Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, but only if you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. 

Independence is an important character trait possessed by Loran Scholars. As a way to develop this and to broaden their perspectives, Loran Scholars have been encouraged to study outside of their home region. Many have learned and grown a great deal from that experience, however we appreciate that there are other ways to develop independence.

 We are here to support scholars in choosing a path that will help them forge independence and gain new perspectives; university choice is only one element of that. Our staff work with each scholar to make the decision that is best for them.

Loran Awards are only tenable at participating universities in Canada, but Finalist and Provincial & Territorial Awards are tenable at any accredited public university in Canada.

None of our awards are tenable at private institutions.

Being a Loran Scholar comes with responsibilities. You are expected to maintain a minimum 3.3 GPA and demonstrate continued growth in community service and leadership through your undergraduate studies. Scholars live on campus in residence during their first year, and independently in their university community during their upper years. Participation in the mentorship and summer programs, and annual community gatherings is mandatory. Scholars must apply for award renewal annually.

For those entering university in 2024, the deadline for submission of all applications is October 11, 2023 (before 8:00PM Eastern Time).

We accept transcripts or unofficial marks summaries that are produced by either the school or the Ministry of Education. For Cegep students, we require school academic records that show the R score as well as grades. Generally, Cegep students can view and print these records from Omnivox. Report cards are not accepted.

You must request a reference letter from a teacher, a member of the community or someone else who is familiar with your activities. The reference writer may not be a family member or a friend.

After your application is finalized, your reference writer will receive a reference request email from info@loranscholar.ca. This email will contain a link allowing your reference writer to see your application and access the online reference form (250 words maximum).

Note: The reference letter must be complete by the application deadline (October 11, 2023, before 8:00PM Eastern Time). It can only be completed after you have finished your section of the application. Make sure you give your reference writer ample time to complete their portion of the application before the deadline. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure all elements of the application are submitted on time.

Please refer to our list of CEGEP representatives to locate the correct contact person at your institution.

We do not accept any late applications. Please note the deadline to apply for the 2024 Loran Award is October 11, 2023, before 8:00PM Eastern Time.

No. Reference forms must be completed before the application deadline.

If your reference writer is unable to complete their task before the deadline, you may ask another qualified individual to do so. You can change your reference contact information yourself on the application.

Once your application is fully submitted, you will receive a confirmation email. Afterwards, only applicants selected as semi-finalists are notified of the status of their application.

If selected as semi-finalists, candidates are invited to participate in online interviews via videoconference. These interviews are an opportunity for semi-finalists to connect with one another, meet the local leaders who serve as our interviewers, and gain valuable interview experience. Candidates selected for semi-final interviews will be contacted at least a week in advance of their interview date.

After semi-final interviews, our committees invite outstanding semi-finalists to participate in National Selections interviews which will be held from February 22-25, 2024. Our committees also grant Provincial & Territorial Awards and honour citations to semi-finalists who distinguish themselves at the semi-final regional level.

Note: Semi-final interviews are online. For students without Internet capability at home, we will work with them to secure a location where they can access the Internet. If we are unsuccessful, they will be interviewed by phone. National Selections are held in Toronto, and all costs associated with travel and accommodations are covered by Loran.

Please check out our Information for Schools page for detailed instructions.

In remote regions where internet connectivity may be an issue, arrangements can be made to submit a mailed or scanned application. Please contact us at 416-646-2120 for details. Note that prior arrangements must be made in order to submit an application this way.