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.

MacKay Memorial Scholarships in Computer Science, Chemistry and Physics

Scholarship | Eligibility: Pure and Applied Science, Chemistry, Computer Science, Physics, Current 1st year, Current 2nd year, Current 3rd year, Current 4th year

These scholarships were endowed in 1989 by Mr. Donald MacKay (Acadia 1929) and Mrs. Rose (Chamber) Mackay (Acadia 1930) in memory of their son Donald Gordon MacKay, who was born in Arvida, Quebec in 1940 and died in 1965 while working as a mechanical engineer on petroleum exploration in Libya. The income from the endowment shall be used to provide scholarships for Canadian undergraduate students, entering their second or subsequent year of study at Acadia, who have achieved high academic standing, who are following a broadly-based program, and who have demonstrated qualities of leadership and personal integrity. Each year a recommendation will be made by the Director of the School of Computer Science, and the Heads of the Departments of Chemistry and Physics. If no award is made, the income shall be added to the capital endowment.

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MacVicar Athletic Bursary

Bursary of up to $1,000 | Eligibility: Arts, Professional Studies, Pure and Applied Science

Established in 2016 by Mary Whitney MacVicar (’90) and Allan MacVicar (’92), the award is granted annually in recognition of financial need. The recipient is a male student actively involved in athletic pursuits (varsity, club or external) while attending Acadia. Bursary applicants must convey in writing how this bursary will support their academic and athletic endeavours.

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Margaret and Mary Millard Memorial Prize

Prize | Eligibility: Pure and Applied Science, Nutrition

The Margaret and Mary Millard Memorial Prize. A fund was established by Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Millard of Liverpool in memory of their daughters Margaret and Mary. The sum of $15 is awarded as a prize to the student in nutrition making the highest standing in theoretical and practical work.

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Margaret E. MacKay ('72) Bursary

Bursary of up to $1,000 | Eligibility: Pure and Applied Science, Biology

Established in 2017 by Margaret E. MacKay, this bursary is granted annually to a full-time student majoring in Biology who demonstrates financial need as well as creativity through artistic endeavours. The recipient is preferably from or has some connection to Pictou County, Nova Scotia.

Margaret MacKay grew up in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia and graduated from Acadia with a BSc in Biology in 1972. She taught school in Halifax and Pictou County while pursuing her love of painting.

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Margaret McCarthy Research Scholarship in Environmental Biology

Scholarship | Eligibility: Pure and Applied Science, Biology, Current 3rd year, Graduate

Two scholarships awarded on the recommendation of the Biology Department to a third year Honours Biology student (planning on entering the fourth year) or a Graduate Student. Students should be working on a research topic related to Environmental Biology and leading to an Honours degree or Masters degree. The scholarships are intended to fund research undertaken during the summer months (May 1 to September 1). Applications, with a description of the proposed research topic should be submitted to the Head of the Biology Department by March 15th of each year.

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Marianne Cochrane Lockwood Scholarship

Scholarship | Eligibility: Pure and Applied Science, Nutrition, Current 2nd year, Current 3rd year

The Marianne Cochrane Lockwood Scholarship. A scholarship with an annual value of $80 provided through a legacy of the late Mrs. Bethia E. (Locke) Lockwood of Lockeport, Nova Scotia, is to be awarded annually to the student in nutrition who has completed the second year with highest standing and who continues the work during the third year. The scholarship will be credited on the fees of the third year.

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Marion McColl Prize in Nutrition

Prize | Eligibility: Pure and Applied Science, Nutrition, Current 2nd year, Current 3rd year

The Marion McColl Prize in Nutrition. A fund was donated by graduates in home economics and members of the Home Economics Club in memory of the late Marion McColl (Acadia, '32). It yields $60 as a prize to be awarded to a second or third year student in nutrition on conditions determined by the faculty in the School of Nutrition and Dietetics.

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Martha Hall Vanderpoel Mills Memorial Scholarships

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

The Martha Hall Vanderpoel Mills Memorial Scholarships were established in 1989 through the Estate of Katherine V. Mills in memory of her mother. The scholarships are available to residents of Annapolis County studying in the Faculty of Science with preference given to students majoring in physics, geology, chemistry or mathematics.

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Mary and Colin Lucas Bursary for Nursing Studies

Bursary | Eligibility: Pure and Applied Science

Established in 2023 by their son, Dr. C. Robert Lucas (’68, ’69), this bursary supports deserving and needy students in the BScN program in the School of Health Sciences to complete their studies by awarding financial support up to the available endowment disbursement.

Mary Elliott was born in Milton, Ontario in 1904 and studied nursing at the Vancouver General Hospital and the Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops, BC. Following qualification as a Registered Nurse in 1932, she began her career in health care. Colin Lucas was born in Winnipeg in 1903 and attended the University of British Columbia where he earned BASc and MASc degrees. He later attended the University of Toronto where he earned a PhD and where he worked in Medical Research until retiring in 1969. In 1964, Acadia University awarded Colin an honorary DSc. Mary and Colin married in 1942 and their son Robert has honoured them through the establishment of this bursary. Robert graduated from Acadia with a BScH in Chemistry in 1968 and an MSc in Inorganic Chemistry in 1969. Further studies at Oxford University led to a DPhil in Organometallic Chemistry. Subsequently, he spent most of his career as Professor of Chemistry, Head of the Department of Chemistry and Dean of Science at Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Mary and Walter McCowan Scholar-Bursary

Scholar-Bursary | Eligibility: Pure and Applied Science, Mathematics and Statistics

The Mary and Walter McCowan Scholar-Bursary. Established in 2008 by Mary (’39) and WalterMcCowan, in memory of Mary’s parents, Freda and Hubert Nickerson. The scholar-bursary is intended for students entering or returning to the Faculty of Science at Acadia University, with a preference given to students majoring in Mathematics and Statistics.

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Mary Carolyn Gower Memorial Award

Award | Eligibility: Pure and Applied Science, Nutrition

The Mary Carolyn Gower Memorial Award is available annually to a deserving student of the nutrition program on recommendation of its director. The endowment was provided from the estate of Harriet Agnes (Allen) Gower, 1898­1988, whose husband Charles Ronald Gower, and daughter Mary Carolyn Gower, graduated from Acadia in 1929 and 1960 respectively.

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Mathematics and Statistics Scholarship

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

The Mathematics and Statistics Scholarship is awarded annually on the recommendation of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics to an entering or continuing student, majoring in that department, who has demonstrated excellence and potential to excel in the discipline. Funds may be awarded during the spring and summer to students engaged in research activities. The scholarship was established through the generosity of former students, faculty and friends of the Department to promote and reward excellence in Mathematics and Statistics.

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Maurice Haycock Scholarship in Geology

Scholarship of up to $835 | Eligibility: Pure and Applied Science, Geology, Current 2nd year, Current 3rd year, Current 4th year

The Maurice Haycock Scholarship in Geology. Established in 1986 by Dr. Maurice Haycock and Mrs. Katharine Blackadar Haycock of Ottawa, Ontario. This scholarship is named in honour of Dr. Maurice Haycock (B.Sc. Acadia, 1926; Ph.D. Princeton), geologist, artist, musician and author. The award is to a student of high academic standing entering the second or subsequent year of a program leading to a degree in geology at Acadia.

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Merle Fowler Bancroft Memorial Scholarship

Scholarship of up to $850 | Eligibility: Pure and Applied Science, Geology, Current 1st year, Current 2nd year, Current 3rd year, Current 4th year

The Merle Fowler Bancroft Memorial Scholarship in the area of field research in Geology is provided by the late Marjorie K. (Haley) Bancroft (Acadia Ladies Seminary, 1914), as a memorial to her late husband. Prof. Bancroft (B.A. Acadia, 1911; B.A. Yale, 1913) was a geologist, teacher and author, and was Professor and Head of Geology at Acadia from 1923 to 1960.

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Molson Post Secondary Excellence Scholarship

Scholarship | Eligibility: Pure and Applied Science, Nutrition, Entering first year

The Molson Post Secondary Excellence Scholarship is endowed by the Molson Companies to assist the student with the highest academic standing, who, upon entrance to Acadia, will major in the Bachelor of Science in Nutrition. The Molson group of companies participate in and contribute in significant ways to the food and beverage industry in Canada and abroad.

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Mr. and Mrs. Parmenas Orr Memorial Scholarship

Scholarship | Eligibility: Pure and Applied Science, Nutrition

The Mr. & Mrs. Parmenas Orr Memorial Scholarship ($475) is awarded annually to a superior student in the nutrition degree in the School of Nutrition and Dietetics on recommendation of the Director.

The scholarship was established by the late Ms. E. Jeanette Orr of Kensington, P.E.I., a nutritionist and long time staff member of Acadia in the food services and quantity foods areas. She was a graduate of Prince of Wales College, MacDonald College of McGill University and Columbia University.

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Murdock C. Smith Scholarship in Marine Biology

Scholarship of up to $660 | Eligibility: Pure and Applied Science, Biology, Current 3rd year, Current 4th year

A scholarship endowed by the late Murdock C. Smith of Lynn, Massachusetts, to enable one or two students in biology to spend a summer session in the study of marine biology at an institution approved by the Department. Students whose work is satisfactory will receive credit towards their Acadia graduate degree. If there is no eligible fourth-year student, the Department of Biology may recommend a student of the third year.

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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