SSB Post-Secondary ToolKit → → Canadian Athletic Scholarship Basics
How U Sports Scholarships Work
Athletic Financial Awards (AFAs)
- U Sports schools do not offer “full-ride” athletic scholarships like many U.S. programs.
- Instead, athletes may receive Athletic Financial Awards (AFAs), which:
- Typically help cover tuition
- Are partial, not full
- Are renewable year-to-year based on:
- Academic standing
- Team contribution
- Conduct and eligibility
The amount and structure of AFAs depend on:
- Conference regulations
- Individual university funding
- How a coach allocates their scholarship pool
Conference Differences in Canada
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OUA (Ontario University Athletics)
- There are no standalone “athletic scholarships.”
- Financial support is usually a combination of:
- Academic entrance scholarships
- Athletic recognition awards tied to academic eligibility
- Many athletes still receive funding
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Lucas plays for Queen’s, a member of the OUA Conference
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Canada West
- Schools are permitted to offer athletic scholarships for tuition.
- Basketball programs typically have up to 8 athletic scholarships available.
- These scholarships are:
- Rarely given as full tuition to one player
- Often divided among multiple athletes
- Strategically distributed by coaches based on roster needs
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Jackson plays for UVIC, a member of the Canada West Conference