Criteria

Eligibility
Who is eligible for the Open Scholarship?
Who is eligible for the Travelling Scholarship?
 

Selecting the Winners
What are the academic requirements?
What is the selection process?
 

Administration of the Scholarship
Are there any conditions of acceptance?
How is the Award distributed?

Eligibility

The Mackenzie King Open Scholarship is open to graduates of any Canadian university who engage in (commence or continue) graduate study (mater’s or doctoral) in any field, in Canada or elsewhere. One Open Scholarship is awarded annually. Its value has lately been $13,000 but is subject to change. The scholarship is for one year only and is not renewable.

The Mackenzie King Travelling Scholarship is open to graduates of any Canadian university who engage in (commence or continue) postgraduate study (mater’s or doctoral) in the United States or the United Kingdom, of international relations or industrial relations (including the international or industrial relations aspects of law, history, politics and economics). 

Mr. King expressed the hope in his will that this scholarship would “afford to Canadian students in the future opportunities to broaden their outlook and sympathies and contribute in some measure to that understanding of the problems and policies of other countries which is the basis of international good will”. 

Four Travelling Scholarships of $15,000 have lately been awarded annually, but the number and value of scholarships are subject to change. The scholarships are for one year only and are not renewable.

Selecting The Winners

The primary criterion is the strength of the applicant’s university academic record. Personal qualities, demonstrated aptitudes, and the proposed program of study are also taken into account.  

The awards will be made by, and at the sole discretion of, the Board of Scholarship of Trustees.

The Selection Process

Your home university (see How to Apply) will forward to the Board of Scholarship Trustees a maximum of two nominations for the Open and two for the Travelling Scholarship, together with their applications, and will advise all of its applicants of the outcome of this internal competition. 

Decisions in the national competition are usually announced by the end of June. The results will include a list of alternative recipients for the event that a scholarship is declined by a candidate to whom it is offered. Alternative recipients will be notified if they are placed on the list. 

Administration of the Scholarship

A candidate may not hold a Mackenzie King Scholarship at the same time as other scholarships without the written approval of the Board of Scholarship Trustees. 

This approval is usually given provided that the candidate’s total scholarship support, including the Mackenzie King Scholarship, does not exceed a maximum amount defined by the Board. Lately the maximum amount has been the candidate’s expected tuition fees plus C$20,000, but it is subject to change.

Acceptance of the scholarship implies an obligation on the part of the recipient to devote her- or himself fully to the program of study outlined in the application. Any proposed change of plan must be submitted to the Board for approval. 

Payment of the Award

Each scholarship will normally be paid in two instalments. The first, amounting to 60% of the award, will be paid shortly before the holder commences his or her year of postgraduate studies. 

Payment of the first instalment is conditional upon receipt of satisfactory evidence that the candidate has been admitted into the graduate program in respect of which the scholarship application was submitted. 

The second instalment is paid midway through the period of tenure of the scholarship. Payment of the second instalment is conditional upon the Board’s receiving satisfactory mid-tenure reports both from the holder and from the principal supervisor of her or his studies. 

Holders are also invited to submit a final report at the end of their tenure of the scholarship.