Ontario eSports Scholarship Application

The Ministry of Colleges and Universities has allocated funding to eligible post-secondary institutions in support of scholarships for high-achieving students with financial need enrolled in programs related to the video-gaming industry that may lead to a career in the video-gaming or esports fields.

Amount available

Several scholarships valued at $2,500 - $5,000 each will be awarded in 2024/25 for a total of $25,000.

Eligibility and selection criteria

  • Candidates must be enrolled full-time in an undergraduate or graduate program in the 2024/25 academic year and be in a funding-eligible video-gaming, game development, game design, or a similar program that may lead to a career in video-gaming and/or esports. Programs include, but not limited to:
    • Communication Arts
    • Computer Engineering
    • Computer Science
    • Data Science
    • Digital Media Studies
    • Economics
    • English Language and Literature
    • Experimental Digital Media
    • Global Business and Digital Arts
    • Kinesiology
    • Knowledge Integration
    • Mathematics
    • Psychology
    • Public Health
    • Recreation and Leisure Studies
    • Recreation and Sports Business
    • Software Engineering
  • Students who have completed their program are not eligible.
  • This award is limited to domestic students (Canadian citizens, Permanent Residents, or protected persons).
  • In support of equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, and supporting Indigenous initiatives (EDII), preference will be given to equity-deserving candidates or to applicants who are addressing underrepresentation issues in the gaming and esports industry.
  • Candidates must demonstrate financial need, as determined by the University of Waterloo through a review of OSAP, out-of-province government assistance, and/or the Waterloo bursary program.
  • Upon determination of financial need, applications will be assessed based on merit, as determined by academic achievement (minimum 80% cumulative average) and demonstrated interest in the video-gaming and/or esports industry.

Application deadline: January 31, 2025

Questions

Contact Student Awards and Financial Aid if you have questions about specific award requirements, completing the form, or award decisions.