Scholarships, Prizes and Awards

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Regulations and General Information

All medals, prizes, scholarships and bursaries that are awarded by the University are approved by both Senates. Unless otherwise specified, awards are tenable at the Fredericton and Saint John campuses of the University of New Brunswick.

The University reserves the right not to make an award should there be no suitable candidate.

The University assumes liability for the payment of scholarships, bursaries and prizes only to the extent that gifts from donors, or returns from particular investments for these purposes, will permit. Thus, the stated values and numbers of certain awards may vary.

Since the Calendar is published a considerable time before the opening of the academic session, the University reserves the right to make whatever changes circumstances may require, including the cancellation of awards.

For a student to be eligible for undergraduate scholarships and bursaries administered by the Undergraduate Awards Office, the student must be enrolled full-time in an undergraduate degree and have completed at least 24 credit hours in the previous assessment year.

Limited scholarship support is available for students who have completed less than 24 credit hours in the previous assessment year from the College of Extended Learning for Fredericton campus students and from Financial Aid for Saint John campus students. 

Scholarships are awarded by the Undergraduate Awards Office to students attending UNB to help them with the financial costs of attending university. The scholarship is paid to the recipient in the form of a credit against the student's UNB tuition and other compulsory fees. Normally, one-half of the scholarship's annual value is credited to the student's UNB fees for the Fall and Winter terms, to a maximum of two terms per year (May to April). 

A student can hold an undergraduate scholarship or bursary as long as the student is registered full-time during each of the Fall and Winter terms at UNB and has given satisfactory evidence of merit. Scholarship recipients with a documented disability who are registered in a reduced course load may be considered on the recommendation of a UNB Accessibility Counsellor; such students are encouraged to contact the Undergraduate Awards Office to discuss their situation. The value of the scholarship is based on a minimum of 24 credit hours completed each year, however, the value may be prorated for scholarship recipients with a documented disability who are taking fewer than 24 credit hours per year. 

If a scholarship recipient attends only one term during the year (May to April), they will receive half the annual value of the scholarship as long as they have enrolled full-time during the one term.

Scholarships are awarded to international students entering UNB on the basis of a recommendation from the Registrar's Office for the admitting campus. Students who must undertake English language training before beginning their academic program may retain their scholarship while studying full-time in the English language training program.

International students who defer their Fall admission to the Winter term will have the full value of their scholarship applied to that term.

Co-op and PEP work terms qualify as eligible terms for scholarship support.

Normally, a scholarship recipient pursuing academic studies through UNB in the year (May 1 - April 30) in which the student expects to complete the requirements for an undergraduate degree, and who will not be registered full-time in each of the Fall and Winter terms of that year, may be able to retain eligibility for the full amount of the scholarship if they meet all of the following conditions: a) they are registered at UNB full-time in either Fall or Winter term and at least one course or at least a minimum of 3 credit hours in the other of these two terms; and ,b) the Faculty awarding the degree confirms that the student will qualify for the degree upon successful completion of the courses in which the student is registered in that year.

In the event that the award exceeds the compulsory fees for the study term, the recipient can request a refund from Financial Services.

To determine whether or not a student is in financial need, consideration is given to family income, number of dependents supported by the family income, number of dependents attending university in the upcoming year, spouse's income, number of student's dependents, student loan and/or other pertinent financial details provided by the student.

Students studying at another institution on a Letter of Permission from UNB normally are not permitted to retain their scholarship.

Students who withdraw from UNB after the refund date will retain their scholarship for the term in question, up to the tuition and compulsory fees owed by the student.

Each recipient will be notified of the terms and conditions of the award. If additional information is required, recipients are encouraged to contact the Director, Undergraduate Awards, University of New Brunswick, at (506) 453-4894 or email: awards@unb.ca.

Scholarships Open to High School Students

The University of New Brunswick provides scholarships to high school students with superior academic achievement (preference given to students who have an 80% scholarship average and above) who are admitted to a UNB undergraduate degree program on the basis of their high school marks and who have not attended another post-secondary institution prior to coming to UNB.

High school students with high averages who would like to be considered for scholarship support must submit their scholarship application by March 1st. The entrance scholarship application covers the majority of UNB scholarships on both campuses for both domestic and international students applying to UNB directly from high school.

Information on the entrance scholarship application and how to apply can be found online at https://www.unb.ca/moneymatters/scholarships/highschool.html. On the same webpage, additional application forms can be found for the Currie Undergraduate Scholarships, Beaverbrook Scholars Award and the H. Harrison McCain Bursaries.

UNB calculates a Scholarship Average which is the Admission Average plus bonus points for Grade 11 and 12 enriched courses. Bonus points are added directly to the Scholarship Average, as long as a mark of 75% or higher is achieved in the course.

• one bonus point for 1 to 3 enriched courses;
• a maximum of two bonus points for 4 to 6 enriched courses;
• a maximum of three bonus points for 7 to 9 enriched courses, and
• a maximum of four bonus points for 10 or more enriched courses.

The Scholarship Average is not rounded. The Scholarship Average may be recalculated using Grade 12 final marks, upon request provided it is received before July 15.

Renewable Scholarships (four year stated scholarships that do not fall under Renewable Opportunities)

Students holding renewable awards are expected to maintain the academic standing specified in the recipient's original awarding notification. Normally, a 3.7 scholarship grade point average is required for renewal. Failure to maintain the required grade point average will normally result in the loss of the scholarship. In exceptional circumstances, the Senate Undergraduate Scholarship Committee may consider an exemption from the academic requirement to renew the scholarship on the grounds of compassion, health or other extenuating circumstances beyond the control of the student. A student requesting such an exemption must state the grounds on which the request is based and provide documentation to support the grounds cited. A scholarship GPA is defined in the calendar under Section H. Calculation of Grade Point Averages as follows: “…for the purpose of awarding scholarships a Scholarship GPA is calculated at the end of the assessment year (May to April) provided that 24 credit hours or more have been attempted, regardless of program. For students involved in work placement programs such as Co-op or PEP, the scholarship average is calculated using the Dean's List criteria. This GPA is held internally and is not displayed on the student's transcript of record.”

If a student is enrolled full-time in English language training in the first year, they will have their scholarship renewed in the second year, as long as they have enrolled in at least one academic course in the second year.

For international students who are enrolled in English language training and academic courses but have less than 24 credit hours of academic courses in one year, the scholarship grade point average will be the average of the academic courses completed in that year.

One year of a renewable scholarship may be postponed while the recipient is studying at another post-secondary institution, as long as the recipient returns to UNB as a student in an undergraduate degree program. Unless otherwise stated, renewable scholarships are awarded for a maximum of eight terms. Requests for the renewal or deferral of a renewable scholarship under other circumstances may be considered on an individual basis.

Scholarships Open to Second Entry Students

Students transferring to UNB from another post-secondary institution to complete their first undergraduate degree as well as students beginning the Bachelor of Education program on the Fredericton campus may be considered for scholarship support on the basis of their grades used for admission into their program. The scholarship application is found online at www.unb.ca/scholarships

Students who are admitted to UNB on a basis OTHER THAN their high school marks (such as degree holders, mature students, adult learners, etc.) may be considered for scholarship support when they have completed 24 credit hours at UNB, unless otherwise specified in the scholarship description.

Scholarships Open to Continuing UNB Students

The University of New Brunswick provides scholarships to continuing UNB students who have submitted an undergraduate scholarship application by April 15, completed at least 24 credit hours of undergraduate courses at UNB in the previous assessment year and are planning to enroll full-time in each of the fall and winter terms in the upcoming year.

Preference is given to Dean’s List students, or students who have at least a 3.7 Scholarship GPA, enrolled in an undergraduate degree program. Students who did not meet the scholarship course load requirements in the previous year, but plan to enroll full-time in each of the fall and winter terms in the upcoming year or students with a documented disability who are taking a reduced course load recommended by a UNB Accessibility Counsellor are encouraged to contact the Undergraduate Awards Office for consideration for scholarship support. They may be considered if they have achieved at least a 3.7 GPA on their last 24 credit hours of UNB courses and plan to return to UNB in the Fall.

For the purpose of awarding scholarships, a Scholarship GPA is calculated at the end of the assessment year (May to April) provided that 24 credit hours or more have been attempted, regardless of program. For students involved in work placement programs, such as Co-op or PEP, the scholarship GPA is calculated using the Dean’s List criteria. For articulated degree students or students on an official exchange program, or letter of permission who have been away from UNB from May to April in the previous year as part of their degree program, the Scholarship GPA will be based on their most recent work at UNB. If a student is enrolled in a UNB online course, the grade must appear on the UNB transcript by May 30th for scholarship consideration. This GPA is held internally and is not displayed on the student’s transcript of record.

Students currently enrolled at UNB in an undergraduate degree program who wish to be considered for scholarship support must submit the undergraduate scholarship application in myUNB each year between January 1st and April 15th.

Unless otherwise specified, the online scholarship application covers all scholarships open to continuing UNB students on both campuses awarded by the University. Successful recipients are notified during the summer.

Students Enrolled in Articulated Degree Programs

Students who begin an articulated degree program at UNB directly from high school are considered for Scholarships Open to High School Students. Students who are enrolled in articulated degree programs at UNB and attend the partnering institution (and not enrolled full-time at UNB) may be considered for scholarships as follows –

Funding

• These students will not be eligible to retain donor-funded scholarships for the year that they are at the partnering institution, unless the scholarship is open to the articulated degree program.
• Scholarships for students who are enrolled in articulated degree programs, but attending the partnering institution (and not enrolled full-time at UNB) will be available using scholarship funds budgeted by the University, awarded using the scale approved by the Scholarship Committee each year and prorated according to the tuition paid by the student.
• Donor–funded scholarships for these specific programs will be established using new monies. The scholarship description will contain a sentence indicating that, “The recipient may retain this scholarship while enrolled in a UNB articulated degree program and attending the partnering institution.”
• Students must apply to be considered for scholarship support.

Scholarships for students who have completed fewer than 24 credit hours in the previous assessment year.

Students who have completed fewer than 24 credit hours in the previous assessment year may be eligible for awards. UNB Fredericton students are encourages to contact UNB's College of Extended Learning and UNB Saint John students are encouraged to contact Student Services for scholarship applications.

Prizes and Awards

Prizes are awarded for specific academic achievement based on the recommendation from the appropriate department or faculty. Prizes restricted to Fredericton campus students are awarded by the Undergraduate Awards Office. Prizes restricted to Saint John campus students are awarded by the Registrar's Office.

A selected group of University-level and Faculty-level prizes are presented to the recipients at Encaenia or Convocation, as appropriate. These include:

• Lieutenant-Governor’s Medals
• Governor General’s Academic Medal
• Governor General’s Gold Medal
• Douglas Gold Medal

The presentation of the remaining prizes is at the discretion of the Faculties involved. Many Faculties organize award ceremonies to make these presentations. However, if the Faculty does not choose to present the prize at an award ceremony, the prize is sent to the recipient along with a congratulatory email. All prizes are listed in the appropriate prize ceremony bulletins. All graduation prizes are listed in the appropriate programs at either Convocation or Encaenia

Off-Campus Study Awards

The University of New Brunswick encourages international experiences for our students and provides limited support for full-time UNB students while they are studying elsewhere, within an approved program.

To be eligible for an Off-Campus Study Award, a student must be a Canadian citizen or permanent reminant who is in good academic standing at UNB. The recipient must be accepted to another university which has established a formal exchange agreement with UNB or is involved in an approved off-campus study program.

The Off-Campus Study Award is paid to the recipient in the form of a credit against the student's full-time UNB tuition and other compulsory fees for the term that the student is studying elsewhere. Once UNB tuition and compulsory fees have been paid and a balance remains available, the recipient can request a refund from Financial Services on their respective campus.

A student can retain an Off-Campus Study Award as long as they complete the off-campus study and shows satisfactory evidence of merit. In the event that a student returns before the completion of the term, the Off-Campus Study Award is removed from the student's account. The Off-Campus Study Award does not appear on the student's transcript.

The RHB McLaughlin Trust

Established through the generosity of Robert H.B. McLaughlin, long-time professor of Civil Engineering, former President of the UNB Associated Alumni and graduate of the Class of 1943, this Trust annually supports the R.H.B. McLaughlin Prize in Civil Engineering, the R.H.B. McLaughlin Graduate Fellowship in Civil Engineering, the Beaverbrook Scholars Award, and the R.H.B. McLaughlin Athletic Recognition Fund.