King’s has announced the creation of a Post-Care Tuition Waiver that will be made available annually to two former youth-in-care. This comes in recognition of the unique and ongoing challenges faced by former youth-in-care in accessing and completing a post-secondary education.
The introduction of the Post-Care Tuition Waiver forms part of ongoing work to advance equity, diversity and inclusion at King’s. In particular, the tuition waiver marks an important contribution to the university’s goal, as set out in the mandate of President William Lahey, to “improve the accessibility of King’s for students who face barriers to attending King’s, including financial barriers…” The tuition waiver will improve the accessibility of an education at King’s among historically and currently marginalized groups (e.g. Indigenous/Aboriginal students, especially Mi’kmaq; African/Black Students, especially Historical African Nova Scotian; those with (dis)abilities—visible and invisible; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer youth), as these groups are over-represented in the Province of Nova Scotia’s child welfare system.
In the 2021/2022 academic year, two tuition waivers will be awarded to former youth-in-care for undergraduate studies at King’s. The waivers will be renewable (up to four years dependent upon good academic standing) for each student’s first undergraduate degree at King’s. Two additional waivers will be available in subsequent academic years.
Eligibility
- Applicants must have lived in care for a minimum of one year (cumulative or accumulated). Preference will be given to applicants who spent time in care with the Nova Scotia child welfare system—including Mi’kmaw Family and Children’s Services of Nova Scotia—as defined by the Children and Family Services Act, 2017; or who have been in receipt of services through the Department of Community Services, Youth Services Program, or the equivalent in another province or territory.
- Preference will be given to a student completing their first undergraduate degree.
- Applicant must be enrolled or confirmed in a program with tuition and associated fees in the upcoming academic year.
- Applicants must be able to demonstrate financial need.
- Applicants may not already be in receipt of equivalent financing for their education.
- Applicants must consent to a Release of Information for corroboration of their time in care.
How to apply
Current undergraduate students or incoming students who meet the eligibility criteria and have been accepted into an undergraduate program that begins in September can apply for the waiver through the application below. The application review process will begin on Monday August 23, 2021.
