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Nova Scotia Black and First Nations Graduate Entrance Scholarships

Nova Scotia Black and First Nations Graduate Entrance Scholarships

Dalhousie University offers entrance scholarships valued at $15,000 each, awarded annually to a First Nations and an Indigenous Black student entering a Dalhousie graduate program for the first time following graduation from a Dalhousie University undergraduate program. The objective of these scholarships is to increase the representation of Indigenous Black and First Nations communities in the university's wide diversity of graduate programs, and ultimately in the academy and in advanced professional occupations. The graduate program may be at the master's or doctoral level, and may include professional, course-based or thesis-based programs.

Application

Applications are received through Dalhousie's Harmonized Scholarship Process. Applicants wishing to be considered for either award must include a completed self-identification form and the additional application materials outlined on that form.

Renewal

Current award holders must contact fgs.slo@dal.ca by May 15th to apply for renewal

Eligibility and Award Criteria

  • The scholarships are open to Indigenous Black and First Nations students, residents of Nova Scotia (first preference) or former residents returning to Nova Scotia (second preference), who have completed a Dalhousie University undergraduate program and are entering their first Dalhousie University graduate program.
  • An Indigenous Black person is one who a) is the child of birth parents at least one of whom is of African descent; b) whose parents were living in Nova Scotia at the date of birth; and, c) whose African Canadian parent(s) was (were) born in Canada.
  • In accordance with the Constitution Act, 1982, part II, Section 35(2), a First Nations applicant is an Indian, Inuit or Metis person of Canada, and a person who is accepted by one of the First Nations of Nova Scotia as a member of their community.
  • Students must have been accepted into a Dalhousie Graduate program administered by the Faculty of Graduate Studies, with an admission GPA of 3.3 (B+) or higher. Admission GPAs are based on the last two years (six terms) of full-time academic study.
  • Candidates who hold other scholarships of any kind, including scholarships internal and external to Dalhousie University, will receive the Indigenous Black and First Nations Graduate Entrance Scholarship as a "top-up award" to their other scholarship, the total not exceeding $20,000/year for Master’s or $30,000/year for Doctoral students.
  • Recipients of this scholarship must begin full-time academic study at Dalhousie in the academic year for which it has been awarded.
  • The scholarship is renewable for a maximum of one year (three academic terms) for students maintaining good standing in the first year of their program.
  • Applications will be considered by a special scholarship committee constituted by the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies. Award and renewal decisions are final and cannot be appealed.