It may come as a surprise, but there are indeed unclaimed scholarships in Canada. These scholarships are offered, but students do not claim them, primarily because they are unaware of their existence, resulting in no applications being submitted.
In this article, you will learn about these unclaimed scholarships in Canada and the application process required to claim them. Enjoy the read!
When considering the top education destinations in the world, Canada consistently ranks in the top three. Its higher education institutions are globally recognized for their world-class education and prestigious degree certificates.
Some of the universities and programs in Canada rank among the best in the world, offering a wide range of programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate levels. This is one of the reasons why international students flock there annually to partake in its excellent educational offerings.
Canada is also known for welcoming students from all walks of life, boasting the highest number of international students globally. Besides providing quality education to all students, measures are in place to help students afford their education.
Studying internationally can be very expensive, and this is the biggest barrier for many who wish to study abroad. Canada is no exception, but there is a wide range of financial aid opportunities and programs designed to assist students in pursuing their dreams.
This country offers scholarships not only to its citizens but also to international students who seek quality education and life improvement. Annually, millions of dollars are set aside for scholarship purposes.
These funds typically come from various channels including charity organizations, universities/colleges, the government, alumni, and other wealthy individuals. Thus, scholarships are developed to assist both domestic and international students in Canada.
There are fully and partially-funded scholarships, bursaries, grants, prizes, etc., all designed to support and encourage students to achieve their dream of quality education. These financial aid opportunities are named and well-organized, each having its own distinct application procedures, value, eligibility requirements, criteria, and deadline.
It is well-known that Canada offers many scholarships annually, but what you may not know is that many of these scholarships actually go unclaimed. In fact, millions of dollars in scholarships go unclaimed every year in Canada alone.
This raises the question – why do they go unclaimed? Several factors contribute to this, including:
- Lack of awareness among students.
- The scholarships may offer smaller amounts, and many students prefer to apply for scholarships with larger values.
- Insufficient number of applicants.
- The application process may be daunting, or the eligibility criteria too stringent, leading students to opt for easier options.
These could be the reasons why there are unclaimed scholarships in Canada. Whatever additional reasons there may be, it’s fortunate that you are about to learn about these unclaimed scholarships in Canada.
You can apply for these unclaimed scholarships as well. “Unclaimed” does not mean you can’t win them or shouldn’t apply. It means these are scholarships that are offered but no students apply for them due to the reasons listed above.
It is important that you learn about these unclaimed scholarships in Canada. We have compiled them in this post along with their application process, eligibility, and other details that can help you successfully apply for and win them.
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Unclaimed Scholarships in Canada
Here, we have compiled a list of 15 top unclaimed scholarships in Canada along with their essential details. Don’t be a scholarship snob; proceed to claim these unclaimed scholarships below:
- Raven Bursaries
- Toronto Regional Real Estate Board’s (TREBB) Past President’s Scholarship
- Check Your (Re)flex Scholarship Awards Contest
- Canadian College and University Fair – $3,500 Prize Draw
- Electrical Industry Scholarships
- TELUS Innovation Scholarship
- De Beers Group Scholarships for Canadian Women
- Manulife Life Lessons Scholarship
- Ages Foundation Research Fellowship and Bursaries
- Sir Francis Bacon Scholars Award
- Marcella Linehan Scholarship
- Jean Murray-Moray Sinclair Theatre Scholarship Program
- MTA Edward M Evanochko Transportation Scholarship
- Laura Ulluriaq Gauthier Scholarship
- Laurier Scholars Program
Raven Bursaries
The Raven Bursaries is one of the unclaimed scholarships in Canada, although a bursary is still directed at offsetting your university expenses. The award is valued at $2,000 and is provided by the University of Northern British Columbia, and is only tenable there.
It is a non-renewable award available to students entering the university for the first time who have demonstrated excellent academic performance and financial need. The eligibility requirements are:
- Applicant must be newly enrolled in the university for a certificate, diploma, or bachelor program in any field of study.
- Open to international and domestic students
- Must be coming to study at the University of Northern British Columbia
The application for this bursary award is done online. See the deadline here.
Toronto Regional Real Estate Board’s (TREBB) Past President’s Scholarship
TREBB launched a scholarship program in 2007 and it is still running to date, but very few people know about it, making it one of the unclaimed scholarships in Canada. Annually, TREBB awards $15,000 to four graduating Grade 12 students pursuing postsecondary education.
The board also offers two $5,000 first-place and $2,500 second-place scholarships. Winning this scholarship is relatively easy, but the 1,500 minimum-word essays can be a daunting task and may be a reason it is left unclaimed.
Aside from the essay – which is usually on any topic selected by the board – another criterion is that students must demonstrate exceptional academic performance, leadership skills, and community participation. The application is open to permanent residents and citizens of Canada.
If you have what it takes to win this scholarship, then proceed to apply and see the deadline here.
Check Your (Re)flex Scholarship Awards Contest
This is one of the unclaimed scholarships in Canada and is provided by the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC). You’d have to play a video game to win this scholarship, which has just three levels designed to test your reflexes – it’s possibly challenging, which is why it is an unclaimed scholarship.
Three scholarships are available – $1,500, $1,000, and $500 – you must be 18 years old and above and enrolled in a Canadian college or university to be eligible. It is open to both international and domestic students at all programs and levels of study, from high school diplomas to doctorate.
Playing a reflex game to win a scholarship is quite exciting. Get started here.
Canadian College and University Fair – $3,500 Prize Draw
The Canadian College and University Fair is offering you free tuition for a semester!
This is one of the unclaimed scholarships in Canada, and you can claim it right now in four easy steps:
- Sign up for the Canadian college and university fair and attend.
- Request information from at least one of the exhibitors at the fair.
- Check out the booths and take in some webinars, and finally,
- Ask questions about the programs that interest you.
By completing all the above, you will qualify to win $3,500, which you can apply toward your post-secondary education tuition.
The scholarship is open to international and domestic students at any full-time or part-time program in all degrees and fields of study. Register Now!
Electrical Industry Scholarships
This scholarship value is over $130,000, provided by Electro-Federation Canada (EFC) and Its Members, and remains one of the unclaimed scholarships in Canada. The $130,000 covers up to 52 different scholarships, and you can apply for a maximum of three.
This is your chance to claim it!
Applicants must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who has completed their first year at an accredited post-secondary institution and have maintained at least a 75% average. Each of the 52 scholarships has specific criteria. Review them here.
TELUS Innovation Scholarship
This is another of the unclaimed scholarships in Canada provided by the University of Northern British Columbia but donated by TELUS to shape and influence access to learning for Northern British Columbia residents.
The value is $3,000, open to full-time students who demonstrate strong academic excellence and are residents of Northern British Columbia. You also must be pursuing a bachelor’s degree in any field of study.
This scholarship process doesn’t seem like a daunting task. Interested in claiming it? Click here.
De Beers Group Scholarships for Canadian Women
Surprised there are unclaimed scholarships in Canada for women?
This scholarship is donated by the United Nations (UN) Women (HeForShe Initiative) designed to promote the inclusion of women, especially from indigenous communities, into higher education. There are four or more awards available, each valued at $2,400.
To claim this scholarship, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Must be a domestic student, that is, a permanent resident or citizen of Canada.
- Only women should apply.
- Must be entering their first year of an undergraduate program at an accredited post-secondary institution in Canada.
- Must be entering a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) or STEM-related course.
Manulife Life Lessons Scholarship
This is a $10,000 scholarship provided by Manulife to support students who wish to pursue post-secondary education but have lost their parents or guardian and are left with little to no life insurance. Students in this situation can hardly support themselves to achieve their career goals, and this is where Manulife comes in.
With this scholarship, the student will eventually be able to complete their higher education a little easier. To apply for this scholarship, you can either be newly admitted or already enrolled in a higher institution like a university, college, or vocational school.
You must also be between the ages of 17 and 24 years old at the time of application. Submit a 500-word essay or a 3-minute video about how the loss of your parent or guardian has affected you financially and emotionally.
