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Hamilton Community Foundation’s scholarship and bursary funds provide assistance and encouragement to promising young students who may be challenged by the costs of education. In all cases, funds are paid directly to the student’s educational institution on their behalf. 

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Bursaries available at HCF

Our educational bursaries provide support to students with financial need who are accepted and enrolled in post-secondary studies. These bursaries can be used to assist with tuition, housing and other expenses related to your post-secondary education. You can apply to support your first year as well as subsequent years of studies at college or university.

To be considered for bursaries available at HCF, students must submit their bursary application directly to us, using the links below.

Subject/programSchool (CRA -approved)BursaryHow to applyApplication deadline(s)
AnyCanada or USAChaney-Ensign BursaryHereOctober 1
February 1
MusicCanada or abroadDavid Davis Memorial BursaryHereOctober 1
Performing arts (voice, drama, dance or musical instrument)Canada or USAGeritol Follies BursaryHereOctober 1

Selection criteria for these awards are:

  • Student must demonstrate financial need through OSAP application
  • Student must be registered and enrolled full-time
  • For Chaney-Ensign, student must be a graduate of a publicly funded high school in Hamilton
  • For Geritol Follies, student must be a graduate of a publicly funded high school in Hamilton or Burlington

Note: all applicants will be asked to submit information about their expenses associated with attending post-secondary as well as a verification of financial need from their student financial aid office.

Make sure you have the following before you begin your application:

  • Social Insurance Number
  • Student number

Make sure you have the following ready to upload as attachments:

  • Your OSAP Funding Summary
  • Statement of tuition payment for current semester (or full academic year if available)
  • Transcript of final secondary school marks (first-time applicants only)

For questions about these bursaries or the online application process, please contact us at 905.523.5600

Student awards available at post-secondary institutions

HCF also offers several student awards through post-secondary institutions. In most cases, students apply through their financial aid office for consideration.

McMaster University

Important: Please read guidelines here about accessing student award funding through McMaster’s Financial Aid Office.

Bursaries:

Subject/programName of award
AnyRoss F. Webb Bursary
AnyRussell & Elizabeth Lindley Bursary
Business, Commerce or Management
(available for students in the DeGroote School of Business)
Bernie Morelli Memorial Bursary*
MusicHamilton Community Foundation Music Bursary
Undergraduate Medical (available for students in the
Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine)
Frank C. Miller Jr. Bursary

Scholarships:

Subject/programName of award
To support studies outside North America
(where English is not the first language)
Rundle Foreign Study Scholarship*
This fund supports a full-time, post-doctoral student in the sciences at McMaster University.  Visit the McMaster website for information about applying, here.The E.B. Eastburn Postdoctoral Fellowship Fund

Mohawk College

Important: please read guidelines here about accessing bursary funding through Mohawk’s Financial Aid Office.

General application bursaries:

Subject/programName of award
Child and Youth Care
Early Childhood Education
Educational Support
Social Service Worker
Engineering (various programs)
Charlie and Mabel Duncan Memorial Bursary*

*preference will be given to graduates of publicly funded Hamilton high schools.


Other awards available

For some of our student awards, there is no application required as faculty selects the recipients on HCF’s behalf. Details of these awards are listed below:

McMaster University

Subject/programName of award
Manufacturing EngineeringGrace Dorothy & William P. Carpenter scholarship award

Mohawk College

Subject/programName of award
Tool and Die DesignGrace Dorothy Carpenter Award**
Tool and Die DesignWilliam P. Carpenter Award**
Mechanical and Industrial TechnologyPhyllis Mary Carpenter Award**

University of Guelph

Subject/programName of award
Environmental EngineeringPhyllis Mary Carpenter Award**

**preference given to the graduates of publicly funded high schools in Hamilton or Burlington