At Wilfrid Laurier University, we’re inspiring lives of leadership and purpose.
The prestigious Laurier Scholars Award is an annual entrance scholarship to offer high-achieving students the opportunity to participate in a dynamic learning environment that will foster innovative thinking and ethical, visionary leadership.
Seven students will be selected to receive this $40,000 entrance scholarship.* The award includes $7,500 per year for up to four years and an experiential learning award of $10,000.
The experiential award may be used to fund a summer research assistantship, international exchange or another hands-on learning opportunity that connects in-class knowledge to learning experiences outside the classroom. Award recipients will also join a community of scholars and receive mentorship, networking, research and experiential learning opportunities throughout their degree.
*The award values, number of awards and award criteria are subject to change.
We are continuously developing our Laurier Scholars Program with the current and future needs of students in mind. While details are subject to change, the following information provides a general overview of what award recipients may expect as a Laurier Scholar.
Over the course of your undergraduate studies, you'll build networks with your cohort of scholars through formal and informal gatherings. You'll engage in both independent and collaborative projects, choosing from different experiential learning offerings that focus on three key areas:
A sample of the types of programs, supports and opportunities that will help you grow in the areas of academics, career and leadership, and community engagement.
Across all four years of your degree, you will be mentored by a designated professor from your faculty. Your faculty mentor will provide ongoing academic and professional guidance to help you excel throughout your university career.
These periodic meetings of the Laurier Scholars focus on academic skills development and enrichment, customized to you and your fellow scholars. The colloquium features guest moderators from across the university, including faculty, librarians and academic support staff. The colloquium will also connect you to resources that will help you develop career, teaching, research and wellness skills.
As a first year Scholar you will be paired with a senior Scholar from your faculty to help with your transition to Laurier. In the final years of your degree, it will be your turn to be a mentor. You and your cohort of scholars will provide mentorship to first-year scholars and help facilitate the colloquium.
At least once during your degree, you will participate in a community service initiative, an international project or exchange, a community-oriented course, research project or a conference. These experiences can be supported by your experiential learning award. You will develop a budget and project proposal with the support from the program coordinator and feedback from your fellow scholars.
In addition to this concentrated experience, you will have many unique opportunities throughout your time at Laurier to develop your skills as an advanced writer, thinker, presenter and researcher as you build your professional network and your resumé.
Laurier is committed to the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion, which empower all students to reach their potential. To help nurture a vibrant learning environment, we welcome students from a diversity of backgrounds and lived experiences. This application is open to domestic and international applicants who have applied for a full-time undergraduate program at Laurier.
Students are required to meet the eligibility criteria to be considered for the Laurier Scholars Award, which includes:
Students are selected for the Laurier Scholars Award based on their academic achievement and their submitted application.
You must maintain a final admission average of 90% as of the beginning of July (for current Ontario high school applicants) or as of the middle of July (for all other applicants).
The application deadline for incoming fall 2025 students is Feb. 25, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. Applications open December 2, 2024.
If you are selected as a Laurier Scholar, you will be notified by email in mid-May.
The Laurier Scholars application is available to all domestic and international applicants during the application period.
You will be given prompts and guidance on how to fill out the application as you work through it, which will involve uploading copies of the required documents, including your personal statement and a letter of reference (please have these prepared in Word or PDF format).
You may start the application and come back to it later.
Note: You must meet all eligibility requirements to be considered for the Laurier Scholars Award.
The application includes a 700-word personal statement, a list of your accomplishments, and a letter of recommendation.
A virtual interview may be required for shortlisted candidates.
Select one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In a 700-word personal statement, explain how your Laurier education will enable you to contribute to global efforts to achieve the goal you have chosen.
In your statement, demonstrate your potential to become a globally engaged leader. Strong personal statements draw on your experience by including specific examples with vivid details. The personal statement must be your own original work.
You will be asked to share some of your activities and/or accomplishments that demonstrate your leadership potential. Leadership qualities are shown in many forms and in different life experiences.
Some examples of what you might tell us about in your application include academics, entrepreneurship, technology, clubs, extracurriculars, athletics, lived experiences, family or community responsibilities, creative and performing arts, employment, volunteerism, service to others, etc.
As part of your application, you will be asked to submit a letter of recommendation written on your behalf. Your letter of recommendation should be from a community leader who can speak about their personal observations and experiences of your leadership qualities and contributions to your school and/or wider community, as well as your academic achievements.
Some examples of who you might ask to submit a reference for you include a secondary school official, community leader, Elder, coach, teacher, instructor, member of your faith community, or someone who knows you well and can speak about you. You may choose someone not represented on this list.
You must select your top faculty based on the undergraduate program(s) you have applied to so the selection committee can review your Laurier Scholars Award application.
There is one scholarship awarded in each of the following seven faculties at Laurier:
Each faculty has its own selection committee and each applicant can only be considered by one faculty.
Not sure which faculty your program falls under? Review your program page:
If you are selected as a Laurier Scholar, you will be notified by email in mid-May.
You must have a final admission average of 90% as of the beginning of July (for current Ontario high school applicants) or as of the middle of July (for all other applicants).
It is strongly recommended that you monitor your grades in your OUAC account. Summer school courses cannot be used to increase your average. It is your responsibility to ensure your grades are updated in your OUAC account by the appropriate deadlines.
Be sure to read the Laurier Scholars Award Conditions carefully so you can prepare to meet the annual renewal requirements to maintain your scholarship.
If your question isn't answered below, email chooselaurier@wlu.ca for additional assistance.
The Laurier Scholars Award is worth a maximum of $40,000 over four years, broken down as follows:
There is one scholarship for each of the following faculties. A total of seven scholarships will be awarded in 2025.
Laurier will email the successful award recipients only in mid-May.
If you are selected, we will notify you using the email address you submitted on your OUAC application.
This award requires you to have a 90% final admission average as of the beginning of July (current Ontario high school applicants) or as of the middle of July (all other applicants) of the same year you will begin your studies at Laurier (i.e., July 2025 average considered for a September 2025 start date). Therefore, you will not be eligible for this award if your average is lower than 90% on this date. However, you will be reassessed to see if you are eligible for an entrance scholarship.
It is strongly recommended that you monitor your grades in your OUAC account. Summer school courses cannot be used to increase your average. It is your responsibility to make sure your grades are updated in your OUAC account by the appropriate deadlines.
Recipients of the Laurier Scholars Award must maintain a final admission average of 90% as of the beginning of July (for current Ontario high school applicants) or as of the middle July (for all other applicants) of the same year you will begin your studies at Laurier. Grades from summer school courses completed in the same year you plan to begin your studies are not included in your eligibility assessment (i.e., summer school grades from August 2025 courses will not be considered for a September 2025 Laurier start-date).
As a Laurier Scholars Award recipient, you should do everything in your power to ensure your grades are received by Laurier by the appropriate deadline. If you are unable to meet the deadline due to circumstances outside your control, contact chooselaurier@wlu.ca before the deadline and explain your situation in detail.
Deadline extensions are not guaranteed and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Note that we will not consider summer school courses, even if you are granted an extension.
This scholarship is available for students who are attending postsecondary for the first time.
See what other scholarships and funding opportunities are available for transfer students.
You may only hold one entrance scholarship award. If you receive the Laurier Scholars Award, you will not be eligible for another entrance scholarship or the President’s Gold Scholarship.
As this award is valued at up to $40,000 over four years, you will not be eligible to receive in-course scholarships.
If you do not meet the eligibility requirements in your upper years and no longer qualify as a Laurier Scholar, you will become eligible to receive in-course scholarships.
Applicants who have received an offer of admission for fall 2025 and have a current admission average of 90% or higher (Laurier does not round admission averages) will receive access to the Laurier Scholars Award application.
If you think you may be eligible to apply, but do not have access to the scholarship application in your applicant portal, email chooselaurier@wlu.ca.
Laurier is thrilled that younger students are using their passion, creativity and leadership to inspire the lives of others. While award criteria may change from year to year, a good way to prepare is to consider this year’s application criteria and components.
The experiential award is available in your final year of studies and will be applied towards an education-enhancing experience, which may include studying abroad or a research assistantship.
The Laurier Scholars Program offers high-achieving students the opportunity to participate in a dynamic learning environment that will foster innovative thinking and ethical, visionary leadership.
The Laurier Scholars Program is inclusive of leadership development, career development and other unique programming opportunities. Laurier Scholars will be supported through faculty mentorship and peer mentorship. Scholars may also engage in leadership development projects, and an annual Scholars’ Conference
No. You can apply to the Laurier Scholars Award before you accept your offer of admission.
If you are selected as a Laurier Scholar, you must confirm your offer of admission to receive the award.
You must accept your offer of admission by June 2, 2025, at 11:59 p.m., unless a different date is noted on your official offer of admission letter.
Laurier Scholars who meet scholarship renewal requirements are eligible to receive up to $40,000 award over the course of 4 years, so long as those years of study take place at Laurier. If you participate in an academic partnership that takes you away to study at another institution for one or more terms, your scholarship funding will not be issued during your time away.
If you continue your studies at Laurier following your time at a partner institution and you have met all renewal requirements prior to your departure, you will be eligible to receive your scholarship upon your return if all conditions are met.
Your letter of recommendation should be from a community leader who can speak about their personal observations and experiences of your leadership qualities and contributions to your school and/or wider community, as well as your academic achievements.
Some examples of who you might ask to submit a reference for you include a secondary school official, community leader, Elder, coach, teacher, instructor, member of your faith community or someone who knows you well and can speak about you.
You may choose someone not represented on this list.
To better understand your activity, it’s helpful for us to know where you are completing the activity. We provide three options for applicants to select: School affiliated, outside of school and other.
Where the activity takes place is up to you to decide. The location helps us better understand the activity itself.
Whatever option that you feel best describes your activity is best to select. There is no preference or advantage to select any specific option of where it takes place.
We discourage the use of images, graphics and/or pictures on your personal statement. It is recommended that you use text only.
Note that there is 700-word limit for the personal statement.
If you exceed the word limit, the remainder of your personal statement may not be reviewed. You should remain within the 700-word limit.
There is no page limit for the letter of recommendation. However, we recommend submitting one to two pages for your letter of recommendation.
No. Each faculty has its own selection committee, and each applicant can only be considered by one faculty.
You should select the faculty that offers the program you consider your first choice for admission.
Review your program page:
