Scholarships & Bursaries

Through the generous contributions of donors, $2.6 million in scholarships and bursaries are offered to students entering CBU each year. Students entering direct from high school are considered for entrance scholarships based on their academic grades.

Review Current Scholarships Applications here.

Entrance Scholarships

Canadian and International Students

All entering students who wish to be considered for entrance scholarships must submit the following in addition to an admission application:

• Official transcript
• Financial need application for those interested in bursaries

Articulation Agreement Students

• Articulation agreements (both domestic & international) qualify
• Students must be currently enrolled in their program of transfer
• ESL conditional offers must attend a CBU English language partner school to have award honoured
• Minimum 80% average as determined by CBU to be eligible with no failures 

Former Nova Scotia Youth in Care Students

• CBU offers a 100% waiver of participating students’ tuition and compulsory fees for former youth in care students from Nova Scotia. Students must first be successfully accepted by CBU to apply for this waiver. Please review full eligibility and application details.

High School Students

• No failures in Grade 11 courses
• Average is based on the five AC & AD courses required for your program’s admission. The final Grade 11 grades will be used to determine the average
• Average for international students entering directly from high school will be determined by Cape Breton University
• ESL conditional offers must attend a CBU English language partner school to have award honoured

Indigenous Students

• For all Indigenous student scholarships, please contact unamaki@cbu.ca.

Major Entrance Scholarships

*A limited number of the following awards will be offered*

Other Entrance Scholarships

Cape Breton University is proud to offer a variety of scholarships and bursaries to assist our students in the pursuit of their educational goals. Our donors truly believe in the value of education. These are just a few examples of the scholarships and bursaries available to CBU students.

MacLeod-Matheson Bursaries	The Drs. John & Jeanne Eyking Scholarships
Chartwells Award	Judy Butler B.Ed. Entrance Scholarship
Louis and Pearl Guam Bursary	Irving Shipbuilding Scholarships & Bursaries
Lauchie Gillis Memorial Award	Rose Nolan Memorial Scholarship
Joyce Foundation Bursaries	Bert & Zita Armishaw Scholarship
C.W. MacDonald Memorial Scholarship	The CB Highlanders Association Awards
Alethia MacDonald Scholarship	The Dr. David F Sobey Scholarships
Michael & Ethel MacLean Bursaries	Eric M. Redmond Memorial Bursary
Lou Leith Entrance Award	Selina & Stewart Tremblett Scholarship
Cathrene Anna Campbell Memorial Award	Rita MacNeil Music Award
Kevin Hillman Scholarships	CBUAA Entrance Scholarships
CBUFA Scholarships & Bursaries	Connor Timmons Entrance Scholarships
William Bill Bugg Entrance Award	Harrison McCain Scholarship/Bursary
Zorychta Family Scholarship	Stephen D. Kavanagh Memorial Bursary

Accepted students can apply for Entrance Scholarships until March 1, 2024.

There are a range of scholarships from $500 per year to $5,000 per year that will also be offered after a review of applicants.

Academic In-Course Scholarships

Cape Breton University awards Academic In-Course Scholarships after each Fall and Winter semester. To be eligible, students must not be in receipt of a renewable scholarship, and must complete a minimum of 9 credits with an overall average of at least 80% during a Fall or Winter semester. Students registered in the Bachelor of Education and Master of Business Administration programs are not eligible for these scholarships. Students registered with the Jennifer Keeping Centre can contact awards@cbu.ca for more information on eligibility.

The scholarship’s value is based on the number of credits eligible students are registered in during the semester the award is received. Scholarships will be applied directly to eligible students’ accounts in the following Fall or Winter semester (approximately two weeks after the Add/Drop deadline in September and January, respectively), provided students are registered in a minimum of 9 credits in the semester they receive the award. Eligible students registered in 15 credits will receive $500. Eligible students registered in 12 credits will receive $400. Eligible students registered in 9 credits will receive $300. Academic In-Course Scholarships are not awarded during the Spring/Summer semester or for courses taken during the Spring/Summer semester (except for students registered in the Bachelor of Science Nursing in terms 5, 6 and 8).

There is no application required for Academic In-Course Scholarships. Any award requiring a separate application will be posted on this page.

Bursaries

Cape Breton University provides students with financial need an opportunity to apply for financial aid through its bursary program. There are a number of bursaries that students may be eligible for as well as general bursaries that all students can apply for. In order to be eligible for a bursary, students must:

• Be a registered CBU student
• Complete either an Entrance Bursary Form or In-Course Bursary Form
• Provide income tax assessments for both the student and in some instances parents

Entrance Bursaries

Provided to students entering CBU who prove a strong financial need in order to enter their studies will be considered. The application becomes available in January and closes in March each year. Students must also submit official income tax documentation for themselves and parent(s)/guardian(s) for consideration. These bursaries are awarded upon enrolment in September.

In-Course Bursaries

The in-course bursary application opens in the fall each year and bursaries are awarded during the second semester. Current CBU students must complete the in-course bursary application which is available between mid-November and closes mid-January each year. In-course bursaries are awarded in second semester and are based on financial need.

Click here for more information on in-course bursaries.

Current External Award Opportunities

Cape Breton University makes every attempt to ensure accuracy, currency and reliability of the information posted on their scholarship, bursary and award web-site. If there is a discrepancy, the criteria that is held by the Awards Office is deemed correct. Verification can be confirmed by contacting awards@cbu.ca.