Scholarships 2026

The deadline for SAFA scholarships has been extended

The SAFA will be offering $30,000 in scholarships this year; with $15,000 for all SAFA students and $15,000 for students part of specific MAs.

All scholarships are open to students in majors, minors and/or micro programs within the Faculty of Arts. Certain scholarships are offered to specific groups of students, only applicants from these groups of students will be considered for those awards.

Each Scholarship has its own set of requirements and applicants should read the requirements carefully to avoid any confusion. Unless otherwise stated, the submissions for the scholarships should be in PDF or Word document format and limited to the number of pages stated in the prompt.

All applications will be reviewed by the SAFA Scholarship Committee, and will be subjected to the review process as outlined in the SAFA Constitution.

SAFA-WIDE SCHOLARSHIPS

OPEN TO STUDENTS IN THE FACULTY OF ARTS INCLUDING ARTS MAJORS, MINORS, AND MICRO-PROGRAM STUDENTS

All submissions must be sent to Emma Brisson at uni@artsuottawa.ca with subject line “Scholarship Submission: Name of Scholarship you are applying for” (Ex: Scholarship Submission: Research).

Please include your full name (First and Last) and student number in your submission.

Deadline: Sunday March 15th at 11:59pm

SAFA-Wide Scholarships include:

Research Scholarship ($1500, $1000, $500)
Volunteer Scholarship ($1000, $750, $500)
Internal Scholarship (Restricted to members of a Member Association, the Board of Directors or a Committee of the SAFA) ($1000, $750, $500)
Live Laugh Love Scholarship ($250 x3)
Francophone Students Scholarship ($750, $500, $250)
International Students Scholarship ($750, $500, $250)
Innovation Scholarship ($1000, $750, $500)
Indigenous Student Leader Scholarship ($750, $500, $250)

You can find detailed information on the requirements and application instructions for each scholarship on our website.

Scholarship 1/8 – Research

For:

Students seeking funding for advanced research in their field. At least one component of the research must be considered an arts program.

Prompt:

If someone outside your discipline asked, “Why should anyone care about this work?”, how would you answer? Describe the question that drives your research or creative practice and the change you hope it creates. (500–1,000 words)

Submit:

An answer to the prompt, abstract of the research project, and academic reference.

Amount: 1500 $, 1000 $, 500 $

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Scholarship 2/8 – Volunteer

For:

Students who dedicate their time to organizations inside or outside the university community.

Prompt:

Instead of measuring impact by hours or tasks, focus on one relationship or interaction that emerged from your volunteer experience. How did this connection influence your understanding of community, responsibility, or empathy? (1 page double spaced)

Submit:

A response to the question, a one-page letter of reference, and your CV.

Amount: 1000 $, 750 $, 500 $

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Scholarship 3/8 – Internal

For:

Students who are executive members of a Member Association, the Board of Directors, or a Committee of the SAFA.

Prompt:

Behind every organization is unseen work. Tell the story of a challenge, conflict, or quiet effort that shaped your contribution to student life and what it taught you about collaboration or responsibility. (500 words)

Submit:

An answer to the prompt, one reference letter (1-page) from a MA/Committee/Board member.

Amount: 1000 $, 750 $, 500 $

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Scholarship 4/8 – Live, Laugh, Love

For:

Students that display creativity, comedy, and fun through their application.

Prompt:

Describe your academic program as a trend, aesthetic, or internet culture moment (e.g., main character energy, chaos core, soft life, etc.). What does this reveal about the reality of studying in your field?

Submit:

A creative piece that responds to the question, and a short text of 100 to 250 words explaining this choice and what it reveals about your studies.

Amount: 250 $ x3

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Scholarship 5/8 – Franco

For:

Francophone students. This award is an opportunity to share francophone culture and make their voice heard at the University of Ottawa.

Prompt:

French is experienced differently depending on cultures, regions, and personal journeys. How does this plurality show up in your own experience? Reflect on how different forms of francophonie influence your identity, your studies, or your engagement in the community. (750 words)

Submit:

A response to the question.

Amount: 750 $, 500 $, 250 $

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Scholarship 6/8 – International

For:

International students in the Faculty of Arts.

Prompt:

Describe a moment when you felt especially in your place or, on the contrary, outside your comfort zone at university. How did this experience shape your path and your aspirations?

Submit:

An answer to the prompt; can be a creative work (musical composition, prose, poem, etc.), but must include a descriptive paragraph of no more than 150 words explaining its relation to the prompt.

Amount: 750 $, 500 $, 250 $

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Scholarship 7/8 – Innovation

For:

Students who show innovative creativity within the arts in response to the prompt.

Prompt:

Imagine the future of your field 10 years from now. What problem still needs solving, and what bold or unconventional idea would you pursue to address it? Explain how your thinking challenges current approaches. (750 words max)

Submit:

An answer to the prompt.

Amount: 1000 $, 750 $, 500 $

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Scholarship 8/8 – Student Leader / Indigenous

For:

Full-time students in the Faculty of Arts who identify as members of one or more Indigenous communities. The student must demonstrate strong engagement within the Indigenous community.

Prompt:

Reconciliation is a popular topic today, and Indigenous leadership plays a strong role in moving forward. Discuss a time where you took on a leadership role which helped to further reconciliation efforts in the community. What did you learn from the experience, and how will you use this experience going forward? (750 words max)

Submit:

An answer to the prompt.

Amount: 750 $, 500 $, 250 $

PROGRAM SCHOLARSHIPS

THESE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE OPEN TO STUDENTS IN THE FACULTY OF ARTS INCLUDING ARTS MAJOR, MINORS & MICRO-PROGRAM STUDENTS REPRESENTED BY A MEMBER ASSOCIATION

The applicants must be registered as a full- or part-time student within the program of their application to be considered for the applicable award.

With the exception of Medieval Studies, all submissions must be sent to Emma Brisson at uni@artsuottawa.ca with subject line “Scholarship Submission: Name of Scholarship your are applying for” (Ex: Scholarship Submission: Indigenous Studies).

Please include your full name and student number in your submission.

Deadline: Sunday March 1st at 11:59pm

Program scholarships include:

Art History ($250 x2)
ESL/FLS ($250 x2)
Indigenous Studies ($250 x2)
Interdisciplinary Studies ($750 x2, $500 x2, $250 x2)
Philosophy ($500 x2)
Visual Arts ($500 x2)

Bourse 1 – Art History

For:

This scholarship is awarded to students enrolled in a Major or Minor in Art History, either part-time or full-time.

Prompt:

Choose one artwork, exhibition, or visual object that reshaped how you understand history. What new story does it tell, and why does that story matter today? (750 word max)

Submission:

Send applications with subject line “Scholarship Submission: Name of Scholarship you are applying for.” Include your full name and student number.

Amount: 250 $ x2

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Bourse 2 – French as a Second Language / English as a Second Language

For:

This scholarship is awarded to students enrolled in a Major in French as a Second Language or a Major in English as a Second Language, either full or part-time.

Prompt:

Describe a moment when using your second language required courage, whether speaking, writing, or simply choosing to participate. What did this experience reveal about communication, confidence, or belonging? (750 words max)

Submission:

Send applications with subject line “Scholarship Submission: Name of Scholarship you are applying for.” Include your full name and student number.

Amount: 250 $ x2

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Bourse 3 – Indigenous Studies

For:

This scholarship is awarded to students enrolled in a Major or Minor in Indigenous Studies, either full or part-time.

Prompt:

What responsibilities come with learning Indigenous histories, cultures, and knowledge systems in a university setting? Reflect on how this learning should influence actions, relationships, or future paths, both personally and collectively. (750 words max)

Submission:

Send applications with subject line “Scholarship Submission: Name of Scholarship you are applying for.” Include your full name and student number.

Amount: 250 $ x2

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Bourse 4 – Interdisciplinary Studies

For:

This scholarship is awarded to students enrolled in Interdisciplinary Studies, either full or part-time.

Prompt:

What is a problem that cannot be solved by one discipline alone? Describe how different ways of knowing, especially from the arts, can work together to imagine a better response. (750 words max)

Submission:

Send applications with subject line “Scholarship Submission: Name of Scholarship you are applying for.” Include your full name and student number.

Amount: 750 $ x2

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Bourse 5 – Philosophy

For:

This scholarship is awarded to students enrolled in an undergraduate program in the Philosophy department, either full or part-time.

Prompt:

Describe a question you once thought had a simple answer but no longer do. How has studying philosophy complicated, deepened, or reshaped your thinking? (750 words max)

Submission:

Send applications with subject line “Scholarship Submission: Name of Scholarship you are applying for.” Include your full name and student number.

Amount: 500 $ x2

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Bourse 6 – Visual Arts

For:

This scholarship is awarded to students enrolled in a Bachelors of Fine Arts or a Major in Visual Arts, either full or part-time.

Prompt:

Submit a work following the theme of “connection.” To be eligible, the student must submit a piece under 30” x 36” (or 30” x 36” x 36”) and a maximum 500-word description of their piece.

Submission:

Send applications with subject line “Scholarship Submission: Name of Scholarship you are applying for.” Include your full name and student number.

Amount: 500 $ x2

MAs SCHOLARSHIPS

THESE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE OPEN TO STUDENTS IN THE FACULTY OF ARTS INCLUDING ARTS MAJOR, MINORS & MICRO-PROGRAM STUDENTS REPRESENTED BY A MEMBER ASSOCIATION

The Student Association for the Faculty of Arts (SAFA) has within it member associations in addition to its own executive. A member association (or MA) exists for each department within the faculty (History, Philosophy, Theatre, Visual Arts, etc.)

The applicants must be registered as a full- or part-time student within the program of their application to be considered for the applicable award.

Deadlines vary.

MA scholarships include:

Linguistics / ADÉLSA ($1000, $500 x2, $250 x2)
Theatre and Acting / THESPIS ($400, $300 x2)
History / HSA ($500 x6)
Geography and Environmental Science and Geomatics / GAIA ($500 x5, $250 x5)
Lettres française / AÉDF (250$, 150$ 100$)
English / UESA ($1000, $600, $400)
Music / ADÉMSA ($250 x4)
Classics and Religious Studies / AECRSA ($250 x2)
Second Language Teaching / ELSSLT ($400, $100)
Medieval & Renaissance Students / MRSSA ($250 x2)
Modern Languages ($250 x2)

Bourse 1 – Classical and Religious Studies

For:

These scholarships are awarded to undergraduate students in Classics and Religious Studies at uOttawa.

Instructions:

Students may apply in three ways:

1. Write a short poem in Latin or Greek.

2. Make a TikTok or Instagram video about a funny moment in Classical history or literature, or about a fun fact about religion.

3. Write a modern retelling (750-1500 words) of a famous mythological or religious story.

Submission:

Send applications with subject line “Scholarship Submission: Name of Scholarship you are applying for.” Include your full name and student number.

Deadline: March 10, 2026

Amount: 250 $ x2

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Bourse 2 – History

For:

These scholarships are awarded to undergraduate students in History at uOttawa.

Instructions:

1. Personal History: In a research essay, discuss your history; this can be related to your family, home country, or a specific aspect of your culture. Minimum 1000 words excluding footnotes and bibliography.

2. Creative History Writing Submission: Choose a historical event or historical individual you deem important and explain how things would have been different if that event or person did not occur/exist. Minimum 1000 words excluding footnotes and bibliography.

Submission:

Send applications with subject line “Scholarship Submission: Name of Scholarship you are applying for.” Include your full name and student number.

Deadline: March 1, 2026

Amount: 500 $ x6

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Bourse 3 – Linguistics

For:

These scholarships are awarded to undergraduate students in Linguistics at uOttawa.

Instructions:

Golden and Silver Wug Awards: Choose one of two essay prompts, maximum 3 pages:

What was your dream job as a kid, and how did that evolve and/or draw you into studying linguistics?
How do you plan on solving real-world problems with your degree?

Bronze Wug Awards: Choose one of two prompts, submissions can be any creative form (written <250 words, video/audio <3 minutes):

Convince us your favourite linguistics subfield is the best.
Create a mascot for linguistics that is not the Wug.

Submission:

Send applications with subject line “Scholarship Submission: Name of Scholarship you are applying for.” Include your full name and student number.

Deadline: March 1, 2026

Amounts: 500 $ x2, 250 $ x2, 500 $ x2, 250 $ x2

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Bourse 4 – ELS / SLT

For:

These scholarships are awarded to undergraduate students in ELS/SLT at uOttawa.

Instructions:

Answer the following question in 200-350 words:

What is a major challenge facing second language teachers today? What competencies and resources can help you face this challenge?

Submission:

Send applications with subject line “Scholarship Submission: Name of Scholarship you are applying for.” Include your full name and student number.

Deadline: March 3, 2026

Amounts: 400 $ x1, 100 $ x1

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Bourse 5 – Geography, Environmental Studies, and Geomatics

For:

These scholarships are awarded to undergraduate students in Geography, Geomatics, and Environmental Studies at uOttawa.

Instructions:

Award criteria are available in the scholarship information guide.

Submission:

Send applications with subject line “Scholarship Submission: Name of Scholarship you are applying for.” Include your full name and student number.

Deadline: February 28, 2026

Amounts: 500 $ x5, 250 $ x5

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Bourse 6 – Modern Languages

For:

These scholarships are awarded to undergraduate students in World Languages and Cultures at uOttawa.

Instructions:

Answer one of the following questions in writing (250-500 words) or in a video (2-4 minutes):

How has learning a new language at uOttawa affected your life?
Why do you think the World Languages and Cultures program at uOttawa is important?
What language(s) would you recommend someone learn, and why?

Submission:

Send applications with subject line “Scholarship Submission: Name of Scholarship you are applying for.” Include your full name and student number.

Deadline: March 7, 2026

Amount: 250 $ x2

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Bourse 7 – Medieval and Renaissance Studies

For:

These scholarships are awarded to undergraduate students in Medieval and Renaissance studies.

Instructions:

1. Write about a figure from Antiquity, the Medieval, or Renaissance eras. Explain who they were, why their actions were important, and why learning about them is still relevant today.

2. Write about a primary source from Antiquity, Medieval, or Renaissance eras. Explain its importance and what it reveals about the time period.

Word Limit: 1000 words

Submission:

Send applications with subject line “MDV 2026 Scholarship [Full Name] [Student Number].”

Deadline: March 1, 2026

Amount: 250 $ x2

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Bourse 8 – Music

For:

These scholarships are awarded to undergraduate students in a BA in Music, Major in Music, Minor in Music, or BMus.

Instructions:

Performance: Short, innovative “show piece” max 5 minutes. Competition will take place March 1, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm in Freiman Hall. Submission by video is also accepted. Accompaniment optional.

Musicology / BA in Music: Write up to 500 words about a musical project you have done or a topic you are passionate about. Optional: attach an example demonstrating excellence (1-min video, music theory analysis, etc.).

Submission:

Send applications with subject line “Scholarship Submission: Name of Scholarship you are applying for.” Include your full name and student number.

Deadline: March 1, 2026

Amount: 250 $ x4

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Bourse 9 – Theatre and Acting

For:

These scholarships are awarded to undergraduate students in BA and BFA programs in the Department of Theatre at uOttawa.

Instructions:

1. Hephaestus Award (300 $): Submit a creative project that this award can support (500 words max, or video/audio 3-7 minutes).

2. Athena Award (300 $): Submit a research proposal on a performing arts topic (500 words max, or video/audio 3-7 minutes).

3. Pandora’s Box Award (400 $): Submit an original, out-of-the-box idea (500 words max, or video/audio 3-7 minutes).

Submission:

Send applications with subject line “Scholarship Submission: Name of Scholarship you are applying for.” Include your full name and student number.

Deadline: March 13, 2026

Amounts: 300 $ x1, 300 $ x1, 300 $ x1, 400 $ x1

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Bourse 10 – English

For:

These scholarships are awarded to undergraduate students in English at uOttawa.

Instructions:

UESA is seeking works of fiction on contemporary climate crises without using the image of a child. Texts must be 1200-1800 words and focus on urgency in the present.

Submission:

Submissions must be in English only. Apply via the form on the UESA Instagram account @uesauottawa.

Deadline: March 1, 2026

Amounts: 1000 $ x1, 600 $ x1, 400 $ x1