Student Supports & Resources

Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards at Saint Mary's

With the support of alumni and friends, Saint Mary’s University rewards academic excellence and supports students with financial need through scholarships, bursaries and awards.

The university is committed to growing the number of scholarships and bursaries that are available to support Black and African Nova Scotian students as part of our commitment to building a World Without Limits.

Students who have been accepted to attend Saint Mary’s University for their first year of study can apply for Admissions Awards by the March 1 annual deadline. Students who complete the Admissions Awards application will be automatically considered for these awards:

Alderman Graham Downey Scholarship
Margo Marshall Entrance Scholarship
Preston Bursary in memory of Romaine Provo and Jonita Whynder

Currently enrolled students can apply for Undergraduate Scholarships and Awards through the Financial Aid & Awards office by the May 1 annual deadline.

Awards available for Black/African Nova Scotian students:

Akkerman Bursary
This bursary was established by John Akkerman BComm’82, in honour of his family and in recognition of the opportunities that Nova Scotia and Saint Mary's have provided. This bursary will be available to full-time undergraduate African Nova Scotian and Indigenous students enrolled in Saint Mary's. Preference will be given to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Commerce program in the Sobey School of Business.

Anthony Sebastian Scholarship
This scholarship will be available to returning full-time undergraduate Black students. Recipients can be enrolled in any year and in any faculty.

Kevin Bonnycastle Memorial Award
Awarded annually to a full-time undergraduate student, entering third or fourth year, at Saint Mary's in the Department of Sociology or Criminology with a declared major in Sociology or Criminology or a declared double major in Sociology and Criminology. Preference will be given to:

Students who self-identify as Indigenous and demonstrate financial need.
Students who self-identify as Indigenous.
Students who self-identify as a racialized person and demonstrate financial need.
Students who self-identify as being from a racialized community.

Margo Marshall Scholarship
Awarded to an African Nova Scotian female student who is studying in an undergraduate program at Saint Mary's and has completed their first year of study. Award based on academic standing.

Scott McCain & Leslie McLean Diversity Excellence Awards
These awards, created by Scott McCain and Leslie McLean, will be available to full-time undergraduate Indigenous or Black students with financial need who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada enrolled in any faculty or program, with a preference for students who are from Atlantic Canada

Sobeys Diversity Excellence Award for African Nova Scotian and African Descent Students
Two renewable awards are available for eligible full-time or part-time undergraduate students in the Sobey School of Business who self-identify as African Nova Scotian or of Black /African descent and demonstrate financial need. Preference for the awards will be given to students who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada. If there are no eligible Sobey School of Business students, the awards can be given to full-time or part-time African Nova Scotian or Black/African-descended students enrolled in another faculty.

The Edna and Velma Thomas Kane Writers Award
This award is presented to an undergraduate student graduating from the Faculty of Arts who has dreams and ambitions to pursue a career in writing, broadly defined. This award is open to all Canadian citizens or permanent residents with demonstrable financial need who self-identify as being of African descent, with priority given to students of African Nova Scotian descent.

Thomas J and Donald P Keleher Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship will be available to full-time undergraduate students from the Atlantic provinces enrolled in any program. Preference will be given to students that have self-identified as African Nova Scotian or Indigenous.

Turner Bursary
Established by Keisha Turner BA’12, the Turner Bursary is available to full-time undergraduate students who identify as African Canadian or Indigenous women. Preference will be given to students who demonstrate an interest in and engagement with entrepreneurship Saint Mary’s University or the broader community.

Viola Desmond Bursary
This award supports full-time African Nova Scotian students attending Saint Mary’s University who have graduated from a Nova Scotia high school and demonstrate financial need, preference will be given to a female student.

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