Student Awards Program

At Ridgetown Campus, we understand that post-secondary education is a large financial commitment. More than $100,000 in financial assistance and awards are distributed each year to our students to help offset educational costs.

The Student Awards Program consists of the following areas. Updated award opportunities for each area are sent out to students by email prior to the application period:

Entrance Scholarship Program

• Established to recognize the academic achievements of incoming students entering their first semester of post-secondary studies, for the first time
• These $2,000 scholarships are awarded based on the admission average of students entering one of the following programs:
  • Associate Diploma in Agriculture (Regular & Co-op)
  • Associate Diploma in Environmental Management (Regular & Co-op)
  • Associate Diploma in Horticulture (Regular & Co-op)
• All eligible domestic and international students are automatically considered; no application is required
• Admission averages awarded are dependent on the candidate pool and the number of awards available for distribution.
• The scholarship is divided into two equal installments and is applied as a payment to the recipient’s student account in the fall and winter semesters
• Full-time registration in the fall and winter semesters is required to receive both installments of the scholarship
• Recipients will be notified by letter and/or email, prior to the start of the fall semester, if they have been selected to receive this entrance scholarship

Fall Awards Program

• Includes Entrance Awards, In-Course Awards, and Academic Proficiency Awards
• Selection criteria can be based on different factors, including volunteer work, campus extracurricular and community involvement, academic achievement, and future plans
• The application period is from the end of August to October 7 each year
• Distributed at the Fall Awards Banquet in mid-November
• Approximately $45,000 in awards are available
• More information can be found in the 1st Year Fall Awards Overview (2023) and the 2nd Year/Returning Students Fall Awards Overview (2023)

Winter Semester Awarded Bursaries

• Based on financial need as determined by:

  1. A completed, error-free Full-Time OSAP application
  2. The submission of a Needs Assessment Form (NAF) which is supplied by the Financial Aid Office on campus
• Awarded in the winter semester (usually mid-to-late February) and are put onto a student's account to help with any outstanding costs.
• In the event a student's account is already paid in full, the funds are then deposited into the student's bank account through a direct deposit process
• The application period is the same as the Fall Awards Program, from the end of August to October 7 each year
• Approximately $100,000 in bursary funding is available

Travel Grants

• Students can apply for travel grants to help offset the cost of experiential learning opportunities that are related to their program of study
• Examples of travel grant-funded opportunities include:
  • For-Credit Experiential Learning Courses
  • Industry-Related Conferences or Seminars
  • Leadership Development Conferences (ex.OAC Leadership Conference)
• Various application deadlines  are throughout the academic year, based on when the travel opportunity is happening 
• Travel grants are applied to through the Travel Grant Application Form 

Convocation Awards Program

• Available to students that are eligible to graduate 
• Selection criteria can be based on different factors, including campus extracurricular and community involvement, academic proficiency, and career plans
• Distributed at the Convocation ceremony in early June
• The application period is from March to April 1 each year
• Approximately $40,000 in awards are available
• More information can be found in the Convocation Awards Overview (2024) document

Types of Awards Available

For more information, contact:

Student Financial Aid & Awards Office

519-674-1500 ext. 63507
rcawards@uoguelph.ca