Scholarships

There are a variety of scholarships available to current students in Earth and Environmental Sciences that allow us to celebrate and recognize your achievements!

Earth and Environmental Sciences Scholarships Available

Duncan F. McIvor Memorial Award - Application due February 15th

Description Value Criteria Deadline to Apply

This award was established in 2011 by friends and family of the late Duncan F. McIvor who graduated in 1984 with an Honours Applied Earth Sciences degree.

See here for more information

 Several awards, $2,000 each
  • Minimum 75% overall average
  • Demonstrated leadership, scholastic aptitude, and an interest in pursuing exploration field geology
  • Given annually to third or fourth-year students enrolled in the undergraduate program within the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
 Application due February 15th 

List of recipients

J.P. Bickell Foundation Mining Awards - Application due February 15th

Description Value Criteria Deadline to Apply

Several awards, valued at a minimum of $2,000 each, are provided to undergraduate students in mining-related programs, including Geological Engineering within the Faculty of Engineering and Earth and Environmental Sciences within the Faculty of Science. To be eligible, students must be enrolled in Year Two or above, have an overall average of 75% or above, and must demonstrate their interest in the mining industry. Interested students should submit an application by February 15.

See here for more information

Several awards, $2,000 each
  • Minimum overall average of 75%
  • Demonstrated interest in the mining industry/field
  • Provided to undergraduate students in mining-related programs, including environmental geosciences, geological sciences, earth sciences, and mining engineering
  • Must be enrolled in second year or above
 Application due February 15th 

List of recipients

David M. Forget Memorial Award - Application due June 15th
Description Value Criteria Deadline to Apply

This award was established in memory of David M. Forget. Students who meet the criteria are invited to write a short essay (four pages maximum) explaining their eligibility for this award and addressing the criteria as stated.

See here for more information

 $1,200
  • Given annually to a student enrolled in year two of Earth Sciences, Geological Engineering, or other Earth major program
  • Demonstrated interest in the geosciences combined with a love and respect for nature, good ability and interest in writing, and a dedication to their studies
 Application due June 15th

List of recipients

Andre Vorauer Memorial Award - Application due February 15th
Description Value Criteria  Deadline to Apply

This award will be provided annually to a full-time undergraduate student enrolled in Year Three or Four of an Earth Sciences program in the Faculty of Science or the Geological Engineering program in the Faculty of Engineering. Selection is based on academic achievement (minimum 75% cumulative average) and demonstrated leadership potential through involvement in extracurricular activities and/or an interest in social good. This fund is made possible by gifts from family and friends in memory of Andre Vorauer (MEng '88), to honour his passion for geoscience and helping others.

See more information here!

 $2,800
  • enrolled in Year Three, or Four of an Earth Sciences program OR Geological Engineering
  • minimum 75% cumulative average
  • demonstrated leadership potential through involvement in extracurricular activities and/or an interest in social good
 February 15th

List of recipients

There is no application for the following awards. Recipients will be contacted.

Ron Kellerman Memorial Award - Awarded early September
Description Value Criteria
This award was created in 2012 in honour of Ron Kellerman who worked in the Earth Science Department as a geochemist for over 15 years. One award, $500
  • Presented annually to a full-time student in Earth Sciences
  • Achieved the highest mark based on academic excellence in EARTH 221 (Geochemistry)

List of recipients

Dr. Brian D. Bornhold Scholarship - Awarded in Fall
Description Value Criteria

This award was made possible by Dr. Brian D. Bornhold, PhD, P.Geo.(BC), who was the first graduate of Waterloo's Earth Sciences program, receiving a BSc in 1967.

See here for more information

 $3,000
  • Awarded annually to a full-time undergraduate student enrolled in year two, three, or four in Earth and Environmental Sciences in the Faculty of Science on the basis of academic achievement

List of recipients

External Scholarships Available

Many awards are offered by outside agencies, organizations, and foundations. These award opportunities are listed below. 

Student Industry Field (SIFT) Award - Application due end of January
Description Value / Criteria Deadline to Apply
The Canadian Energy Geoscience Association (CEGA) designed as an intense two-week immersion program based out of Calgary to provide an introduction to the oil and gas industry and establish links between industries and universities. This two-week program involves lectures and seminars, visits to the ERCB core repository, and project work to test and reward the candidates. Dr. Martin Ross is our department's SIFT representative and will provide annual information on the award and application in January. For more information regarding SIFT, please visit the CEGA website. Application due end of January

List of recipients 

APGO Education Foundation - Geoscience Student Scholarships
Description Value Criteria Application Timeline

The APGO Education Foundation will award two scholarships to two students who, in the Spring of 2024, are on track to meet the requirements for advancement into the fourth year of a geoscience degree program. This will enable completion of the knowledge requirements for professional registration in the Professional Geoscientists Ontario (PGO). All applicants will automatically be considered for both scholarships.

Learn more here!

 Two scholarships, $5,000 each 
  • Students who in the Spring of 2024, are on track to meet the requirements for advancement into the fourth year of a geoscience degree program
 Applications open March 15th for both scholarships

NSERC
Description Value Criteria Application Timeline
Every year, we receive funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Undergraduate Student Research Awards. This allows us to fund undergraduate research for a term. $4,500 plus organization contribution For eligibility requirements, please check the NSERC website. To apply for NSERC, please contact the Sue Fisher for department deadlines. Each eligible institution sets its own deadline dates for receiving NSERC applications. For information about these dates, contact the institution where you intend to apply for an award.

There is no application for the following awards. Recipients will be contacted.

Brantford Lapidary and Mineral Society Awards - Awarded early September
Description Value Criteria

Award recipients will be encouraged to attend a meeting of the Brantford Lapidary and Mineral Society Inc. and provide a brief presentation. This fund is made possible through the generosity of the Brantford Lapidary and Mineral Society, a long-time partner and friend of the Faculty of Science.

Four awards, $500 each:

  • Two for second-year students
  • Two for third-year students
  • Provided annually to undergraduate second and third-year students enrolled in an Earth Sciences program in the Faculty of Science
  • Achieved a minimum overall average of 75%
  • Preference given to students enrolled in mineralogy courses

List of recipients 

Mineralogical Association of Canada Award - Awarded in February
Description Value Criteria
If a suitable undergraduate student is not available, a graduate student may be chosen. If you would like to be nominated for this award, please contact Luke Balch. Only one nomination per institution per year is granted.
  • One-year membership to the Association (including electronic access to The Canadian Mineralogist, a subscription to Elements, 20% discount on MAC publications, discounted registration fee at our annual meeting)
  • $100 gift certificate redeemable on any MAC publications to be selected from our Short Course, Special Issue of The Canadian Mineralogist or Special Publication series
  • Given annually to an undergraduate student (second year of study or higher) at a recognized Canadian university or institute of higher education
  • Excellence in one of the specialties supported by The Mineralogical Association of Canada (mineralogy, crystallography, geochemistry, petrology, and mineral deposits)
  • The nominating officer must be an instructor of a course involving one of the specialties supported by the Mineralogical Association of Canada

Geological Association of Canada - Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada Logan Student Prize

The GAC®-PDAC Logan Student Prize will be awarded annually to one undergraduate student at each CCCESD-member department. The prize will consist of a monetary award, one-year memberships in both GAC® and PDAC, and an electronic certificate affirming that the student won the GAC®-PDAC Logan Student Prize.

List of recipients 

For scholarships that require applications, once you’ve applied for admission, we’ll automatically consider you for these awards. Good luck!