FAQ

Who is eligible for a Sharif Scholar award?

There are five conditions of eligibility:

1.     The applicant student must be a Canadian citizen or a Permanent resident

2.     The applicant student must be enrolled in a full-time accredited Post Secondary education program at a college or university or any other qualified institution in Canada.

3.     The applicant must be a first generation immigrant to Canada.

4.     The applicant must not have been a Canadian citizen or Permanent citizen for more than 20 years

5.     The applicant must not be older than 28 years of age at the time of submitting their application for scholarship or bursary.

If you meet these five conditions, you are eligible to apply for a Sharif scholar scholarship or bursary.

 

Where can I get an application form?

Application forms are available on our web site under ‘Scholarships & Bursaries’.

 

When will the new application forms be available?

2019 applications will be available from 15 March 2019. 

 

Do I need to send all the required documentation with the application?

 

Yes, you do need to send all your documentation at one time along with your application. Failure to send all required documentation will make your application incomplete, and we will not be able to process it.

Your application itself must meet the deadlines noted on each application for the year applicable.

 

Are my transcripts needed?

Yes, you are required to provide a copy of your academic transcripts along with your application for a scholarship or bursary.

 

Is a proof of being in school needed?

Yes, we need proof that you are attending the school/college/university that you say that you are attending. This can be established through your school transcripts or through an enrolment letter. One of these is mandatory. We reserve the right to ask for more information before we release the scholarship funds.

  

Do you need my Social Insurance Number?

 

No. We do not ask for your social insurance number at this time.

 

We do need a copy of a Driving License or some other document to establish identity. This is a mandatory requirement and failure to include this information will make the application incomplete, and we would therefore be unable to process your application.

 

How are applications processed?

 

Applications will be processed after the applicable deadline date.

At this time we are only able to respond to shortlisted applicants.

Once scholarship applications are processed and the individuals are selected for scholarships or bursaries, we will make every effort to have the approved funds reach you at the latest by the first week of September.

These cheques are in the student’s name and are sent directly to the student’s home address provided in the application.

 

What are the Application Deadlines?

 

The deadline for 2019 applications is 30th May 2019.

 

Can I get a multi year scholarship or bursary?

It is possible that you could get a scholarship or bursary in multiple years. However, you will need to apply for, and qualify each year, to be eligible to  get a scholarship or bursary in that year.

As abundant clarification: The Sharif Scholarship awards and bursary programs are not contractual. They are subject to change based on our funding limits in a particular year.

 

What’s the difference between a scholarship and a bursary?

Scholarships and bursaries are both financial awards for students

 

Scholarships

Scholarships are merit-based. These look at your academic record, but can also focus on volunteer involvement, work experience or special skills (athletics, arts etc.).

Bursaries

Bursaries are focused on providing financial assistance to those with demonstrated need. Some bursaries will also consider a student’s academic achievement and community involvement.

 We do not ask for any proof of income from either you or your parents or guardians at this time.

Both our awards do not require any repayment, and can make a meaningful impact on the student’s cost of tuition fees.

 

What Volunteer certificates to I need?

We rate volunteering very highly as an element of our decision about the suitability of the candidate for a scholarship or for a bursary. You could submit a volunteering certificate from the organization that you have volunteered with or from your school, or from your local community centre.

 

What is needed in my essay that is submitted with the application?

This essay is a key part of your application. You need to submit an essay on the subject of the future you envision for yourself, and how you see yourself giving back to society in Canada.

 

Will I need to provide my picture with the application?

You could provide your picture but this is not mandatory at the time of the application. However, we will need a picture prior to sending you the scholarship or bursary funds. We may showcase the pictures of all the scholarship and bursary awardees on our website.

 

Is there a ratio of number of scholarships or bursaries for boys and girls?

There is no fixed ratio. Our ideal goal is to offer 50% of our awards to girls and the other 50% to boys.

 

How do you decide who the Scholarship or Bursary goes to?

The applications and essays received are reviewed by us. A shortlist is prepared and then based on the funds available we will choose the number of students who get the Scholarship or Bursary in a year. The decision made by the Sharif Scholar organization is final, and while we understand that some students will be disappointed, no appeal is possible.