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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Whitney Athletic Bursary

Bursary of up to $1,000 | Eligibility: Arts, Professional Studies, Visible Minority

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 female 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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William A. and Bertha L. Harper Memorial Bursary

Bursary | Eligibility: Arts

The William A. and Bertha L. Harper Memorial Bursary is available for a needy student in a humanities program. Preference will be given to a student from the Maritimes. It was established by Elizabeth (Harper) Kymlicka (B.A. Acadia, 1955) in memory of her parents, William Anderson Harper (B.Th. Acadia, 1931) and Bertha Whitman Harper (L.Mus., Acadia, 1929).

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William G. Fletcher Memorial Award in Classics

Award | Eligibility: Arts, Classics, Current 1st year, Current 2nd year, Current 3rd year, Current 4th year

The William G. Fletcher Memorial Award in Classics is presented each year to a classics student who achieves excellence in the subject and who best demonstrates its application to the modern world. The award is provided in memory of Dr. Fletcher, Head of the Classics Department, 1967-­1977.

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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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Wilma H. Clark Award

Award | Eligibility: Arts, Music Therapy, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island

The Wilma H. Clark Award(s) will be granted to Bachelor of Music Therapy students in any year of study to support field placements (or practicums).

Recipients will be recommended to the Scholarships and Financial Aid Office by the Director of the School of Music and the Head of the Music Therapy program, who will 1) assess an application, 2) a 500-word essay outlining why the applicant is drawn to the profession, 3) a summary of extra curricular activities and community contributions, and 4) the applicant’s academic record (GPA). Assessors will consider demonstrated musical ability, strong clinical skills, and entrepreneurial and leadership attributes.

It is preferred that the Award supports students from the Maritimes who intend to pursue fieldwork opportunities in the Maritime provinces. If this preference cannot be met, the Director of the School of Music and the Head of the Music Therapy program will identify other suitable applicants for recommendation to the Scholarships and Financial Aid Office.

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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