Millions of dollars in scholarships in Canada go unclaimed every year because no one is applying for them but I have gathered them here so that scholarship seekers can easily find them and apply. So, here are the unclaimed scholarships in Canada with information on each.
Imagine my surprise when I found out that there are unclaimed scholarships in Canada. I am certain that you are just as surprised. I have always believed that scholarships in Canada are never enough to go around for students but here we are discussing unclaimed scholarships in the same Canada and the most surprising part is that the unclaimed scholarships are in millions of dollars. Can you believe that?
When I searched for why these scholarships are unclaimed, I found that they are left unclaimed because no student is applying for them, therefore they are not awarded. The unclaimed fund is then rolled into the following application year, and as time goes on it amasses into a fortune.
However, thinking about it deeply, Canada should have unclaimed scholarships. I mean, this a country where nearly, if not all, of its universities award entrance and admission scholarships worth millions of dollars every year to international and domestic students.
Then there are even more scholarships offered by the Government of Canada, businesses, NGOs, charity foundations, individuals, private corporations, communities, religious groups, and professional and social associations.
So, basically, scholarships are coming in from every direction to make a few go unnoticed and thus unclaimed.
But hey, you are in luck for stumbling on these unclaimed scholarships in Canada because since no one is applying for them that means there is little or no competition at all which increases your chances of receiving the scholarship reward.
However, just because the competition is not as fierce as the popular scholarship does not mean that you can receive the scholarship when you do not meet the scholarship requirements, do not satisfy the eligibility criteria, or submit a poor application. You still have to meet up to the standards required to receive the scholarship award, else, your application will be rejected.
As it is not as fierce, take your time and create a quality application, and rest assured that you will receive the scholarship reward. Before we go on to see the unclaimed scholarships in Canada, you may also check out free scholarships in Canada and scholarships for Black students in Canada to find more scholarship opportunities.
Having said that, let’s dive into the main topic…
Table of Contents
Unclaimed Scholarships in Canada
Here are details of the unclaimed scholarships in Canada with the appropriate links to apply for them.
1. BMO Bank of Montreal Aboriginal Scholarship
The BMO Bank of Montreal is an in-course undergraduate award at the University of Northern British Columbia. Priority will be given to candidates who have completed 60 credit hours towards a Bachelor of Commerce degree and have attended UNBC during the first two years of study or have transferred to the University from a regional community college in northern British Columbia.
Candidates who have completed less than 60 credit hours will be considered if there are no eligible applicants. Preference will be given to First Nations students. The scholarship value is $2,000 and only two students are selected. The final selection is based on superior academic achievement. Application should be sent to the Awards and Financial Aid Office of UNBC.
2. The Ages Foundation Research Fellowship & Bursaries
This unclaimed scholarship in Canada is specifically for graduate students and here is how it works.
The Ages Foundation Fund and the rare Charitable Research Reserve have partnered together to offer financial assistance to students in pursuit of higher education. To be eligible, you must be enrolled as a graduate student in a Canadian or international institution, must conduct research on a rare Charitable Research Reserve property or in conjunction with rare within a given duration, and the research or project must be based on the environment.
The scholarship is $15,000 distributed annually in the following amounts:
- One $5,000 award
- One $5,000 BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color)
- Five $1,000 bursaries depending on the total number of outstanding applications received.
3. Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) Scholarships
TRREB’s Scholarships is one of the scholarships in Canada that goes unclaimed every year. The scholarship is awarded to a total of eight (8) students who are graduating high school to pursue post-secondary education in Canada. The scholarship is awarded to selected winners as follows:
- Two $5,000 for first place
- Two $2,500 for second-place
- Two $2,000 for third place
- Two $1,500 for fourth-place
The scholarship is made available every year. To be eligible for TRREB Scholarships, applicants must demonstrate academic achievement, show an interest in the real industry or a related field, possess leadership skills, active in community involvement, address a question related to the real estate industry, and write a 1,500 to 1,800-word essay on a topic that will be provided on the site as well as the deadline to apply.
4. Manulife Life Lessons Scholarship Program
Manulife Life Lessons Scholarship Program helps offset the cost of college education for students who have experienced the death of a parent or guardian with little to no life insurance but are still determined to pursue or finish their post-secondary education be it college, university, or trade school. Whether you are a current or prospective post-secondary student and you fall into the criteria described above, you are eligible to apply for the Manulife Life Lessons Scholarship Program.
In addition to the criteria, you must be a permanent resident of Canada, currently enrolled in or have been accepted into a post-secondary institution within Canada, and between the age of 17-24 years old. The application requires the applicant to submit some basic information and a 500-word essay or a 3-minute video about how the death of your parent or guardian has affected your life emotionally and financially.
Successful applicants will receive $10,000 each year from Manulife to assist with the cost of college.
5. De Beers Group Scholarships for Canadian Women
This scholarship is not popular which is why it is one of the unclaimed scholarships in Canada. De Beers Group created this scholarship to promote the inclusion of women in STEM and STEM-related academic programs at post-secondary institutions in Canada entering their first year of an undergraduate program.
Preference will be given to Indigenous women or women of Indigenous descent. Applicants should self-identify Indigenous status in the statement of purpose accompanying their application. Preference will be given to those who are located in Northern Ontario, Southern Alberta, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.
Dee Beers Groups awards $4,500 each to 10 Canadian women through this scholarship and the scholarship is made available every year so if it is closed for the current year, bookmark the page and check again the next year.
6. Marcella Linehan Scholarship
Are you looking for an unclaimed nursing scholarship in Canada? If yes, you just found one – the Marcella Linehan Scholarship – awarded annually to a registered nurse completing a Master of Nursing or Doctorate of Nursing Program. The scholarship value is $2,000 for full-time or $1,000 for part-time.
To be eligible for the Marcella Linehan Scholarship, you must meet the following eligibility criteria below:
- Be enrolled (full-time or part-time) in a nursing graduate program at a recognized university
- Have achieved a minimum overall average of 70% in your current nursing program
- Demonstrate an above-average level of interest/industry in a particular area of nursing
- You are not a previous recipient of the scholarship for which they are applying
- Be a member in good standing with CRNNL, and
- Be a member of the Trust.
For your application to be considered, you will provide your personal information, current program information, education, work experience, extracurricular activities, achievements, personal statement, one reference from a nursing faculty member in your program, proof of enrollment in a graduate nursing program, verification of your Trust membership, and an official transcript of grades from your current program.
Successful applicants are selected based on academic ability, potential contribution to the nursing profession, personal statement, and financial need.
7. Jean Murray-Moray Sinclair Theatre Scholarship Program
The Jean Murray-Moray Sinclair Theatre Scholarship Program is one of the scholarships in Canada that goes unclaimed every year. If you want to claim it, that is by applying for it, you have to be a full-time student enrolled in an accredited theatre school or university theatre program with an intent to pursue a career in theatre.
You must be a citizen of Canada or a landed immigrant, and a resident of Manitoba to apply for the scholarship. Documents to apply for the Jean Murray-Moray Sinclair Theatre Scholarship include a letter of reference, a resume or CV, a written statement, documentation of the school you are attending/applying for, and portfolio/supporting material for some disciplines.
Successful applicants will receive annual support for the duration of their program, up to four (4) years, as long as they maintain the eligibility requirements. recipients will fill out a short survey each year to check in and submit their latest proof of registration.
8. EFC Scholarship Program
Electro-Federation Canada (EFC) Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to post-secondary students who are interested in pursuing a career in the electrical industry. To be eligible for the scholarship award, you must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, enrolled in a full-time degree or diploma program, completed your first year in an accredited higher institution in Canada, and have maintained a minimum 75% average.
The EFC and its members make available several scholarships annually, each student can only apply for three. For all scholarships, preference will be given to those applicants with a connection to an EFC member company and who are pursuing an academic program in the electrical industry.
These are the eight (8) unclaimed scholarships in Canada but could there be more?
It is not impossible, there could be more than this. It may be impossible for me to reach or find them but you can. The section below explains better.
Secrets to Finding Unclaimed Scholarships in Canada
There may be more than 8 unclaimed scholarships in Canada, but it is very much possible. Now, while I may not be able to find them, you can. So, below is a secret guide to finding unclaimed scholarships in Canada.
1. Contact the Financial Aid Office of your Prospective Post-Secondary Institution
The post-secondary institution you want to attend to currently attending should always be the first place you should look for scholarships. Post-secondary institutions in Canada all have a financial aid office, which is the department that is responsible for assessing scholarship applications, providing information on scholarships, and disbursing scholarships to successful students/applicants.
Contact them through email, telephone, or in-person visit to inquire about all available scholarships and you will be provided with all the necessary information you need to progress. From here, you will know whether you can qualify for automatic entrance scholarships, in-course scholarships, or university-wide scholarships based on the eligibility criteria of the scholarships.
The financial aid office will even provide you with information on available external scholarships that you may qualify for and use the funds to study at that school. If you are not given the information, request it. Looking for scholarships at your prospective or current institution is the most convenient place to look for scholarships that you qualify for.
2. Speak to your High School Counsellor
This secret is ideal for high school seniors who want to pursue post-secondary education after high school. A very important person to speak with in your school concerning your future ambitions is your guidance counselor.
Inquire about scholarships from your guidance counselor, they usually have information on these financial aid matters, and if they don’t have it at the moment, they have the right source to speak with and get information then provide them to you. So, ask about the various scholarships available in your school district and high school community and how you need to shape yourself to be eligible for the awards.
3. Explore Local & National Foundations, Religious Organizations, Businesses, Civic Groups, Clubs, and Community Organizations in Canada.
I mentioned somewhere in the earlier part of this blog post that aside from universities and colleges in Canada you can also find scholarships from other sources like businesses, NGOs, charity foundations, individuals, private corporations, communities, religious groups, and professional and social associations.
These are important places to look for scholarships, and you will be surprised just how many scholarships you will find from these sources. From the place you work and the charities you admire to the companies where you shop and restaurants where you go to eat, ask them about scholarships.
Also, look for scholarships in organizations or companies that relate to the field of interest you want to study like a professional association, or organization based around your ethnicity and/or your religion, and your employer or parent’s employers.
There are even more scholarships here because they are not well advertised and therefore go unclaimed year after year. You just might hit a jackpot.
4. Find Canadian Scholarships on Scholarships to Study Abroad
Scholarships to Study Abroad is a large database of various scholarships from different parts of the world. The platform grants you free access to find, apply, and win scholarships abroad and in your home country. There is information featuring scholarships from various organizations which is updated.
As a Canadian student looking for scholarships to study in Canada, you should make use of Scholarship to Study Abroad to gain access to free information on a wide range of scholarship opportunities in Canada. When you click on the link, you will land on a page displaying all published blog posts on scholarships in Canada, and each of the articles features various Canadian scholarships with information on their specific requirements, eligibility criteria, deadlines, application links, and helpful tips to win scholarships.
“Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”
I had just unlocked the secrets you can always use to fish for scholarships in Canada, or anywhere in the world, for a lifetime. With the secrets unlocked here, you can look for scholarships on your own and be successful.
FAQs
How many scholarships go unclaimed in Canada?
According to Scholarships Canada, more than $20 million goes unclaimed in scholarships.
Can I get fully-funded scholarships in Canada?
Yes, there are fully-funded scholarships in Canada like the UBC International Leader of Tomorrow Award, the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships, the Lester B. Pearson Scholarship, the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, the Ontario Graduate Scholarship, and a host of entrance awards offered by most universities in Canada.
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