Scholarships & Financial Assistance


With education costs on the rise, enhancing student assistance is a top priority for Acadia. Each year, we award more than $4 million to students in the form of scholarships, scholar-bursaries, bursaries, awards, and prizes. By maintaining a strong scholarship and financial assistance program, we are able to attract, retain and support our students.

As a donor to scholarships and financial assistance, you can direct your gift toward: general award funds or awards for specific departments, faculties, research, or athletic teams; any existing named awards; or you can create a personal legacy by establishing a named award yourself. By supporting scholarships and financial assistance, you can help to ensure access to all of the rewards of an Acadia education.

If you would like to give generally to the Scholarships and Financial Aid, please click here.

W. Gordon Ross Memorial Scholarship in History

Scholarship | Eligibility: Arts, History, Current 1st year, Current 2nd year, Current 3rd year, Current 4th year

The W. Gordon Ross Memorial Scholarship in History. This scholarship was endowed in 1989 by Mr. Stanley Ross of Saint John, New Brunswick, in memory of his brother, the Reverend Walter Gordon Ross (B.Th Acadia 1929, MA Acadia 1932). The award shall be made to an outstanding student entering the second or subsequent year of study leading to a BA degree with a major or honours in History. Preference shall be given to students working in the field of Canadian History. It is the donor's wish that the same student, if continuing to be worthy, should receive the scholarship in successive years to graduation. The award will be made by the appropriate committee on the recommendation of the Department of History.

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W. Malcolm Orchard Memorial Scholarship

Scholarship of up to $1,550 | Eligibility: Pure and Applied Science, Chemistry, Current 3rd year

The W. Malcolm Orchard Memorial Scholarship is awarded each year to an outstanding student who has completed three years of study towards the Honours degree in Chemistry and plans to pursue graduate studies in that field. Mr.Orchard graduated from Acadia with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1937.

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W.T. Pound Family Scholarship

Scholarship | Eligibility: Pure and Applied Science, Environmental Science, Current 3rd year, Current 4th year

The W.T. Pound Family Scholarship recognizes excellence and achievement in the study of ecology. The scholarship is presented at the end of each academic year, upon the recommendation of the Head of the Department of Biology, to an Environmental Science programme honours student completing the third or fourth year, enrolled in one or more ecology courses. Preference will be given to a student whose studies focus on ecology. This scholarship was established in remembrance of Jessie Edith and William Thomas Pound; they are honoured by the family they created and encouraged.

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Wallace and Trenna Turner Scholarship

Scholarship | Eligibility: Professional Studies, Art, English, Music, Current 2nd year, Current 3rd year, Current 4th year

Established by the Turners in 1983 to support a needy scholarship level student in the second or subsequent year of study in art, music or creative writing. The recipient must be a person of proven creative talents. Wallace Turner was a well-known water colour artist, who together with Trenna, had an interest in helping needy students with creative talents.

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Walter W. Chipman Scholarship

Scholarship | Eligibility: Entering first year

The Walter W. Chipman Scholarship of $1900 ($475 a year for up to four years) endowed by the late Walter W. Chipman, M.D., D.C.L., LL.D., (Acadia, 1890) of Montreal, Quebec.

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Wendy (Bishop) Morgan Memorial Scholarship

Scholarship | Eligibility: Professional Studies, Education, Current 2nd year

The Wendy (Bishop) Morgan Memorial Scholarship was established through donations from family and friends and to commemorate the life of an excellent student who graduated with a B.A. with Honours in History in 1970. At the time of her death in May 1988, she was involved in a successful executive career. The scholarship is awarded annually to a second year Bachelor of Education student who shows exceptional promise as a classroom teacher.

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Wendy Seaman Memorial Scholarships

Scholarship | Eligibility: Professional Studies, Business Administration, Education, Entering first year, Nova Scotia

The Wendy Seaman Memorial Scholarships are awarded annually to one student entering the Bachelor of Business Administration program and one entering the Bachelor of Education program. Preference is given to women. The recipients are to be superior students with a broad range of interests in people and human relations. The business student must be a graduate of a high school between Windsor and Digby. The education student must be an Acadia graduate. Mrs. Seaman died tragically in January 1989, having served family, friends and her community in exemplary ways as a parent, youth supporter, school board member and business woman.

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White Memorial Scholarship

Scholarship | Eligibility: Pure and Applied Science, Mathematics and Statistics, Current 1st year, Current 2nd year, Current 3rd year, Current 4th year

The White Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually on the recommendation of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics to a student who is studying towards a degree with a major in a program offered by that Department. The scholarship is made available through the White Memorial Fund which for many years was used to support a named chair in mathematics. In 1997, faculty in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics agreed that the funds should be used to recognize outstanding academic achievement. The White Memorial Fund was established through an endowment by the White family, shipbuilders and lumbering entrepreneurs, many of whom were educated at Acadia University.

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Whitman House (Tully) Scholarship

Scholarship | Eligibility: Current 2nd year, Current 3rd year, Current 4th year

The Whitman House (Tully) Scholarship ($200) is awarded annually to a Tully resident who has lived in that residence for at least one year and who best exhibits the Tully spirit while maintaining a superior level of academic achievement. The scholarship will be applied against the fees of the second term. Funding for the scholarship is provided by Tully alumni and friends.

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William Hall Heritage Scholarship

Scholarship | Eligibility: Aboriginal and/or Africian Nova Scotia, Visible Minority

The William Hall Heritage Scholarship is awarded by VANSDA to provide financial assistance for two African Nova Scotian youth residing in the Annapolis Valley (from Windsor to Digby) so that they will be encouraged to continue their post-secondary education at Acadia University immediately following completion of graduation requirements set by the Nova Scotia Department of Education.

Acadia University will provide matching funds up to $1,000 to each recipient, to a maximum of two awards annually once they are registered as a full time student at Acadia University.

William Henry Dyas Memorial Scholarship

Scholarship

The William Henry Dyas Memorial Scholarship was provided through the generosity of his daughter, Gretta, and is awarded on recommendation of the Chaplain to a continuing student who is preparing for service in church ministry or for work in religious education, or any other field of religious endeavour, and who has shown practical interest in ecumenical university chaplaincy at Acadia, and possibly as a profession. Rev. Dyas was a graduate of Horton Academy and Acadia (B.A., 1900; D.D. 1933).

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William J. Wright Memorial Scholarships

Scholarship of up to $1,256

The William J. Wright Memorial Scholarships provided by the legacy of the late Dr. William Wright, are annually awarded to superior students who achieve Deans' List standing. Dr. Wright was a professional geologist who achieved distinction in Canada, the United States and abroad. He graduated B.Sc. Acadia, 1907; B.A. Yale, 1908; M.A., 1912; Ph.D., 1915; LL.D. University of New Brunswick, 1951.

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William John Gordon Entrance Scholarships

Scholarship | Eligibility: Entering first year

The William John Gordon Entrance Scholarships (2) are provided for by a legacy from the Estate of the late Mr. Gordon whose wife, the late Mrs. Edith Rebecca Ells Gordon, a native of North Medford, Kings County, Nova Scotia, graduated from Acadia (B.A., '04, M.A., '05). The scholarships of $1995 each are awarded as renewable entrance scholarships and are normally available every third or fourth year.

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William Laird Archibald Scholarship

Scholarship | Eligibility: Arts, Pure and Applied Science, Current 2nd year, Entering first year

The William Laird Archibald Scholarship was endowed by Dr. Francis M. Archibald (1919) in honour of his father, Dr. W.L. Archibald (1892), Principal of the Acadia Collegiate Academy, 1916-1926, and Registrar of Acadia University, 1926-1939. The award will normally be made each year to a student of high standing entering third year in Arts or Science; or it may, at the discretion of the Scholarship Committee, be awarded as an entrance scholarship to an exceptionally bright and needy student. The endowment fund for the William Laird Archibald Scholarship was enhanced in 2020 by grandson William Archibald Fillmore (1958).

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William Lewis Wright Scholarship in Music

Scholarship | Eligibility: Professional Studies, Music, Current 1st year, Current 2nd year, Current 3rd year, Current 4th year

The William Lewis Wright Scholarship in Music. An endowed scholarship of $160 has been provided by Mr. William Lewis Wright of Robson, British Columbia, a member of the Acadia Class of 1903, to be awarded annually to a worthy student in piano.

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Winston Steeves Memorial Scholarship in Business

Scholarship of up to $5,000 | Eligibility: Professional Studies, Business Administration, Current 4th year

The Winston Steeves Memorial Scholarship in Business is awarded each year to a final year honours student in the School of Business Administration. The scholarship may be made available in the summer prior to the final honours year for thesis research purposes. The funds are provided from the Estate of Dr. Steeves and by his family. Dr. Steeves served on Acadia's Board of Governors from 1963 to 1985 when he was appointed an Honourary Governor. In 1986 he received the degree of Doctor of Civil Law, honoris causa.

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WUSC PETNA Foundation Scholarship

Scholarship

Providing funding for an additional refugee student to attend Acadia under the terms of reference provided by the World University Service Canada.

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Contact

Office of Advancement
Rm 225 University Hall
15 University Avenue
Wolfville, NS, B4P 2R6, Canada
General Inquiries: 902.585.1026
To make a donation: 902.585.1912
Toll Free in North America:
1.866.ACADIA (1.866.222.3428)
advancement@acadiau.ca

Charitable Registration #: 106681893 RR0001