About the Program
- How many scholarships are available and what is their value?
- What is the deadline for applications?
- What are the eligibility requirements?
- What does CEGEP stand for
- Who do you consider to be a "new Canadian"?
- I’m still waiting for my permanent Canadian resident status to be approved – am I still eligible to apply?
- I attend a high school outside of Canada, but I am a Canadian citizen or permanent resident – am I still eligible to apply?
- I graduated from high school, but returned for extra courses – am I still eligible to apply?
- I plan on attending a post-secondary school outside of Canada – am I still eligible to apply?
- I’m planning to take a year off after graduation – am I still eligible to apply?
- How will my application be judged?
- Who will be judging my application?
- Will the information I submit be verified?
- When will the winners be notified?
- Do I have to attend the RBC Royal Bank awards dinner?
- Is the information I submit confidential?
1. How many scholarships are available and what is their value?
A total of $24,000 will be distributed to twelve winners across Canada. Seven winners will be selected from Eastern Canada, and five winners will be selected from Western Canada.
Each winner also receives an all-expenses paid trip to Toronto, Ontario for the purpose of attending an awards dinner. Hotel and round-trip airfare are included in the prize package, as well as a $500 stipend to cover incidental expenses (taxi cab, meals, etc.).
2. What is the deadline for applications?
Online applications must be submitted before Monday, June 8, 2009, 11:59:59pm EST.
3. What are the eligibility requirements?
To be eligible for an RBC Royal Bank Scholarship for New Canadians, you must meet the following criteria:
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Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada, born outside of Canada
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Be in your graduating year of a Canadian high school or CEGEP
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Be entering or enrolling in an accredited Canadian college or university as a full-time student in the following academic year, Fall 2008
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Have achieved at least a 70% average in your previous year of study
4. What does CEGEP stand for?
CEGEP stands for Collège d'enseignement général et professionnel or College of General and Vocational Education and only applies to students in Quebec. In Quebec, high schools generally offer education only up to grade eleven. Most students then enter a CEGEP to continue their education, choosing either a general program to prepare for university or a vocational program to train for a specialized career.
5. Who do you consider to be a "new Canadian"?
In the context of this awards program, a "new Canadian" is defined as an individual who was not born in Canada, but currently lives in Canada, and holds Canadian citizenship or Canadian permanent resident status. Please visit Citizenship and Immigration Canada for more details.
Please note that all finalists will be required to provide proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status. Proof of birth outside of Canada is also required.
6. I’m still waiting for my permanent Canadian resident status to be approved -- am I still eligible to apply?
Yes. However, you must ensure your permanent residence status has been approved and finalized at the time the scholarships are awarded.
7. I attend a high school outside of Canada, but I am a Canadian citizen or permanent resident – am I still eligible to apply?
No. You must be attending an accredited Canadian high school or CEGEP to be eligible to apply.
8. I graduated from high school, but returned for extra courses -- am I still eligible to apply?
Yes. Graduated students who are currently attending high school for extra courses or upgrades are eligible to apply, provided all the other eligibility criteria have been met.
9. I plan on attending a post-secondary school outside of Canada – am I still eligible to apply?
No. Award winners must be enrolled and planning to attend an accredited Canadian college or university. Students planning to pursue post-secondary studies outside of Canada are not eligible to apply.
10. I’m planning to take a year off after graduation – am I still eligible to apply?
No. If you intend to take the year off after you submit your application, you are not eligible to apply. You must be entering an accredited Canadian college or university as a full-time student in the following academic year once you graduate.
11. How will my application be judged?
Your entries will be evaluated using a variety of different criteria, including: relevance to the topic in question and clarity of the ideas presented. We recommend you be direct and succinct in order to answer the questions within the maximum word count allowed. Also, be sure to use examples from your personal history, and be clear and concise with your answers.
12. Who will be judging my application?
A judging panel comprised of school educators, industry experts, RBC Royal Bank employees, and our scholarship administrator, Studentawards Inc., will be responsible for evaluating the entries.
13. Will the information I submit be verified?
Our scholarship administrator, Studentawards Inc., may verify the information you provide about your academic history and your participation in extracurricular activities. Additionally, all finalists will be asked to provide proof of birth outside of Canada, along with proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent residency.
If the information provided cannot be verified within a reasonable timeframe, your application may be subject to disqualification.
14. When will the winners be notified?
Finalists of the RBC Royal Bank Scholarship for New Canadians will be notified in August, 2008. Information submitted by finalists will be verified between August 11 and August 29, 2008.
Final winners will be selected and notified in September, 2008.
15. Do I have to attend the RBC Royal Bank awards dinner?
No. It is not mandatory for you to participate in the RBC Royal Bank awards dinner. You may choose to accept only the $2,000 scholarship award. However, should you decide not to participate, you will not receive additional compensation in lieu of the trip and dinner.
16. Is the information I submit in my application confidential?
Yes.** The information you provide will be used by RBC Royal Bank, Studentawards Inc., and their respective employees and agents and those of their affiliates on a need to know basis to process, judge and verify your application(s) on a confidential basis and to operate your online account(s). However, the information you supply in your application(s) may be used or published in aggregate by RBC Royal Bank in order to define and understand patterns and trends. Any contact information you provide in your application(s) will only be used to contact you regarding the status of your application(s) or to contact your friend if you have provided us with your friend’s contact information, except as otherwise agreed to in the application form or in the Legal Terms and Conditions.
**In the event that you are a scholarship winner, RBC Royal Bank reserves the right to use your name, likeness, city and province of residence, university name and any direct quotes for publicity purposes.
Confidentiality and privacy are of the utmost importance at RBC Royal Bank and Studentawards Inc. For more details, please see the RBC Royal Bank privacy website and/or the Studentawards privacy website.
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