U of G Entrance Scholarships: Who Gets Them and How to Apply
Written by Caleb Harrison • Published September 3, 2026 • Last verified September 3, 2026
What you need to know:
Entrance scholarships at U of G range from $2,000 to $40,000 over four years, based on admission average.
Top awards go to students with 95% and above; 90-94.9% gets a smaller award; 85% is the minimum cutoff.
For September 2026 entry, the priority application deadline was February 15, 2026.
Scholarships are automatic for most programs, but some programs require a supplemental application.
To renew the scholarship each year, you must maintain an 80% average each semester.
The University of Guelph hands out entrance scholarships to top incoming students every fall. For the 2026-2027 academic year, the awards were announced in September 2026, with recipients selected from the pool of students who applied by the priority deadline. The exact number of awards and the total dollar figure were not published in the announcement, but the scholarships range from $2,000 to $40,000, paid over four years of undergraduate study.
Who gets one? The university looks at admission averages, with the top tier going to students with averages of 95% or higher. Those with 90% to 94.9% qualify for a smaller award, and the cutoff for any entrance scholarship sits at 85%. The awards are automatic for most programs, meaning you don't fill out a separate application. But some programs, like the Bachelor of Commerce co-op, require a supplemental application, and that can affect your eligibility.
The key date is the application deadline. For September 2026 entry, the priority deadline was February 15, 2026. Students who applied by then were automatically considered. If you applied after that date, you might still get a scholarship if funds remain, but the big awards usually go to early applicants. The university's admissions office posts the exact deadlines each year on its website, and they rarely change.
So what should you do if you're aiming for a U of G scholarship? First, keep your grades up. The calculation uses your top six Grade 12 U or M courses, and the university recalculates your average after final marks come in. If your average dips below the cutoff, you could lose the award. Second, apply early. The priority deadline matters, and applying before it also gets you an early offer of admission, which locks in your scholarship amount.
One thing to know: the scholarship is renewable. To keep it in years two through four, you need to maintain a minimum 80% average each semester. If you drop below that, you lose the award for the next year. The university reviews your standing after the winter semester, so a rough first year can cost you.
The money comes as a credit to your student account, applied to tuition and fees. You don't get a cheque. The university splits the award evenly across the fall and winter semesters, so a $4,000 scholarship means $2,000 off each semester's bill.
For international students, the rules differ slightly. The same entrance scholarships apply, but the amounts might be lower, and there are separate international student awards. Check the university's scholarship page for the specific list.
If you miss the cutoff or don't qualify, there are other options. The university offers bursaries based on financial need, and you can apply for those through the Student Financial Services portal. The deadline for bursaries is usually October 15 for the fall term.
One final pointer: if your average is close to a cutoff, say 94.8%, don't assume you're out. The university rounds up to the nearest whole percentage point, so 94.8% becomes 95%. That can bump you into a higher award tier. Check your calculated average on WebAdvisor after you apply, and if you think there's an error, contact the admissions office before the semester starts.
For the full list of scholarship amounts and conditions, visit the university's scholarships website. The page lists every award, the eligibility criteria, and the renewal requirements. Bookmark it, because the details change slightly from year to year.
Sources
- U of G News: Top Students Receive Entrance Scholarships
- U of G Admissions: Scholarships and Bursaries
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