Athletic Scholarship
What is an Athletic Scholarship?
- Also referred to as an Athletic Financial Award (AFA), an athletic scholarship is any award that is conditional to being on a University team.
- An athletic scholarship can include, but is not limited to, scholarships, bursaries, prizes, leadership awards, merit awards, and all other non-employment financial benefits received by an athlete from their institution.
Is there a limit to the value of athletic scholarship that I can receive?
- tuition and compulsory fees is the maximum amount you can receive in an academic year, including athletic-related bursaries.
- the value and quantity of athletic scholarship available varies from institution to institution.
- specific awards may have additional conditions, such as academic success and citizenship, beyond what is stated here.
- many awards, such as academic awards or awards provided by Sport Governing Bodies or the Federal and Provincial Governments, are not included within the tuition and compulsory fees maximum; please consult your Athletic Department.
Who provides athletic scholarships?
- all athletic scholarships provided to student-athletes must be administered through the providing University.
- to receive an athletic-related award that is not administered by your university, the award must not be conditional on attendance at any particular university; that is, you must be free to attend the university of your choice.
When can I receive an athletic scholarship?
- you are eligible to receive an athletic scholarship at the beginning of your first year at a university (September) if you have a minimum entering average of 80% or equivalent.
- alternatively, where applicable (and excluding Ontario as per Ontario University Athletics policy), you are eligible to receive an athletic scholarship at the end of your first year at a university (spring or summer) if you satisfy USports academic requirements with at least a 65% average or equivalent.
- thereafter, you are eligible to receive an athletic scholarship at the beginning of any year if you satisfy USports academic requirements with at least a 65% average or equivalent in the preceding year (for Ontario universities, as per Ontario University Athletics policy, a 70% average is required).
in ONTARIO however,
