Entrance Bursaries

This award is available to a student who will be entering full time, first year studies at StFX in a degree or diploma program in September 2025 upon graduation from Dr. John Hugh Gillis Regional High School, Antigonish, Nova Scotia only. Applicants must have combined a satisfactory academic record with leadership in cultural, athletic or community service. Preference will be given to sons and daughters of employees of Kell Enterprises, Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Award Value: up to $1,000

This bursary was established in 2004 in celebration of the 50-year anniversary of the Class of 1954. Applicants must be graduating from a Nova Scotia public high school and entering StFX as a full-time student in the fall academic term of the same year. This bursary will be awarded to a student demonstrating financial need, whom might otherwise not be able to attend university due to financial barriers. Applicants who have been awarded an entrance scholarship of more than $1250/year to attend StFX will not be considered for this bursary. This bursary requires a two-part application process. Interested students must complete the online StFX Entrance Bursary program application, through which financial need must be demonstrated. Applicants must also have a nomination form submitted by their high school principal or guidance counsellor. Award Value: up to $10,000 

Please note: In addition to the online Entrance Bursary application form, this award requires a nomination form from your high school guidance counselor or principal. The nomination form will be available by request from the StFX Financial Aid Office beginning December 2024. Each school may nominate more than one candidate. 

This award will be paid to a full-time student of StFX who has demonstrated financial need, and who is a graduate from Sydney Academy High School. Students should have been involved in student activities during high school and have demonstrated leadership abilities. In the event that in any given year there are no qualifying applicants who meet these criteria, the funds will be used to support students demonstrating the greatest need. Award Value: up to $1,000 

This award is available to a student who is a resident of Prince Edward Island or who attended high school in PEI, having maintained an academic average above 80% through their high school study. Applicants must demonstrate financial need, as well as passion and experience demonstrating leadership, musicality, and/or an interest in health and wellness. The recipient of this award will be invited to attend the Rollo Bay Fiddle Festival during the third weekend in July (outside of Souris, PEI) to publicly receive the award by Dr. Ellen MacPhee’s family (attendance is optional). Award Value: up to $1,500

This bursary is available to students of African Nova Scotian descent who will be entering full time, first year studies at StFX directly from a high school in Nova Scotia. Applicants must demonstrate financial need, as well as leadership qualities and a sincere commitment to making a valuable contribution to student life at StFX. This bursary may be renewable in subsequent years of study, so long as recipients maintain full time enrollment of at least 24 credits per year and continue to meet the criteria of the bursary. A renewal application will be required each year through the Limited Bursary program.  Award Value: up to $2,000

This bursary has been established for first year female students entering directly from high school into full-time study in the Bachelor of Business Administration degree program at St. Francis Xavier University’s Schwartz School of Business. Applicants must demonstrate financial need in their application. This bursary will be renewable in subsequent years of study based on the recipient's continued maintenance of the Schwartz School of Business program requirements. A renewal application will be required each year.   Award Value: up to $3,500 

This award has been established by an anonymous donor to mark his 50th anniversary in Canada. Arriving here as a refugee, he benefited from the education system in this country and went on to become a world-class nation builder in his professional life. Turning to philanthropy in his retirement, he is offering bursaries in every province and territory to mark this special occasion and to thank Canada for the opportunities it afforded him. VK is Velke Kapusany, Slovakia, the donor’s birthplace, while C signifies Canada. The Ottawa Community Foundation is pleased to facilitate this act of generosity from coast to coast to coast. This award is available to students in any undergraduate diploma or degree program (excluding BEd studies) who will begin full time studies at StFX in September 2024. Applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada and demonstrate financial need in their application. This bursary has the potential to be renewable in each year of study, up to a maximum of three additional years, provided the recipient completes a renewal application each year and continues to meet all the criteria of this award. Award Value: up to $2,000 

This bursary has been established to create an opportunity for French speaking students from the province of Quebec to attend St. Francis Xavier University. This bursary will support students in financial need, who otherwise would not be able to attend StFX without significant financial support. Applicants must meet the University’s admission requirements, demonstrate leadership qualities, be committed to making a valuable contribution to student life at StFX, and show financial need in their application. Applicants must be planning to enroll as a full-time student (minimum 24 credits) at StFX in the 2025-26 academic year beginning September 2025. Students from any academic program may apply and must take courses associated with the Brian Mulroney Institute of Government within their studies. The Guy R. Savard Bursary has the potential to be renewable to a maximum of three additional years provided the recipient reapplies each year, remains in good academic standing and continues to meet all other criteria. In the event that in any given year there are no qualifying applicants who meet these criteria, the funds will be used to support students demonstrating the greatest need.  Award Value: up to $12,500

Please note: This bursary requires a special application that you may request directly from the StFX Financial Aid Office at @email, please include Guy R. Savard Bursary in the subject line of your email. 

This bursary has been established in memory of the late Jean Nora Farrell (1939-2021) by her husband, StFX alumnus John Hugh Farrell ’57. This bursary is an extension of their commitment to give back and inspire others to do the same in their communities. Students entering directly from high school to first year study in any undergraduate program at StFX who meet the following criteria may be considered for this opportunity. Applicants must be a resident of Cape Breton, preferably, of from mainland Nova Scotia, demonstrate financial need, and be able to speak to both how they have a strong commitment to their academics and how they plan to use their education to give back to their community. This award has the potential to be renewable to a maximum of three additional years provided the recipient reapplies each year, remains in good academic standing and continues to meet all other criteria.  

Award Value: up to $2,000

This bursary is available to first year students entering directly into the Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy and Governance degree program at StFX in September 2025. Applicants must be Canadian citizens and demonstrate financial need. Applicants are expected to enroll in all of the following courses in year one of their studies: Economic 101/102, Political Science 101/102 and Public Policy and Governance 101 and must maintain full time status in their studies. This bursary may be renewable in subsequent years of study, so long as recipients continue to meet the criteria of the bursary; a renewal application will be required each year through the Limited Bursary program. Award Value: up to $3,000

The Katherine MacGillivray Maloney Nursing bursary is available to grade 12 students entering into full-time studies in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at St. Francis Xavier University in September 2024. Applicants must be Canadian citizens, have an entrance average of at least 80% from high school and demonstrate financial need. All applicants must demonstrate a commitment to the values of Nursing including qualities of caring, kindness, respect for diversity, compassion and excellence in clinical practice. Students should speak to how they demonstrate social responsibility (i.e. volunteer work; school committees; etc.) in an accompanying essay to their application. Preference will be given to students entering from a high school in Antigonish Town or County or Guysborough County, including Guysborough and St. Mary’s Municipalities. This bursary has the potential to be renewed in second, third and fourth year of study if the recipient maintains an academic average of at least 65% each year and continues to meet all of the criteria of the award. A new application will be required each year through the Financial Aid Office. Award Value: up to $6,000 

Please note: Essays must be submitted at the time of application as a PDF upload through the application.

This bursary recognizes the resilience required for a female student to preserve over life’s challenges and earn a broad-based education. This award has been established to support a female student from Atlantic Canada who is in financial need and wants to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Francis Xavier University. To be eligible for this bursary, applicants must demonstrate financial need. Applicants who have overcome a life challenge to attend StFX will be given preference. This bursary is renewable in subsequent years of study so long as the recipient continues to meet the academic requirements to progress in their program of study. A renewal application will be required each year. Award Value: up to $12000 

This bursary has been established in honour of Lorne ‘Abe’ Abramson and his long-term commitment to students and the Nova Scotia Secondary School Students’ Association. This bursary is available to students entering full time, first year studies at StFX in September 2024. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and be a member who has held a position in the NSSSA Provincial Cabinet or on the NSSSA Conference Committee.  Award Value: up to $500

This award is available to students who will be enrolling in at least 24 credits of a degree or diploma program at the undergraduate level at StFX in September 2025. Students should demonstrate leadership qualities in their communities and be able to make a valuable contribution to student life at StFX. This bursary seeks to assist students who might otherwise not be able to begin their studies due to extreme financial stress. Applicants should provide details in their application as to how they plan to finance their education for the length of their program. This bursary may be renewable in each year of study at the undergraduate level provided recipients reapply each year and continue to meet these criteria.

Award Value: up to $3000

This bursary is available to a female student who has demonstrated a passion for playing minor hockey while balancing the demands of high school academics. This bursary is for female students who have played minor hockey and will continue to play recreational/intramural hockey at university. Applicants must demonstrate financial need, have been accepted to a full-time undergraduate program at StFX and be academically good students but not necessarily at the top of their class. If no suitable candidates with a minor hockey background can be found, this bursary will be open to other female students who have played a team sport in high school and will continue the sport at the recreational/intramural level. This bursary is not intended for varsity-level university players, varsity athletes are not eligible to be considered for this funding opportunity. Award Value: up to $1,000

This bursary is available to full-time students who begin studies in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing 4-year degree program at StFX directly after graduating from high school. Applicants must demonstrate financial need in their application, have participated in school sponsored extracurricular activities and demonstrate leadership ability. Preference will be given firstly to students who have graduated from Rankin School of the Narrows, Cape Breton and secondly to students graduating from any high school in Cape Breton, NS. This bursary may be renewed in the second year of study only, so long as the recipient continue to meet all of the criteria of the bursary. In the event that in any given year there are no qualifying applicants who meet these criteria, the funds will be used to support students demonstrating the greatest need. Award Value: up to $2,000

This award will be paid to a full-time first year student of StFX who has demonstrated financial need and is from Prince Edward Island. If no qualified applicants from PEI are found, then students from Antigonish will be considered.  Preference will be given to students studying in the Department of Human Nutrition. The recipient must be able to demonstrate leadership ability. Award Value: up to $1,000

This bursary has been established to recognize the passion and leadership abilities of students involved with the Nova Scotia Secondary School Students’ Association prior to beginning their studies at StFX.  This bursary is available to students entering full time, first year studies at the university in September 2025.  Applicants must demonstrate financial need and have held a leadership role in the NSSSA, either provincially or locally in their high school.  Award Value: up to $500

This award is available to a first year StFX student who graduated from a high school in Northern Alberta, with a preference for those from Edmonton. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and leadership achievements in their home or school community, as reflected by their extracurricular activities. This bursary may be renewed in up to three subsequent years of study, so long as the recipient continue to meet all of the criteria of the bursary. Award Value: up to $2,000 

This award is available to full time students demonstrating financial need and studying in an undergraduate degree or diploma program at StFX. Applicants must have achieved a minimum grade average of 60% in their studies. This bursary will be awarded alternately each year as follows: Group A: to a student who resides first from the community of Barrios Beach or failing that, a student from Tracadie or then Monestary, Nova Scotia; Group B: to a student who resides in Georgeville or Livingstone’s Cove, Nova Scotia. Award Value: up to $1,500

The Robert and Tracy Bennett Bursary Endowment has been established at St. Francis Xavier University to support an annual bursary for students graduating from Grade 12, entering into full-time undergraduate studies at StFX. The focus of this bursary is to assist students to live on campus in residence, who may be unable to do so because of financial constraints. The first bursary will be awarded to a student beginning their studies in September 2024. This bursary will then be available to a new student every year. Applicants must be from Colchester, Cumberland or Pictou counties of Nova Scotia and they must demonstrate financial need. Preference will be given to students personally affected by the senseless tragedy that took place in Nova Scotia the weekend of April 18-19, 2020.  Award Value: up to $5,000 

This bursary is available to Canadian students entering directly from high school into full time study (minimum of 24 credits) in an undergraduate program at StFX in September 2025. Applicants must have a high school leaving average of at least 80%, be committed to contributing to student life at StFX, and demonstrate very significant financial need in their application. This bursary has the potential to be renewable for up to three additional years of study if the student maintains an annual academic average of 65% in their studies, continues to make a valuable contribution to student life, and meets all other criteria. A renewal application will be required each year.  Award Value: up to $8,000

This bursary is available to students entering directly from Dr. John Hugh Gillis Regional High School in Antigonish, NS or from Chedabucto Education Centre - Guysborough Academy in Guysborough, NS into full time study (minimum of 24 credits) in an undergraduate program at StFX in September 2025.  Applicants must show personal growth over their high school years; whereas a university education can give them the opportunity to meet their full potential. This bursary requires a two-part application process. Interested students must complete the online StFX Entrance Bursary program application, through which financial need must be demonstrated. Applicants must also have a nomination form submitted by their high school teacher, principal or guidance counsellor who has known them throughout their years of study. The nominator must be able to attest to their personal growth and how, if they were to be given the opportunity of a university education, this could help them meet their full potential. Award Value: up to $2,000

Please note: In addition to the online Entrance Bursary application form, this award requires a nomination form from your high school teacher, guidance counselor or principal. The nomination form will be available by request from the StFX Financial Aid Office beginning December 2022. Each school may nominate more than one candidate.

This bursary is available to female students who are graduating from a high school in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia or in any of the New England states of Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut or Rhode Island. Applicants must have a high school leaving average of at least 75% and plan to enroll in at least 24 credits in their first year of study at StFX. Applicants must demonstrate leadership qualities in their communities and be able to make a valuable contribution to student life at StFX. Preference will be given to students enrolling in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics programs (the STEM disciplines). This bursary will be renewable in subsequent years of study if the student maintains a minimum academic average of 70% and continues to meet all of the other criteria. A new application is required each year. Award Value: up to $3,500

Tom and Marius Langley have deep connections to StFX, meeting here as students, graduating, marrying, and eventually settling in Antigonish to raise their family. As members of the Xaverian community for over 60 years, they have established this bursary to assist youth from rural Cape Breton to obtain a StFX education. This opportunity is open to students graduating from a high school in Cape Breton who will be entering full time undergraduate study at StFX in September. Preference will be given to students whose home communities (home address) is Judique or Port Hawkesbusy, followed by individuals from Inverness and Richmond Counties. Applicants must demonstrate financial need in their application. This bursary has the potential to be renewable for up to three additional years of study if the student remains in good academic standing and continues to meet the criteria of this award. A renewal application will be required each year. If in any given year there are no qualifying applicants who meet these criteria, the funds will be used to support students demonstrating the greatest need.  Award Value: up to $2,000