How to Get a 100% Scholarship at Concordia University | Concordia Presidential Scholarship

Looking for a full-ride scholarship in Canada? You’ve come to the right place.

Because today,

I’ll be telling you everything you need to know to get a 100% scholarship at Concordia University for your undergraduate studies.

It’s through, the Concordia Presidential Scholarship.

The Concordia Presidential Scholarship is one of the most prestigious and sought-after scholarships that is offered to international students who are planning to pursue their undergraduate education at Concordia.

In this article, I’ll explore this highly esteemed scholarship, its benefits, and eligibility requirements to help you understand this opportunity and its expectations in depth. 

Not only that, I will break down the application process step by step to make it easier for you to apply.

Finally, I’ll go over some tips to help you become the next Presidential Scholar at Concordia University.

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Before we talk about the scholarship, let’s have a look at the University that offers it.

Concordia University

Concordia University is one of the most prestigious universities in the world, it is a comprehensive higher education institution, established in 1947. Its name reflects the spirit of harmony and cooperation. 

The University’s origins can be traced back to the 19^th century, compared to some other most prominent universities, Concordia is still fairly young, despite which Concordia has rapidly developed into a thriving, modern university.

Two recently published rankings once again rated it as the greatest institution of higher learning in Canada that is under five decades old.

Concordia was ranked first in North America for the second year in a row by the QS Top 50 Under 50 2021 and was ranked between 61 and 70 globally for the third year running.

The university offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs spread across several disciplines including but not limited to arts, science, engineering, business, fine arts, social sciences, etc. 

The following programs at Concordia University are among the best in the world:

• Art and design
• Education
• Communication and media studies
• Accounting and finance
• Psychology 

The university is extremely popular among students, and highly sought after because of its highly diverse and vibrant environment, and a research-based approach to education where collaboration is encouraged by the facilities. 

Concordia University wants to create an extremely inclusive and diverse learning environment, where students from all cultural and socio-economic backgrounds can come together and contribute towards creating a healthy and wide-eyed approach to education. 

One of the many ways through which the university promotes this is through offering aspirants a wide range of scholarships.

Concordia Presidential Scholarship

Like most prestigious scholarships, the Concordia Presidential Scholarship is one of the most competitive undergraduate scholarships in Canada. 

It recognizes the following attributes in its nominations:

• Academic merit
• Leadership potential
• Commitment to community involvement

It is offered to outstanding international undergraduate students, who exhibit a multitude of potential that is not limited to just academics and are willing to change the world for the better. 

It requires principals, teachers, or guidance counselors to nominate students who closely resemble the aforementioned description and plan on attending Concordia University. 

There are a maximum of two Presidential Scholarships available each year for aspiring students in any full-time undergraduate degree program.

Let’s first start by dissecting the wide range of benefits that this scholarship offers to its recipients.

Benefits of the Scholarship

The Concordia Presidential Scholarship provides students with a range of advantages.

✅ Full Tuition Coverage

The scholarship includes a generous financial reward that covers tuition for up to four years of study at Concordia University.

With this financial assistance, tuition costs are less of a burden, and students are free to concentrate on their academics without being distracted by additional financial worries. 

✅ Living Expenses Covered

The scholarship award also covers the following costs:

• Residence 
• Books
• Meal plans offered at the university

✅ Exclusive Access to Opportunities

In addition to the financial award, recipients of the Concordia Presidential Scholarship also gain access to a variety of academic and extracurricular opportunities. 

The recipient also becomes a lifetime member of the Concordia University alumni network, which opens many gateways into mentorship programs, internships, and networking events with influential alumni and industry professionals.

✅ Builds Profile

Being a recipient of the Concordia Presidential Scholarship enhances a student’s resume and academic profile, making them more competitive in the job market or when applying for graduate programs.

Eligibility Requirements

The following are the criteria to become eligible for the scholarship:

1. The applicant HAS to be an international student who intends to pay the complete international tuition fee and will be joining the University in the Fall of 2023.
2. The applicant should have no prior university credits, which means that this should be the first time you are applying for an undergraduate degree and have not been a part of any university before this.
3. You are eligible for this scholarship if you will be studying in a full-time degree program according to the university’s academic calendar.
4. It is extremely important to note that to be eligible for this prestigious scholarship, you have to be nominated by a nominator from your school. This nominator can be anyone who has played a crucial role in your schooling, for instance: your guidance counselor, your teachers, or the school principal. 
5. The final requirement to be eligible for this scholarship is your application itself. Make sure that you have applied to Concordia University, paid the application fee, and have received your 8-digit student ID Number. This student ID number will begin with a 4.

How to Apply (Step by Step Process)

Before applying for the Presidential Scholarship, you apply to Concordia University.

Step 1: Apply To Concordia University

First and foremost, you are required to submit an application to Concordia University. The following are some of the most important things you should keep in mind while applying to this institute.

• Make sure that you have thoroughly researched the program that you want to study and chosen a program that is the perfect fit for you
• Check the availability of the program that you have chosen
• Reviewed the prerequisites and requirements for the program that you have selected
• Be mindful of the application deadline, and make sure you have all the important documents ready. 

The following are documents that you will need when applying to the university:

• Your passport if you are an international student
• Your academic transcripts
• letters of recommendation
• Statement of Purpose
• Your resume/CV
• Health Certificate
• Language Proficiency certificates
• Photocopy of Foreigner Physical Examination Form

Once you have successfully applied to the university, we will move to the next step.

Step 2: Getting your school to Nominate you

It is important that your school authorities nominate you for this scholarship, if your school hasn’t reached out to you with regards to the nomination reach out to your principal or guidance counselor and make sure they are aware of the nomination process, as they play a crucial role in your selection and application for the Concordia Presidential Scholarship. 

Once you’ve convinced your school authorities to nominate you, it’s time for them to fill out the nomination package to complete your nomination.  

Step 3: Complete the Nomination Package

On the official website of the University, you will find a Nomination Package. Your nominators will be required to complete the provided package, and email it to fundingyoureducation@concordia.ca in the form of a single PDF file which will include the following items:

• Completed Nomination Form
• Personal Statement by the Nominator

Don’t worry! I’ve shared more details on these items down below. Keep Reading.

Nomination Form

The Nomination Form contains two sections: Student Information and Nominator Information

Student Information includes:

• Last Name
• First Name
• Email
• Concordia Student ID Number

Nominator Information includes:

• Last Name
• First Name 
• Email 
• Phone Number with country code 
• Institution / Company / Organization Name 
• Role / Affiliated Department 
• Relationship to student (ie. Teacher, Guidance counselor, etc.)

As you can see, these sections ask for basic details of the student and the nominator which can be completed in under ten minutes.  

Now, a question for you: Who is primarily required to fill the nomination package with the support of the student? 

Nominator, right?

This means you need to be very careful of who you choose as your nominator for the scholarship because you’ll be closely working with the mentor throughout the application process.

Remember, your nominator is supposed to be someone who has closely worked with you, or has taught you and therefore knows you extremely well. It needs to be a supervisor, educator, or guidance counselor who can vouch for your accomplishments. 

In addition to any other achievements and qualities, you might have in various fields such as in sports or in leadership. The nominator should be able to attest to your leadership skills and commitment to improving the community.  

Based on my scholarship application experience, you want to have a mentor who has a good command of the English Language. There is no point in choosing a school teacher who knows you extremely well but can’t put that information in writing for the scholarship committee to see. It doesn’t mean the teacher has to be perfect in English, but at least good enough so they can choose the right words to show your achievements and qualities.  

This advice will not only help with this scholarship’s nomination but also in the application processes of other universities that require a Letter of Recommendation from Student’s Teachers. 

Personal Statement

As I mentioned above, the nomination package also includes a confidential personal statement. 

It must be on the official letterhead of the institution and must include a signature that elaborates on why the nominee is deserving of the Presidential Scholarship.

This personal statement should have a word count of 500 – 750 words, and should clearly yet precisely outline the following points:

• How long the nominator has known you
• The relationship between the nominator and you
• Why they are convinced that you should receive the Presidential Scholarship
• Their personal opinion as to the role you have played in terms of leadership and your commitment to the community and making an impact on a global scale.
• Their perspective on how this scholarship will help you reach and fulfill your aspirations and pursue your education while reaching your full potential.

Please note that the email should be sent in the following format to fundingyoureducation@concordia.ca 

In a single PDF file:

File name: Student Last Name_Student First Name_Student ID#_Nomination

Example: Ansari_Zohair_12345678_Nomination)

Email subject line: Presidential Scholarship Nomination Student Last Name_Student ID# 

Example: Presidential Scholarship Nomination Ansari_12345678)

Make sure that you reach out to your school administration well in advance so that they also have enough time to get the documentation and personal statements prepared before the Application due date.

Once again, for your ease, I have attached the Nomination Form here, but I would still recommend that you go to the application portal and run through the requirements with your Nominator.

Once you have completed all the aforementioned steps, VIOLA! you have successfully applied for the Concordia Presidential Scholarship.

Application Due Date

For the fall of 2023, the applications opened on January 16, 2023, and closed on February 9^th, 2023.

In case some students have missed the deadline, they can still ask their administration to nominate them and there is a chance their names will be added to an alternate list and in case there is a spot, their nomination might be reviewed by the authorities.

For students who wish to apply to the University in 2024, the official calendar hasn’t yet been disclosed however, the academic calendar for 2023 will give you a fair idea so that you can get your documents ready in time.

Criteria for Selection

To receive this highly competitive scholarship,  you have to make sure that you excel not only in your academic sphere but have a wide range of talents and capabilities that you can use to enhance your chances of attaining this award.

For any young people who might be reading this, it is always a good idea to prepare your applications well in advance and create an action plan for how you are going to spend the rest of your school years, to make sure you are able to reach your full potential

Expand your skillset

Participate in a wide range of activities, and explore your abilities and talents. 

Take up challenges and courses that help you hone your skills and grow as an individual. These skills can range from your communication skills to being highly skilled in a certain sport.

Developing a relationship with your school faculty

Make sure that you work on creating a good relationship with your mentors and teachers, be present and participate in discussions, and try to stand out from the rest of your peers. 

This will not only help you during your nomination but will ensure that you have a healthy support system in the future.

Honing your leadership skills

Take up roles and responsibilities that help you grow and become better both as an individual and as a responsible member of the global community.

Make sure that you participate in activities where you can use and grow your leadership skills, be it a group project, a mission for the betterment of the community, or being a part of your school’s student council and showcasing your ability to lead and grow as an individual and as a team.

Show that you are committed to the betterment of the society:

Another thing that will increase your chances of receiving this award is being someone who genuinely wants to work for the betterment of society, and actively participate in and lead projects for the service of the community.

Working with people from all backgrounds will help you gain a perspective of the world that exists outside of your own, and therefore also help you become an open-minded and responsible member of the global community.

Selection Process

If the selection committee recommends your nomination, the University will reach out to you directly before the end of February, and you will receive your invitation to apply.

 Selections will then be made by the Universities Undergraduate Scholarships and Awards Committee.

The students who will be receiving this prestigious award will be notified by May 2023, and those who aren’t selected will be guided to other resources that might be helpful.

If you are still in the process of applying to different universities and are looking for scholarships and financial aid to support your studies, I would highly recommend that you explore the University of Toronto’s Lester B. Pearson Scholarship Program. 

I’ve created a detailed post like this for the Lester B. Pearson Scholarship Program so you can find all the details about it in one place. Have a look at it down below. 

How To Get Full Scholarship at University of Toronto as an International Student

Here’s the summary of this scholarship with the official links to help you remember the key details.

Thank you for reading this article. 

If you found this helpful, do share it with your friends who are looking for fully funded scholarships for undergrad abroad.

If you have any questions or any suggestions let me know in the comment section.

Best of luck!