Scholarships and Awards
The Don Wright Faculty of Music has numerous scholarships and awards with which to recognize and reward the achievements of our students. Last year the Faculty awarded approximately $500,000 to both entering and continuing undergraduate music students. Additional merit based scholarships through the National Scholarship Program may be available to entering music students on a competitive basis.
Incoming Undergraduate Students
Western Admission Scholarship Program
Western's Admission Scholarships are automatically awarded upon admission. No application is required to be considered for these scholarships.
In order to be eligible for an admission scholarship, a student must apply for admission directly from secondary school to Western's main campus for full-time first-year studies. International students are eligible to be considered for the Western Admission Scholarships. Eligibility is based on successful completion of the secondary school diploma and on the student’s final admission average, including prerequisite courses, as calculated by Western for the program to which the student has confirmed acceptance. Western will determine averages for applicants who are not studying in a Canadian secondary school curriculum based on: curriculum, grading practices, and grading scale interpretation.
Official Western Admission Scholarship notification will be emailed to eligible students in late August and the value of the scholarship will be applied to the student’s tuition account by the end of September.
Note: If you are submitting an application for the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) and you anticipate receiving any scholarship, award or bursary funding from Western University, do not report it on your OSAP application as we will report it to OSAP on your behalf. Students are still responsible for reporting any external funding received (i.e. not awarded by Western) on their OSAP application.
Western Admission Scholarships
Eligibility: First-year full-time domestic and international students admitted to Main Campus directly from high school. Students in receipt of a National Scholarship, or a Schulich Leader Scholarship are not eligible for these admission scholarships. Effective for September 2020-21 Academic Year.
Western Admission Scholarship (unlimited)
Final admission average required: 90.0% to 91.9%
Value: Total of $2,500. $1,500 in first year, plus $1,000 for optional study abroad experience.
Western Scholarship of Distinction (unlimited)
Final admission average required: 92.0% to 100.0%
Value: Total of $3,500. $2,500 in first year, plus $1,000 for optional study abroad experience.
Western Scholarship of Excellence
250 scholarships recognizing outstanding achievement are awarded based on the top high school admission averages.
Value: Total of $8,000. $6,000 in first year, plus $2,000 for an optional study abroad experience. (These cannot be combined with another Western admission scholarship.)
This information was correct as of April 1, 2022. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of this information. For complete and up-to-date information, visit Western's main Western's Admission Scholarships webpage.
National Scholarship Program
These entrance scholarships are designed to recognize all-round excellence. A candidate must be a Canadian Citizen or permanent resident and have a minimum academic average of 90%. For information visit the National Scholarship Program at the Registrar's Office.
The deadline for National Scholarships is February 14.
Other Entrance Awards
In addition to the unlimited Admission Scholarships listed above, the Don Wright Faculty of Music offers a limited number of awards primarily based on the audition performance. To be eligible the student must perform a live audition. These awards have been established in co-operation with alumni, private donors and corporations to recognize the achievements of music students. These awards are usually combined with the Admission Scholarship Program and are determined by the Don Wright Faculty of Music's Scholarships Committee. Applicants do not apply for specific awards, although it is helpful if they complete an application for financial assistance in order to be considered for needs-based awards.
Gordon Jeffery Awards for Strings and Chamber Music
Nearly 60% of all incoming string students receive financial support through the Gordon Jeffery Awards for Strings and Chamber Music, ranging from $4,000 to $16,000 across 4 years.
Transfer students, international students as well as Artist Diploma students are eligible for support through the Jeffrey Fund.
Competitions
Several performance competitions with financial prizes take place during the academic year.
Bursaries
Bursaries are non-repayable grants that are awarded by Western on the basis of financial need.
Work Study
Western’s Work Study program offers an opportunity for students to work part-time on campus in jobs that accommodate their studies.
First Generation Students (FGS)
A student is a FGS if both parents have not attended a postsecondary institution. Western recognizes that FGS students face different challenges from those students whose parents attended University and, in order to address those challenges, Western has a number of helpful resources in place for you.
Transfer Students
Western offers six Transfer Student Scholarships, in late September to the six students transferring from another post-secondary institution who have achieved the highest academic average. It is awarded automatically based on your admission average.
International Students
Western offers a number of bursaries and awards that are designated specifically for international students. These awards range in value and include scholarships based on a demonstrated need, as well as awards connected to specific countries of origin. To explore these awards, please visit the Office of the Registrar Student Awards database and enter "International Students" in the search bar. All International Student applicants are eligible for scholarships offered by the Don Wright Faculty of Music.
Current Undergraduate Students
A number of scholarships are available to undergraduate students in course. They vary in amount and some are specific to programs, instrument and year of study. Postings will go up in the Music Faculty in October and the deadline to apply for these is September 30. You can contact Odilla Van Delinder for more information.
