Entrance awards

Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. offers three annual bursaries valued at $6,000 each for Canadian high school students who:

• are Canadian citizens or permanent residents; 
• have graduated from a Canadian high school or CEGEP no longer than 18 months prior to the start of the 2024/2025 academic session; 
• have demonstrated financial need based on a Government Student Loan assessment from their home province and have completed the University of Manitoba Entrance Bursary application; 
• Will register for full-time study (minimum 18 credit hours) in University 1 or any faculty or school at the University of Manitoba that admits students directly from high school; 
• have achieved a minimum average of 80% on their high school courses used for admission. 

Applicants for this bursary must submit a complete copy of their final government loan assessment from their home province for the 2025/2026 academic session, along with their completed University of Manitoba Entrance Bursary application.

The awards are renewable in the second, third and fourth years of a student’s first degree program at the University of Manitoba. Recipients must maintain a full-time course load, achieve a minimum sessional grade-point average of 3.5 each year and continue to demonstrate financial need yearly (government student loan and University of Manitoba Bursary application must be submitted for each academic session).

The University of Manitoba Entrance Bursary Application for this bursary and the Asper Foundation Entrance Bursary is now available through the Aurora Student Portal (Aurora Classic) and will close July 15th.

Application deadline: July 15, 2025

Please note that to be considered for all other bursaries available at the University of Manitoba, students must also complete the University of Manitoba General Bursary Application that will be available through Aurora Student at the beginning of August each year.

Chown Centennial Scholarship recipients are nominated by high schools. Students do not need to apply directly. 

All high schools in Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario are invited to select a recipient of the Chown Centennial Scholarship, currently valued at $1000 per student. This award is to be offered to the best "all-around" student graduating from the high school and selected according to criteria established by each school. This award may be held with any other University of Manitoba Entrance Scholarship.

Candidates will require: 

• Grade 12 average of 85% or greater in courses which meet the University of Manitoba admissions criteria; 
• Recommendation for the award by their high school; and 
• Admission to any University of Manitoba program. 

Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario high schools will be sent an official nomination form in late May/early June and asked to return the completed nomination form to the Financial Aid and Awards Office by June 30th. The nominees will receive their Chown Centennial Scholarship award letter in late June or early July.

High School Representatives: Please click here for the Chown Centennial Entrance Scholarship Award Selection Form. Forms must be submitted by the student's high school. Forms submitted by students directly will not be considered.

The Premier’s Healthy Living Scholarship for Youth recognizes the achievements of young Manitobans who are positive role models for other children and youth in promoting healthy lifestyles. Up to 10 of the most outstanding applicants from across Manitoba will be selected to receive a $1,000 scholarship. Deadline date for applications is August 1.

Download the application

The Asper Foundation offers renewable bursaries at $1,000 each for high school students who:
•    are enrolled full-time (minimum 60% course load) in their first year of study in University 1 or any faculty, college or school at the University of Manitoba;
•    have achieved a minimum average of 70% on their high school courses used for admission;
•    have demonstrated high financial need on the University of Manitoba Entrance Bursary application form;
•    up to five of these bursaries may be awarded to students who meet the above criteria and are also registered with Student Accessibility Services as a student with a permanent physical disability.

International students in their first year of post-secondary study in Canada are not eligible to apply to the general bursary program.

The University of Manitoba Entrance Bursary Application for this bursary and the Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. Entrance Awards is now  available through the Aurora Student Portal (Aurora Classic) and will close July 15th.

The award is renewable each consecutive year for up to three years provided the student maintains a full-time course load, achieves a minimum degree grade-point average of 2.5 each year and continues to demonstrate financial need yearly on the standard University of Bursary application form.

Please note that to be considered for all other bursaries available at the University of Manitoba, students must also complete the University of Manitoba General Bursary Application that will be available through Aurora Student at the beginning of August each year.

Entrance scholarships are awarded to students graduating from a Canadian high school with outstanding academic averages. Three scholarship levels have been set, with the prerequisite average for each tier and corresponding scholarship amount determined on a yearly basis.

Note: quotas for scholarships may be set for each UM Faculty/School.

Candidates are required to have:

• Submitted an undergraduate application for admissions by the admissions/scholarship deadline of March 1.

• A minimum average of 85% over the best five courses from a pre-approved list in five different subject areas.
• To be eligible, students must enroll in both the upcoming fall and winter terms, in a minimum of 24 credit hours.

The UM Academic 40S Course Guide lists all Manitoba provincial courses that meet the grade 12 course requirements for admission and entrance scholarship purposes. The courses highlighted in blue in the attached document can be used for entrance scholarship consideration.

Please note:

• Students may use two English 40S or 40G level courses towards average calculation (i.e. English 40S and 40S).
• Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate standing is considered as 40S for admission and awards purposes and may be used to replace courses listed above. Please note that only Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate courses that are equivalent to eligible 40S courses (listed above) can be used when calculating an eligible scholarship average.
• A comparable level of academic standing will be used to assess candidates from outside Manitoba and Canada.

Entrance scholarship decisions are made on the basis of the candidates interim average, based on the best five eligible courses (as listed above) in five different subject groups. Scholarship offers are not adjusted on final grades.

These scholarships are offered to students who are entering university for the first time on the basis of the full International Baccalaureate Diploma.

Seven award tiers will be set, with the required points and the amount of award determined annually. As an example, the 2024/25 tiers and the accompanying award values are as follows:

Students who have already received a University of Manitoba Entrance Scholarship which is equal to or greater than the amount in their IB tier listed above will not receive any further funding. Students whose UM Entrance Scholarship amount is lower than their IB tier will receive an award for the difference.

This award is open to candidates from any province or country.

Candidates will require:

• Completion of the full diploma program, including completion of the course Theory of Knowledge, the extended essay and involvement in volunteer work through the CAS (extra-curricular, community services activities) component;
• A minimum grade of 4 or better on each of the three higher level and the three subsidiary level papers
• Submitted an undergraduate application for admissions by the admissions/scholarship deadline of March 1.
• To be eligible, students must enroll in both the upcoming fall and winter terms, in a minimum of 24 credit hours.

The University of Manitoba typically receives IB and AP results directly from the respective organizations prior to September 1st.

Students who have qualified for a University of Manitoba Entrance Scholarship and have also achieved excellent results in either the Advanced Placement (AP) examinations or the International Baccalaureate (IB) higher level and standard level papers, may receive an additional award which is added to their entrance scholarship.

For each superior AP or IB result, UM Entrance Scholarship recipients may have their awards increased by:

• $250 for each AP result of 5
• $150 for each AP result of 4
• $250 for each IB result of 7 on higher level papers
• $200 for each IB result of 6 on higher level papers and 7 on standard level papers
• $150 for each I.B. result of five on higher level papers

Candidates will require:

• To be nominated or selected for any University of Manitoba Entrance Scholarship; and
• AP or IB grades as listed above.
• To be eligible, students must enroll in both the upcoming fall and winter terms, in a minimum of 24 credit hours.

The University of Manitoba typically receives IB and AP results directly from the respective organizations prior to September 1st.

The Isabel Auld Entrance Scholarship is offered to the Manitoba high school student graduating with the highest average.

The Chancellors' Scholarships are offered to the Manitoba high school students with the second, third and fourth highest academic averages.

The President's Laureate Scholarship, is offered to students with the highest average from their grade 12 final marks. 

These awards are valued at $5,000 and are renewable for 3 consecutive years for one degree provided the recipient registers for, and remains registered, in a full-time program achieving a sessional grade point average of at least 3.75 each year.

This scholarship may be held concurrently with the Leader of Tomorrow Scholarship in name only and may not be held with any other University of Manitoba Entrance Scholarship other than the Chown Centennial Scholarship.

Candidates will require:

• a minimum average of 95% from their best 5 courses from those listed for entrance scholarship consideration (see list from the University of Manitoba General Entrance Scholarship page);
• the highest aggregate score on (a) one English 40S course and (b) Pre-Calculus Math 40S and (c) at least one science or language course.
• Submitted an undergraduate application for admissions by the admissions/scholarship deadline of March 1.
• To be eligible, students must enroll in both the upcoming fall and winter terms, in a minimum of 24 credit hours.

The University of Manitoba recognizes those students who enter the University of Manitoba with a minimum 95% high school final average (based on the courses used for entrance scholarship purposes) as President’s Scholars.

President’s Scholars will be eligible for a number of benefits, such as: scholarship funding of $1,000 in each second, third and fourth years of study (providing they meet renewal criteria), priority registration and notation on the university transcript.

High school and first year student eligibility

To be designated a President’s Scholar, first year students:

• Must have applied for admission to the University of Manitoba by March 1 and be admitted to any direct entry program at the University of Manitoba with a minimum final grade 12 average of 95% based on the five courses used for entrance scholarship purposes;
• Must be enrolled as full-time students with a minimum 24 credit hours in any faculty or school at the University of Manitoba during the Fall/Winter academic session.

Offers will be made in August each year.

For Grade 12 students, there are other renewable entrance awards, which also recognize exceptional high school final averages, such as the Isabel Auld Entrance Scholarship or the Chancellor’s Scholarship. Recipients of these awards will receive the President’s Scholars designation and benefits.

President's Scholar renewals

To renew a President’s Scholarship in the second, third and fourth years of study, students:

• Must complete their first, second and third years of study with a minimum degree grade point average of 4.0 based on coursework completed during the regular academic sessions.
• Must continue into the next consecutive year of study as a full-time student with a minimum 24 credit hours.

Renewals will be made annually in late June or early July.

Co-op students

Students participating in co-op programs are responsible for contacting the financial aid and awards office in writing, via mail or e-mail to ensure accurate records are maintained for renewal and communication purposes. Co-op terms are considered as work terms and the course load completed in the workplace will not be counted towards the calculation of the minimum 24 credit hour course load requirement.

President’s Scholarship funding can be deferred for students upon written receipt of notification; funds will be released upon completion of two academic terms that meet the minimum 24 credit hour requirement.

Benefits such as priority registration will continue throughout students’ co-op terms.