Rotman Commerce Application-Based Scholarships and Awards
This page outlines the application-based scholarships and awards that are administered directly by Rotman Commerce. Please review this page regularly, as awards information is updated throughout the academic year. Please use Award Explorer with the search term “commerce” to learn more about each award.
Before submitting an application, students are strongly encouraged to engage with the following resources:
- Consult the Resumes & Cover Letters eLearning Modules on Quercus
- Meet with a writing coach at the Centre for Professional Skills.
- Have your application reviewed by a Rotman Commerce Career Peer.
All scholarships and awards for the 2023-24 academic year have been finalized. Please check back in early September 2024 for updates to the competition timelines and application processes, as well as information on new award offerings. Please connect with an RC Academic Advisor if you have any questions.
2023-2024 Scholarship & Awards AvailaBILITY
Deadline to apply: 11:59pm EST on December 1, 2023 – competition now closed. The recipient has been notified; we thank you for your interest in this scholarship.
Rahul (Bobby) Hundal passed away in 2006 at the age of 25 after a nearly year-long battle with leukemia. This award was established by Bobby’s family and friends as a lasting legacy in his memory. The scholarship is a fitting tribute to Bobby’s life and celebrates his entrepreneurial spirit and innovation.
Value: Approximately $1,300
Eligibility:
• To be awarded to a third- or fourth-year full-time student in Rotman Commerce who has demonstrated an interest in entrepreneurship.
• Minimum CGPA of 3.0 is required.
Application Instructions (please read the following carefully):
*To minimize bias in the scholarship adjudication process, applicants are asked to avoid including identifying features in their cover letter/essay and resume (where required), including name, country of birth, gender, race/ethnicity, etc. Please indicate only your initials on your cover letter and resume. There is no need to remove your name from your ACORN transcript (if required). *
In order to apply, students must complete the Bobby Hundal Memorial Scholarship Application Form.
A complete application will require PDF uploads of the following (please use the file naming convention of INITIALS_ESSAY, e.g., AZ_ESSAY):
- A 500-word essay (do not put your full name on this essay – initials only) that describes the following: why you want to be an entrepreneur, highlights of your previous involvement in entrepreneurship, and your future plans as they relate to entrepreneurship.
- A list of entrepreneurial initiatives and activities that you have participated in (do not put your full name on this list – initials only). Examples may include case competitions, pitch competitions, hackathons, courses, an internship at a start-up company or a start-up division of an established company, etc. For each item on your list, please provide the following:
- Name of competition/course/company
- Your title/role
- Description of your duties, responsibilities and initiatives taken that are related to entrepreneurship
- Description of how your experience impacted your interest in entrepreneurship
- Any additional relevant details such as website links, app names, product photos or drawings, etc.
- A current resume (do not include your full name – initials only)
- ACORN academic history (unofficial transcript)
The CFA Program Student Scholarship period will be open from September 1, 2023.
Deadline to apply: This scholarship competition closed as of 11:59pm EST November 19, 2023. Recipients have been chosen; we thank you for your interest in this scholarship.
The CFA Institute is offering a number of CFA Program Student Scholarships to Rotman Commerce students in the 2023-24 academic year. Each year Rotman Commerce runs a competition to determine which students will receive the available scholarships. Students who receive a scholarship will have one year from the award date to register for a CFA Institute exam that they are eligible to take.
This will be the only time Rotman Commerce will be awarding scholarships for students intending on writing the Level 1 Exam in the 2023-24 academic year.
Value:
The scholarship covers the enrolment fee in the CFA Program and reduces the exam registration fee to $400 USD.
Eligibility:
- Full-time Rotman Commerce students. Your selected exam window must be 23 months or fewer before your graduation month for your bachelor’s degree or equivalent program.
- In order to write a CFA exam, students must satisfy the Enrollment Criteria and Requirements for the CFA Program.
- Only students who have not yet registered for their upcoming CFA Program exam are eligible to receive a scholarship. The CFA Institute is unable to make any exceptions to this policy. Students who complete their scholarship application by the deadline but are not ultimately selected to receive a scholarship will be eligible to register for the exam at early registration pricing.
- Generally, successful applicants have a CGPA of at least 3.5, and a final grade of at least 80 in the following courses: RSM230H, RSM330H/RSM336H, RSM332H, RSM333H. Applicants whose grades fall outside of these parameters may be considered if they are strong in other areas of the application such as co-curricular activities and/or related work experience.
- Students who have previously been awarded this scholarship are not eligible to apply again.
- While an applicant may apply for any other scholarship program, the individual may only receive one scholarship award in which case the most recently awarded scholarship will be applied.
Application Instructions:
In order to apply, students must complete the following:
- Rotman Commerce CFA Student Scholarship Application Form AND
- CFA Institute Student Scholarship Application and upload the following documents to the CFA Application Portal:
- A brief cover letter (max. 250 words) explaining why you are interested in pursuing the CFA Program, and how you plan to prepare and study for the examination. Note: To successfully pass the exam, students should expect to spend 200-250 hours preparing.
- Current resume
- Copy of your ACORN academic history (unofficial transcript)
Please note that BOTH the Rotman Commerce CFA Student Scholarship Application Form and the CFA Institute Student Scholarship Application must be completed in order for applications to be considered.
**Important** As only students who have not yet registered for their upcoming CFA Program exam are eligible to receive a scholarship, to remain eligible, students must not register for an exam until they have received the official scholarship decision notification email from the CFA Institute. Decision notifications are typically sent out approximately 4-6 weeks after the application deadline.
Note: Applicants will be contacted by Rotman Commerce to request consent for the release of statistical information relating to your exam results.
Deadline to apply: 11:59pm EST on December 1, 2023 – competition now closed. The recipient has been notified; we thank you for your interest in this award.
Value: Approximately $6,000
Eligibility:
- To be awarded to a domestic student who self-identifies as Canadian Indigenous (First Nations [Status, Non-Status], Métis, Inuit) on the basis of good academic standing and financial need.
Application Instructions:
- In order to apply, students must complete the Chung Canadian Indigenous Award at the Rotman School of Management Application Form.
Deadline to apply: 11:59pm EST on December 1, 2023 – competition now closed. The recipient has been notified; we thank you for your interest in this award.
Value: Minimum $1000
Eligibility:
- To be awarded to domestic student(s) with a disability on the basis of academic merit and financial need. Preference is given to students in the Finance and Economics Specialist program and to students enrolled in second year followed by students enrolled in third year.
Application Instructions:
In order to apply, students must complete the Citi Canada Award for Students with Disabilities at Rotman Commerce Application and upload their ACORN academic history (unofficial transcript).
Deadline to apply: 11:59pm EST on December 1, 2023 – competition now closed. The recipient has been notified; we thank you for your interest in this bursary.
Value: Approximately $460
Eligibility:
- To be awarded to a full-time domestic student who self-identifies as Black and/or Indigenous (First Nations [Status/Non-Status], Inuit of Metis) in second, third or fourth year in any Rotman Commerce specialist program on the basis of academic merit.
- Preference will be given to a student with financial need.
Application Instructions:
In order to apply, students must complete The Francisco Bursary Application Form.
Deadline to apply: 11:59pm EST on December 1, 2023 – competition now closed. The recipient has been notified; we thank you for your interest in this scholarship.
The aim with this scholarship is to have a strong impact on a student’s life as they launch into their career. Conversations with the university revealed the increased tuition for upper-year students and the university’s desire to improve support for Black and Indigenous students in the program. The result was the RPIA ACE Scholarship, which RPIA hopes will help bridge the existing gaps and help a new student every year. In addition to financial support, RPIA hopes to include every year’s recipient in the firm’s internal Mentorship Program, where they can learn from industry leaders and gain valuable insights and advice for their career growth.
ABOUT THE RPIA ACE PROGRAM
The RPIA ACE Program stands for Academic & Community Empowerment and aims to provide a wealth of opportunities to disenfranchised groups through academic or community-driven initiatives. The program will focus on nurturing the next generation of leaders in Canada through a variety of programs, including scholarships, internships, mentorship, and financial literacy. RPIA is committed to empowering and nurturing the unlimited potential in their community.
ABOUT RPIA
RPIA is a Toronto-based asset management firm that provides fixed income solutions, managing over $6 billion for a broad range of Canadian investors, from private clients to institutions. Learn more about RPIA: www.rpia.ca
Value: Approximately $5000
Eligibility:
- To be awarded to a Rotman Commerce student in second, third or fourth year, in good academic standing, and who self-identifies as Black (domestic or international) and/or Indigenous to Canada (First Nations [Status or Non-Status], Inuit or Metis).
- Preference will be given to a student with interest and/or completed coursework in Finance.
Application Instructions:
*To minimize bias in the scholarship adjudication process, applicants are asked to avoid including identifying features in their cover letter/essay and resume (where required), including name, country of birth, gender, etc. Please indicate only your initials on your essay and resume. There is no need to remove your name from your ACORN transcript.*
In order to apply, students must complete the RPIA ACE Scholarship Application Form.
- A complete application will require PDF uploads of the following (please use the file naming convention of INITIALS_ESSAY, e.g., AZ_ESSAY):
- A 500-word essay (do not put your full name on this essay – initials only) that describes the following:
- why you are interested in finance
- a description of how you have pursued your interest in finance (this can include finance-related courses you have taken and/or work/extracurricular/volunteer experiences you have had in the field of finance)
- your future plans to further your interest in finance.
- A current resume (do not include your full name – initials only) that highlights the breadth of your interest/experience in finance.
- ACORN academic history (unofficial transcript)
Deadline to apply: 11:59pm EST on February 18, 2024 – competition now closed. The recipient has been notified; we thank you for your interest in this scholarship.
Value: $1000
Eligibility:
To be awarded to a full-time international Y3 or Y4 Rotman Commerce student who demonstrates academic merit and community contribution/involvement. Preference for a student with a growth mindset*.
*Dweck (2015) found that “in a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment.”
Application Instructions (please read the following carefully):
*To minimize bias in the scholarship adjudication process, applicants are asked to avoid including identifying features in their cover letter/essay and resume (where required), including name, country of birth, gender, race/ethnicity, etc. Please indicate only your initials on your cover letter and resume. There is no need to remove your name from your ACORN transcript (if required). *
In order to apply, students must complete the Rotman Asia Alumni Scholarship in Rotman Commerce Application Form.
A complete application will require PDF uploads of the following (please use the file naming convention of INTIALS_ESSAY, e.g., AZ_ESSAY):
- A 500-word essay (do not include your full name on this essay – initials only) that describes the following:
- your involvement in the community (either within Rotman Commerce, the University of Toronto, or the external community)a description of how this involvement has shaped your life and the life of others
- how this community involvement has contributed to a love of learning, personal development through challenges/failure, and finding the opportunity to grow through learning opportunities, i.e., a growth mindset.
- A current resume (do not include your full name – initials only) that highlights the breadth of your community involvement.
- ACORN academic history (unofficial transcript).
Deadline to apply: 11:59pm EST on December 1, 2023 – competition now closed. The recipient has been notified; we thank you for your interest in this scholarship.
Value: Approximately $1000
Eligibility:
• Awarded to a third-year domestic Rotman Commerce student who demonstrates excellence in both academics and extra-curricular involvement.
• Applicants must be in financial need (OSAP recipients only) and have achieved a minimum CGPA of 3.0.
Application Instructions:
*To minimize bias in the scholarship adjudication process, applicants are asked to avoid including identifying features in their cover letter and resume, including name, country of birth, gender, race/ethnicity, etc. Please indicate only your initials on your cover letter and resume.*
In order to apply, students must complete the Rotman Commerce GRADitude Scholarship Application Form.
- A complete application will require PDF uploads of the following (please use the file naming convention of INITIALS_ESSAY, e.g., AZ_ESSAY):
- A 500-word essay (do not put your full name on this essay – initials only) that outlines the breadth, but focuses on highlighting the depth, of your extra-curricular involvement
- A current resume (do not include your full name – initials only) that outlines the breadth of your extracurricular involvement
- ACORN academic history (unofficial transcript)
Deadline to apply: 11:59pm EST on December 1, 2023 – competition now closed. Recipients have been notified; we thank you for your interest in this award.
Value: Approximately $1000
Eligibility:
- Awarded to students enrolled in one of the Rotman Commerce Specialist programs who have demonstrated resiliency in the face of adversity.
- This award is open to all students regardless of program/legal status, e.g. full-time, part-time, domestic, international, who are currently registered in second, third or fourth year in a Rotman Commerce program.
- A minimum AGPA of 3.0 is required.
Instructions:
*To minimize bias in the scholarship adjudication process, applicants are asked to avoid including identifying features in their cover letter and resume, including name, country of birth, gender, race/ethnicity, etc. Please indicate only your initials on your cover letter and resume.*
In order to apply, students must complete the Rotman Commerce Award Application Form and select the appropriate award. Students who have already won the William J. Harris Commerce Scholarship are not eligible to apply.
NOTE: If you are applying for both the Rotman Commerce Resiliency Award and the William J. Harris Commerce Scholarship, you only need to submit one application.
- A complete application will require PDF uploads of the following (please use the file naming convention of INITIALS_ESSAY, e.g., AZ_ESSAY):
- A 500-word essay (do not put your full name on this essay – initials only) describing how you have demonstrated resiliency in the face of adversity
- ACORN academic history (unofficial transcript)
Deadline to apply: 11:59pm EST on December 1, 2023 – competition now closed. The recipient has been notified; we thank you for your interest in this scholarship.
Value: Approximately $2,000
Eligibility:
• To be awarded to a third-year domestic Rotman Commerce Accounting student who will be pursuing the CPA designation and who has demonstrated financial need and academic achievement.
• Preference will be given to a student who is registered at St. Michael’s College.
Application Instructions:
*To minimize bias in the scholarship adjudication process, applicants are asked to avoid including identifying features in their cover letter and resume, including name, country of birth, gender, race/ethnicity, etc. Please indicate only your initials on your cover letter and resume.*
In order to apply, students must complete the Scilipoti Undergraduate Scholarship in Commerce Application Form.
- A complete application will require PDF uploads of the following (please use the file naming convention of INITIALS_ESSAY, e.g., AZ_ESSAY):
- A 500-word essay (do not put your full name on this essay – initials only) outlining your academic and professional interests and aspirations as they relate to your pursuit of the CPA designation
- A current resume (do not include your full name – initials only) that highlights your accounting-related work experiences
- ACORN academic history (unofficial transcript)
Deadline to apply: 11:59pm EST on February 18, 2024 – competition now closed. The winner has been notified; we thank you for your interest in this award.
Value: Approximately $5000
Eligibility:
- Full-time Rotman Commerce students in their fourth year of study with a minimum CGPA of 3.3.
- The award recipient will be selected on the basis of academic merit. Special consideration will be given to community engagement and an interest in Private Equity.
Application Instructions:
*To minimize bias in the scholarship adjudication process, applicants are asked to avoid including identifying features in their cover letter and resume, including name, country of birth, gender, race/ethnicity, etc. Please indicate only your initials on your cover letter and resume.*
In order to apply, students must complete the TorQuest Scholars Commerce Award Application Form.
- A complete application will require PDF uploads of the following (please use the file naming convention of INITIALS_ESSAY, e.g., AZ_ESSAY):
- A 500-word essay (do not put your full name on this essay – initials only) that illustrates your interest in private equity (demonstrated through courses, co-curricular and/or work experience, etc.) and discusses your involvement in giving back to the community. As part of the application review process, your essay may be reviewed by a panel that includes donor representatives.
- A current resume (do not include your full name – initials only) that highlights your experiences in private equity (demonstrated through courses, co-curricular and/or work experience, etc.) and involvement in giving back to the community.
- ACORN academic history (unofficial transcript)
Deadline to apply: 11:59pm EST on December 1, 2023 – competition now closed. The recipient has been notified; we thank you for your interest in this scholarship.
Value: Approximately $2300
Eligibility:
• Awarded to a full-time domestic Rotman Commerce student in second or third year who has demonstrated resiliency in the face of adversity.
• A minimum AGPA of 3.5 is required.
Application Instructions:
*To minimize bias in the scholarship adjudication process, applicants are asked to avoid including identifying features in their cover letter and resume, including name, country of birth, gender, race/ethnicity, etc. Please indicate only your initials on your cover letter and resume.*
In order to apply, students must complete the Rotman Commerce Award Application Form and select the appropriate award.
NOTE: If you are applying for both the Rotman Commerce Resiliency Award and the William J. Harris Commerce Scholarship, you only need to submit one application.
- A complete application will require PDF uploads of the following (please use the file naming convention of INITIALS_ESSAY, e.g., AZ_ESSAY):
- A 500-word essay (do not put your full name on this essay – initials only) describing how you have demonstrated resiliency in the face of adversity (500 words maximum)
- ACORN academic history (unofficial transcript)
