Apply for Scholarships & Bursaries
Some of the largest and most prestigious funding opportunities available to Acadia Divinity College students require an application.
These may include awards administered by Acadia Divinity College, Acadia University, or external organizations, each with its own eligibility criteria, deadlines, and application process.
Some of these opportunities can provide significant support, including full tuition funding. Students are encouraged to review these options carefully and apply for any awards for which they may be eligible.
These funds are awarded in addition to your guaranteed support or other scholarships you will be automatically considered for.
Listed fund values are based on previous year amounts. Actual award amounts will vary based on annual fund availability.
“Receiving this scholarship was a huge blessing … when I got the email telling me I was chosen to be the recipient, it took a while to sink in. This Scholarship was not only a relief but a great encouragement.”
-Matthew Sketchley (’26)
Scholarships & Bursaries
David and Faye
Huestis Scholarships
Studying in a ministry field
- Established by David and Faye Huestis of Saint John, New Brunswick
- Six scholarships to support students studying in a range of ministry fields
- Among the most prestigious awards offered by Acadia Divinity College
Applications are typically due in March. Individual selection criteria and specific deadlines are outlined for each award on the application page.
Value
$6,000-$9,000
John Gladstone Bursary
Preparing for Baptist ministry
- Established by the W. Garfield Weston Foundation in recognition of the ministry of Dr. John Gladstone and his outstanding achievements at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, Toronto, ON.
- For a student in need of financial support who is preparing for Baptist ministry and has completed at least 30 credit hours in any program at Acadia Divinity College.
Applications are typically due in March.
Selection criteria and specific deadlines are outlined on the application page.
Value
$6,000-$10,000
Needs-Based Bursaries
One Application. 60+ Bursary Funds
- designed to provide additional financial support to students facing financial barriers to theological education
- One application gives you consideration for funding from more than 60 bursary funds, many established by generous donors to support students with specific backgrounds, experiences, or ministry goals.
- Students need only to apply once per academic year. See the application page for specific application deadlines for each academic term.
These bursaries may provide additional support for women, African Nova Scotians, international students, students enrolled in particular programs, or those from specific geographic regions, among many other criteria.
Value
Up to an additional $15 per credit hour
External Awards
There are many scholarships and bursaries available from external sources that can help finance your education. Below is a list to financial assistance made available from partner groups.
- Applications must be made directly to each organization
- Financial aid is sometimes available from individual churches and associations – ask your home church and association for information regarding possible sources.
Acadia University is also committed to helping you find and apply for scholarships and awards by generous donors. For more information, please visit Acadia University’s Financial Aid Website.
Preparing Future Pastors Fund
Any student of Acadia Divinity College who has been accepted by the Board of Ministerial Standards and Education of the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada as a candidate for ordained ministry, is in the process of completing his or her educational requirements at ADC (full-time or part-time), and who has demonstrated capacity for ministerial leadership, shall be eligible to apply and receive consideration for financial assistance from the Preparing Future Pastors Fund of the CBAC.
Additional External Awards
The African United Baptist Association grants an annual bursary of up to $1,000 to students who are members of churches associated with the African United Baptist Association and are enrolled in a course of study at Acadia Divinity College leading to ordination in a member church of the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada. Applications must be made annually to the Licensing Committee prior to July 15.
Income from a trust fund established by the United Baptist Woman’s Missionary Union, now Atlantic Baptist Women (ABW), in 1923‑28 and 1952-57. To provide financial assistance in the amount up to $4,000 annually. Additional funds are raised through an offering taken at the annual gathering of ABW. Bursaries are offered to new and returning Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada (CBAC) women students who are enrolled in a degree program at Acadia Divinity College (ADC). The bursaries are awarded by Atlantic Baptist Women through their Candidate Committee in consultation with ADC. The deadline to apply is August 28, 2026.
Any student of Acadia Divinity College who has been accepted by the Board of Ministerial Standards and Education of the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada as a candidate for ordained ministry, is in the process of completing his or her educational requirements at ADC (full-time or part-time), and who has demonstrated capacity for ministerial leadership, shall be eligible to apply and receive consideration for financial assistance from the Preparing Future Pastors Fund of the CBAC.
The Get Together Club of Brunswick Street Baptist Church of Fredericton, New Brunswick, provides an annual scholarship of $500 to honour the memory of Rev. Richard E. Burpee, Canada’s first Protestant Missionary, who was a member of Brunswick Street Church. This scholarship is awarded to a student who is a Missionary Candidate or who is a child of a missionary. Applications, giving pertinent data relating to the background and career plans of the applicant, must be sent by July 31 to: Get Together Club, Brunswick Street Baptist Church, The Richard Burpee Memorial Scholarship, 225 Massey Street, Fredericton, New Brunswick, E3B 2Z5.
The Addie Davis Scholarships provide financial support for Baptist women enrolled in seminary to pursue a calling to ministry and leadership. The scholarship is named in honor of Rev. Addie Davis, the first woman ordained to pastoral ministry by a Southern Baptist Church in 1964.
To be eligible for the scholarship, you must:
- Be female with membership in a Baptist church (affiliation with any Baptist denominational organization/group is acceptable).
- Be enrolled full-time in a Master’s-level program (MDiv, MA, MTS, etc.) or Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program at an ATS accredited seminary or divinity school. Applicants who graduate prior to the fall 2025 academic term will not be eligible. Enrollment at a Baptist-affiliated school is not required.
- Articulate and provide evidence of a sense of calling to ministry and leadership among Baptist communities.
An annual scholarship of $1,000 is available to a deserving young man who was brought up in Kings County, New Brunswick and who is studying to be a Baptist minister. Application for the scholarship should be made to Ruth Keith Bursary, First National Bank and Trust Newtown, 34 South Slate St., Newtown, Pennsylvania, 18940.
The Lunenburg-Queens United Baptist Association grants an annual bursary of $250 to a student who is a member of a church within that Association who is enrolled in a degree program at a recognized theological institution and who is preparing for the Christian Ministry. Application forms are available from the Association Clerk or Acadia Divinity College.
The Northwestern Association Scholarship supports students from Northwestern Association Baptist Churches, New Brunswick, who are studying at Acadia Divinity College or Crandall University. Applications are available in January each year at www.northwesternassociation.com, and are due by March 1st of each year.
Canadian Baptist Ministries, in conjunction with our denominational seminaries, is pleased to offer the Global Discipleship scholarship – Praxis. This scholarship program is available upon application to a select group of Canadian Baptist Ministries-affiliated students enrolled within an accredited theological school and pursuing a graduate seminary studies at a master’s or doctoral level.
The scholarship, estimated at $5,000, provides the opportunity for accepted participants to engage in missiological reflection on a significant issue related to Gospel and Culture in a global context. Each year, Praxis engages in a cross-cultural mission experience within a cohort learning environment for four to six participants. Past scholarship trips included Kenya, Lebanon, Bolivia, India, and Cuba.
A bursary in the amount of $800 (if only one application) or $500 each (if two students apply) is available for first-year studies at Acadia Divinity College. The applicant must be either an active member or active adherent of a church in the Shelburne United Baptist Association. Please apply in writing to: The Clerk of the Shelburne United Baptist Association, 1468 Highway #330, RR#1 Clark’s Harbour, Nova Scotia B0W 1P0.
The Douglas A. Wilson Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually, on recommendation from the Acadia Divinity College, to a needy full-time student in a master’s program in a theological discipline who shows character, promise of leadership, a Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.5, and the desire to pursue a vocation in Christian ministry. Applications will be emailed to all master’s level students each fall and can sent to Acadia Divinity College. Information will be in the email sent out each fall.
Wilkinson Trust Fund fund helps PEI students who intend to use their studies for the ministry. This fund is administered by the PEI Baptist Association. To download the application, please Click Here.
The African United Baptist Association grants an annual bursary of up to $1,000 to students who are members of churches associated with the African United Baptist Association and are enrolled in a course of study at Acadia Divinity College leading to ordination in a member church of the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada. Applications must be made annually to the Licensing Committee prior to July 15.
NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS
Acadia Divinity College admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
DIVERSITY STATEMENT
Acadia Divinity College embodies the historical Christian legacy of Acadia University, an academy founded on a faithful pursuit of truth and inclusivity. Under the Lordship of Christ, our Baptist roots encourage us to live in light of the Scriptures, to recognize religious freedom and soul competency, as well as to engage the community as a place where the people of God together discern the mind of Christ. Acadia Divinity College thus bears witness to the diversity of a good creation, God’s presence in all places, and recognizes the dignity of God’s image in everyone.
Acadia Divinity College welcomes and embraces the whole people of God, inclusive of differences in race, ethnicity, age, gender, and levels of ability. We value interconnectedness and interdependence as it relates to the Church’s mission, and we equip students with the theological education required to minister in a global and diverse world. We welcome a wide range of perspectives and teach a range of scholarly views that represent varied contexts, with practices that are equitable and inclusive for our diverse student community. We take measures to recruit and support the training of leaders from diverse groups and seek to reflect diversity in appointments to staff, faculty, and the Board of Trustees.