Celebrating Student Achievement Awards Program
UPEI’s Celebrating Student Achievement awards program puts the focus strongly on student achievement and leads to more scholarships being available to more students.
The program—including Guaranteed Entrance Scholarships (for Canadian citizens, permanent residents and landed immigrants) and Academic Excellence Awards (for all returning students)—rewards students' academic achievements automatically upon entrance to, as well as throughout their studies at UPEI. Eligible incoming and returning students will be motivated to do well and continue to do well, knowing the level at which they will be rewarded. Awards are also "stackable" with other named scholarships and awards, furthering the earning potential!
- What is the Celebrating Student Achievement awards program?
- Who is eligible for Guaranteed Entrance Scholarships?
- I’m entering UPEI directly from high school, how do I qualify?
- When will my Guaranteed Entrance Scholarship be confirmed?
- What if I’m an IB student?
- What if I want to start in January instead of September?
- How does the Celebrating Student Achievement awards program apply to international students?
- Who is eligible for Academic Excellence Awards?
- I’m already a student at UPEI, how do I qualify for Academic Excellence Awards?
- When will I know if I’m receiving an Academic Excellence Award?
- How does the Celebrating Student Achievement awards program apply to UPEI students participating in an International Exchange experience?
- Can I receive a Guaranteed Entrance Scholarship, and then an Academic Excellence Award for every year I’m at UPEI?
- What if I receive a Guaranteed Entrance Scholarship, but my marks drop after my first year?
- Do I have to apply for the Celebrating Student Achievement Awards program?
- When do I receive the money for either the Guaranteed Entrance Scholarship or Academic Excellence Award?
- Can I combine my Guaranteed Entrance Scholarship or Academic Excellence Award with other awards?
1. What is the Celebrating Student Achievement awards program?
The “Celebrating Student Achievement” awards program provides for two award offerings: Guaranteed Entrance Scholarships for eligible students entering UPEI directly from high school in the student’s graduating year, and Academic Excellence Awards for any UPEI undergraduate students who meet the grade scale criteria during their second, third, and fourth years. There are four levels of awards, from $500–$3,000 per year, based on a student’s average from the previous year.
2. Who is eligible for Guaranteed Entrance Scholarships?
Canadian citizens, permanent residents and landed immigrants who complete high school in Canada or overseas are eligible. Guaranteed Entrance Scholarships are available to eligible students entering UPEI directly from high school in their graduating year for their first undergraduate degree (Bachelor’s) in Arts, Business, Science and Nursing*.
3. I’m entering UPEI directly from high school, how do I qualify?
Eligible students entering UPEI directly from high school in their graduating year will automatically qualify for a Guaranteed Entrance Scholarship based on their Grade 12 average—the average calculated on the five courses used for admission into the University.
| Admissions Average | Guaranteed Entrance Scholarship |
| 95–100% | $3,000 |
| 90–94.99% | $2,000 |
| 85–89.99% | $1,000 |
| 80–84.99% | $500 |
NOTE: Awards of $2,000 or more will be posted to a student’s account in two equal installments at the beginning of each the fall and winter semesters.
4. When will my Guaranteed Entrance Scholarship be confirmed?
Guaranteed Entrance Scholarships are first announced as conditional in eligible students’ acceptance letters and final values are confirmed upon receipt and review of final official high school transcripts.
5. What if I’m an IB student?
International Baccalaureate Diploma Graduates will qualify for an award based upon the following:
| Diploma Score | Guaranteed Entrance Scholarship |
| 36–45 | $3,000 |
| 32–35 | $2,000 |
| 29–31 | $1,000 |
| 27–28 | $500 |
NOTE: Awards of $2,000 or more will be posted to a student’s account in two equal installments at the beginning of each the fall and winter semesters.
6. What if I want to start in January instead of September?
In order to be eligible for the scholarship, students must maintain full-time registration status in both semesters. Full-time is defined as a minimum of 9 (nine) semester hours of credit in each of the fall and winter semesters (September and January).
7. How does the Celebrating Student Achievement awards program apply to international students?
UPEI offers academic excellence awards to returning international students on a merit basis. Once international students have studied at UPEI for one year (full-time registration status in both fall and winter semesters), their academic achievement will be reviewed for Academic Excellence Awards in the same way as all UPEI students. International students may be eligible for the International Entrance Award Cycle and are encouraged to review that webpage and contact inte@upei.ca for more detail.
8. Who is eligible for Academic Excellence Awards?
Returning UPEI students (including international students) entering their second, third, or fourth year of study in a first undergraduate degree in Arts, Business, Science, and Nursing* are eligible for Academic Excellence Awards.
9. I’m already a student at UPEI, how do I qualify for Academic Excellence Awards?
UPEI students entering second, third, or fourth year will automatically qualify for Academic Excellence Awards based on grade performance at UPEI in the previous academic year, September to August.
A student's grade performance is calculated as a weighted overall academic average, which includes all numeric grades received in courses completed, weighted by the number of credit hours assigned to each course.
Students must maintain full-time registration status, defined as a minimum of 9 (nine) semester hours of credit in each of the fall and winter semesters (September and January) to be eligible.
| Overall Average | Academic Excellence Award |
| 95–100% | $3,000 |
| 90–94.99% | $2,000 |
| 85–89.99% | $1,000 |
| 80–84.99% | $500 |
NOTE: Awards of $2,000 or more will be posted to a student’s account in two equal installments at the beginning of each the fall and winter semesters.
10. When will I know if I’m receiving an Academic Excellence Award?
You will be notified by the Scholarships and Awards Office after all final marks are received for the academic year in the month of August, via an email to your UPEI address. If you are not taking any summer session courses, your overall average will be calculated on courses taken September to May.
11. How does the Celebrating Student Achievement awards program apply to UPEI students participating in an International Exchange experience?
Students participating in an approved International Exchange Experience with a UPEI partner school remain eligible for Academic Excellence Awards if they abide by UPEI's 'Study Abroad' requirements, and maintain full-time registration status at UPEI prior to participating in the exchange, and upon their return. For students completing one semester on exchange, the academic average is calculated using all course grades completed at UPEI within the current year (September to August). For students completing a full year on exchange, the most recent academic year average at UPEI (September to August) will be used.
12. Can I receive a Guaranteed Entrance Scholarship, and then an Academic Excellence Award for every year I’m at UPEI?
If you receive a Guaranteed Entrance Scholarship as you enter your first year, you remain eligible to receive Academic Excellence Awards for a maximum of three years, as these are based on your grade performance at UPEI the previous year. Celebrating Student Achievement awards (Guaranteed Entrance Scholarship + Academic Excellence Awards) are available for the first four years of continuous, full-time study.
13. What if I receive a Guaranteed Entrance Scholarship, but my marks drop after my first year?
Your marks will be automatically assessed annually after your first year. Even if you do not qualify after your first year, you can still earn an Academic Excellence Award the following year if your marks improve.
14. Do I have to apply for the Celebrating Student Achievement Awards program?
No, these awards are automatic and there is no mandatory ‘apply by date’ to qualify for the Guaranteed Entrance Scholarship or Academic Excellence Award. All students in Arts, Science, Business, and Nursing* will be automatically assessed by the Scholarships and Awards Office and awards are automatically posted to a student’s account.
15. When do I receive the money for either the Guaranteed Entrance Scholarship or Academic Excellence Award?
Awards will be credited to a student’s account at the beginning of the school year, and accessible by students once all tuition charges and fees are processed for the given semester. NOTE: Awards of $2,000 or more will be posted to a student’s account in two equal installments at the beginning of each the fall and winter semesters.
16. Can I combine my Guaranteed Entrance Scholarship or Academic Excellence Award with other awards?
Yes. Guaranteed Entrance Scholarships and Academic Excellence Awards are stackable for those students who apply and qualify for application-based scholarships with a March 1 application deadline.
* excludes students studying in a second undergraduate degree program and the Radiography and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine programs.
