So, you want to be a journalist? Here’s your first task: Investigate how to pay for your university education.
Fortunately, we’ve given you a head start by compiling a list of the best entrance scholarships for journalism students.
All of the awards on this list are available for incoming first-year students. However, be sure to check the eligibility requirements for each scholarship. A few of them are only available at specific schools.
Alan Slaight Entrance Award
Institution Specific: Yes
School: Ryerson University – RTA School of Media
Number of Awards Available: 2
Value: $7,000 each (renewable on an annual basis for up to four years total if you keep your grades up)
Application required: Yes
Link: https://www.ryerson.ca/rta/students/scholarships/
Radio lovers, listen up! This award is named after Canadian media mogul Alan Slaight. Whether you want to be the friendly voice behind the mic or work behind the scenes in the studio, you’re eligible.
Application Criteria: They’ll be looking at both your high school marks and your application essay (1-2 pages). Your essay should talk about your relationship with radio production and why you want to study it. You will also need to complete a financial need form.
Phyllis Switzer Memorial Award
Institution Specific: Yes
School: Ryerson University – RTA School of Media
Number of Awards Available: 1
Value: Maximum of $2,500 (not renewable)
Application required: Yes
Link: https://www.ryerson.ca/rta/students/scholarships/
The Phyllis Switzer Memorial Award looks for students who have leadership experience and give back to their communities.
What were your extracurriculars in high school? Did you head up a club? Hold a position on a student council? Volunteer? If you did, you’re eligible to apply for this award.
Application Criteria: You’ll need three letters of recommendation from people who can talk about your leadership and compassion. You’ll also need to write a letter about why you want to study at Ryerson, what you’ll bring to the school, and how your past experiences support your journalism goals.
Note: The scholarship committee might request an interview with you, so practice your elevator pitch.
The Investintech – CAJ Data Journalism Scholarship
Institution Specific: No
School: N/A
Number of Awards Available: 1 (not renewable/past winners cannot reapply)
Value: $1000 + 1-year membership to the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) + 1 pass to the national CAJ conference
Application required: Yes
Link: https://www.investintech.com/data-journalism-scholarship/
Does dealing with data make dance? Do you have a good head for numbers and a passion for investigative reporting? You should apply for this scholarship.
This award can be used to help you pay for any journalism program in Canada. To be eligible, you need to show off your interest in how data supports good journalism and you must already have an offer of acceptance from a journalism program.
Application Criteria: You’re expected to submit a piece of writing for the committee to assess. Don’t panic – you can submit a blog post or an assignment from class. Your piece can be in either French or English and should be a minimum of 500 words. Your submission needs to include data (spreadsheets, mapping tools etc.), what you used to accomplish your work, at least one idea for a project you would love to accomplish, (with the help of data journalism), and a letter of recommendation from a supervisor (teacher, instructor, or editor).
The evaluation committee is made up of a small group of experienced journalists, including a CAJ member and a representative from Investintech.com.
CTV Journalism Entrance Scholarships
Institution Specific: Yes
School: University of Regina
Number of Awards Available: 3
Value: $1,750 (not renewable)
Application required: No.
The scholarship committee evaluates your eligibility for these scholarships based on your application to the School of Journalism, which includes an entrance examination and an interview.
Link: https://www.urjschool.ca/apply/scholarships/
If you have your sights set on the University of Regina’s journalism program, then this scholarship is for you. The best part? You don’t have to do any extra work to qualify, outside of preparing a stellar application. To qualify for this scholarship you must enroll in 15 credits worth of classes upon being accepted to the School of Journalism.
Application Criteria: N/A
Bob McDevitt Award
Institution Specific: Yes
School: Concordia University
Number of Awards Available: 1
Value: Variable
Application required: No.
This award is part of the Undergraduate Entrance Scholarships Program at Concordia, which means the Department of Journalism recommends a student to the awards committee each Fall. This is a merit-based scholarship named in honour of the late CBC sportscaster Bob McDevitt. It was created by his friends and family. You’re automatically considered for it if you get into the program at Concordia.
Link: https://www.concordia.ca/artsci/journalism/student-life/scholarships-awards.html
Application Criteria: N/A
Sports-related Scholarships:
Athlete or sports fan? Concordia and Ryerson have scholarships specifically for people who play or coach sports.
Scott Moore Award in Sport
Institution Specific: Yes
School: Ryerson – RTA School of Media
Number of Awards Available: 1
Value: $5,000 (not renewable)
Application required: Yes
Link: https://www.ryerson.ca/rta/students/scholarships/
Application Criteria: Short essay (describing your history with sports), a letter of recommendation from a coach, and registration at Ryerson.
Note: Preference for this award is given to students from racialized communities.
Lorne and Ann Tierney Memorial Award in Journalism
Institution Specific: Yes
School: Concordia
Number of Awards Available: 1
Value: Variable (Not renewable)
Application required: No, but you should have an acceptance to a varsity-level team at Concordia.
Link: https://www.concordia.ca/artsci/journalism/student-life/scholarships-awards.html
Application Criteria: N/A
While these are some of the best of the best when it comes to entrance scholarships, there are still plenty of awards out there for journalism students in Canada. And don’t forget about automatic entrance scholarships too. Many journalism schools in Canada, such as Carleton University, University of Western Ontario, and Trent University, give you money simply for your application average.
Acceptance to any university will also give you access to awards portals you couldn’t access beforehand. In the same way you would do your due diligence when researching a story or interviewing a source, make sure to explore all of your options so you don’t leave any potential scholarship money on the table.