athletic scholarships in Canada are awarded based on merit and athletic performance or ability and may require an application depending on the provider.
For clarity, athletic scholarships are scholarships awarded to students who are athletes on a varsity team. The student-athlete must be enrolled in a degree program in that same university and participate in competitions with the varsity team. Of course, you already know that there are different sports programs in a college, and the athletic scholarships offered by that college may cover all the sports.
However, in some cases, there are specific scholarships for some specific sports such as basketball scholarships in Canada and soccer scholarships in Canada which is the main reason for this article.
Now, if you play soccer in high school and want to continue playing in college, you can be eligible for a soccer scholarship if you have good grades and perform well at the sport. If you are already enrolled in college and want to play soccer, you can join the soccer team of your institution and be eligible for a soccer scholarship if you also have good grades and perform well at the sport.
The thing with every sports scholarship in Canada is that you must possess both a good grade and perform well in that particular sport to be awarded a scholarship. Good academic standing and excellent athletic performance go hand in hand to win a sports scholarship in Canada and soccer scholarships in Canada are no different.
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How to Get Soccer Scholarships in Canada
Most universities in Canada that offer a sport scholarship do it to encourage student-athletes of all abilities from across the country to attend their institutions and if you are a soccer player, this presents an opportunity for you to receive financial assistance to study a program of your choice at your preferred institution why playing your favorite sports.
Soccer scholarships in Canada are often provided by sports organizations such as CIS, Canadian Football League and U Sport, football academies, and universities/colleges. Getting a soccer scholarship in Canada may seem tough for you but the guide I have provided below will help demystify the process for you and make it easier.
1. Research Eligible Universities
Researching eligible universities and colleges is the first step to getting a soccer scholarship in Canada. However, you can easily make mistakes in this. To do it properly, search for institutions that are members of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) and have a soccer team. The CIS is the national sports governing body in Canada, every athletic scholarship in the nation goes through the organization.
Simply head to the CIS website to see a list of colleges and universities in Canada with soccer teams then apply for admission into one or more of the universities then proceed to join their soccer team.
2. Review the Eligibility Criteria
Every scholarship has eligibility criteria and you have to review them before applying for that particular scholarship. Reviewing the criteria of a scholarship helps you know if you can get it or not and will guide you into the next process which could either be applying for it or not.
Soccer scholarships in Canada also have eligibility criteria and you must understand them before applying, that is, for the ones that require an application. Yes, not all soccer scholarships in Canada require an application. The typical requirement for every sports scholarship in Canada is that student-athletes are in good academic standing and have excellent athletic performance.
3. Prepare Your Scholarship Application
If a soccer scholarship requires an application then you have to prepare one and you must take your time to prepare a strong one that will keep you above the competition. A typical application will include a transcript from your previous education, a portfolio of your athletic accomplishment, and an essay on a topic that is usually set by the scholarship provider.
4. Submit Your Application for Soccer Scholarship
This is the next step right after preparing your application for a soccer scholarship. The scholarship provider will always show you where and how to submit your application. Although it is mostly submitted online or at a specific location that will be provided to you. In some cases, you may be required to submit it to your coach.
5. Follow Up on Your Application
This is the final process involved in getting a soccer scholarship in Canada and it comes right after you have submitted your application. You must follow up with the institution or organization where you have submitted your application for a soccer scholarship. Keep in touch with the right officials to inquire about the status of your application.
Note that coaches play a huge role in soccer or any sports scholarships. Before you begin the process of seeking a soccer scholarship, it’d be best to speak to your coach so they can assess your abilities and grades and then point you to a scholarship that fits you. Sports scholarships, irrespective of the source, are disbursed by coaches because they know the right student for the award.
Coaches also know available scholarships, many of which may not be available online, which is why you must speak with your coach.
Soccer Scholarships in Canada
Soccer scholarships in Canada are provided by universities and colleges, sports organizations, athletic associations, soccer organizations, and soccer academies. Without any further ado, let’s get into the scholarships.
- Langley United Soccer Association (LUSA) Scholarship
- Canadian Imperial College Exceptional Soccer Players Entrance Scholarship
- British Columbia (BC) Awards & Scholarships
- Canadian Sport Institute Pacific Grants & Bursaries
- Ontario Tech University Athletic Scholarships
- The University of Manitoba Athletic Awards
- OFSAA Character Athlete Award
- The University of Toronto Varsity Blues Athletic Scholarships and Financial Aid
- Thomspon Rivers University (TRU) International Athletic Scholarships
- Brian Maxwell Memorial Scholarship
1. Langley United Soccer Association (LUSA) Scholarship
Langley United Soccer Association is a soccer association in Canada that promotes soccer for all ages and abilities. LUSA offer an annual soccer scholarship to a high school graduating senior who wants to further their education in university, college, technical school, or any postsecondary institution and continue playing soccer while pursuing their education.
The application is done online and interested student-athletes will have to contact the technical director at LUSA for more info concerning the scholarship.
2. Canadian Imperial College Exceptional Soccer Players Entrance Scholarship
Canadian Imperial College offers three different types of entrance scholarships. One for national students, another for international students, and finally for soccer players. The Exceptional Soccer Players Entrance Scholarship is awarded to soccer players who are the best on their team and wishes to continue playing soccer in college while pursuing a degree and it is open to all students.
The award is a 50% scholarship. To be eligible, you must be a student between the ages of 16 and 23 years old and must be applying for admission to Canadian Imperial College. However, in your admission application, you will include a high-quality video that will show the type of player you are. Candidates are assessed by Canadian Imperial College Football Club and Canadian Imperial College.
This is the kind of sports scholarship that is offered to attract talented soccer players to an institution and they can be highly competitive.
3. British Columbia (BC) Awards & Scholarships
The above-named scholarship is one of the soccer scholarships in Canada awarded to deserving scholars who have sacrificed their own time to create positive environments for others. BC Scholarship is offered annually to a high school senior who plays soccer and wishes to enter college. Applicants must be members of BC Soccer.
The scholarship is awarded annually to encourage high school graduates to remain in the game.
4. Canadian Sport Institute Pacific Grants & Bursaries
Whichever sport you play in Canada, whether soccer or volleyball, you can win bursaries and grants from the Canadian Sport Institute. Annually, the institute provides a host of grants and bursaries to athletes irrespective of the sports they play. So, this is an opportunity for soccer players whether in secondary or postsecondary institutions to get financial assistance.
Note that the Institute offers different grants and bursaries which are provided by organizations and individuals so their eligibility criteria are different and they all have different application forms.
5. Ontario Tech University Athletic Scholarships
Ontario Tech University is a public research university in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. The institution supports the dreams of student-athletes which include soccer players by offering them scholarships. These athletic scholarships are only awarded to students – new and returning – who meet the requirements. The scholarship cut across all the sports played at the university and since soccer is one of them then soccer players are also eligible for an award.
New students are required to have a minimum of 80% on their GPA while returning students must obtain a minimum of 2.7 GPA based on a full-time course load. The amounts and number of scholarships as well as the disbursement of the awards are at the discretion of the school and head coach of each team.
6. The University of Manitoba Athletic Awards
The University of Manitoba has a women’s soccer team open to all females who play soccer and want to further their education at the university. The athletic award cuts across all teams in the varsity sports which also includes the women’s soccer team and you can win a scholarship of up to $4,500 if you meet the requirements.
The scholarship does not require an application, if you are interested, speak with your coach and you will be nominated for the scholarship. The criteria to be nominated is that you must register for and complete at least 60% of a full course load per term whilst competing in soccer competitions.
7. OFSAA Character Athlete Award
OFSAA Character Athlete Award is not specifically for soccer players but for all sports which makes it quite competitive but if you embody OFSAA’s values of leadership, commitment, equity, respect, and sportsmanship then there is a high chance you may get it. The scholarship is awarded annually to two males and two females who excel in soccer and academics.
Soccer players enrolled in any Canadian college are open to applying for this scholarship and getting financial assistance for their education while they play their favorite sports. Winning the scholarship also comes with other perks and national recognition.
8. The University of Toronto Varsity Blues Athletic Scholarships and Financial Aid
Varsity Blues is the name of the sports team representing the University of Toronto. The Varsity Blues Athletic Scholarships are offered across all the teams at the university and soccer happens to be one of them. If you are a high school senior who wishes to continue playing soccer in college on scholarship, here is an opportunity for you.
There are 5 different athletic awards offered to incoming and current student-athletes who meet the specific requirements to win the awards. Some of them are presented only to a male and only to a female and some are presented to both male and female. The athletic awards are offered annually and do not exceed $4,500 per student per academic year as per the regulation from U Sport and OUA.
9. Thomspon Rivers University (TRU) International Athletic Scholarships
TRU has both men’s and women’s soccer teams and they qualify for its International Athletic Scholarships. Incoming and returning students who are on the soccer team are eligible to win the scholarship so far they meet the requirements of good academic standing and excellent athletic performance.
Soccer players applying for the above-named scholarship must be enrolled in a full-time program at TRU and meet all U Sports regulations for receipt of athletic financial awards.
10. Brian Maxwell Memorial Scholarship
Brian Maxwell Memorial Scholarship is funded by the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA). It is offered annually to three female and three male student-athletes enrolled in an accredited higher institution and on the varsity team which could be soccer in this case. Applicants for this scholarship must be nominated by the head coach of that particular team.
The scholarship value is $5,000 and preference is given to students whose character is reflective of qualities that Brian Maxwell demonstrated while he was alive.
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