BIPOC Exellence Scholarships

Established by the King’s Students’ Union in 2024, the BIPOC Excellence Scholarship program is intended to improve equity and financial accessibility at the University of King’s College. These need-based scholarships aid in textbook and/or other academic-related expenses for King’s students who self-identify as racialized and/or BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Person of Colour). Scholarships are awarded every fall.

Three of the BIPOC Excellence Scholarships are named after former King’s instructors: Hilary Ilkay, Parisa Zahiremami, and Nicole Go, as a way to recognize their impressive work and meaningful contributions to the King’s community. The other scholarships are rotational, and are set by the KSU Standing Committee on BIPOC Excellence each year.

Applicants may apply for more than one scholarship. Application information is below, and the deadline for submissions is September 29, 11:59pm.

The Hilary Ilkay Scholarship

Hilary Ilkay earned her BA in Classics from the University of King’s College and an MA in Liberal Studies and Gender and Sexuality Studies from The New School. She was a Senior Fellow in the Foundation Year Program (FYP) and an instructor in the Early Modern Studies Program (EMSP). From her enriching FYP lectures on Sappho, Tullia d’Aragona and Simone de Beauvoir, to providing insightful reflections in her EMSP class on the republic of women, Hilary has shown true dedication to recovering the lives of historical women and advocating for the inclusion of female-authored texts in the University curricula. 

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Must be enrolled as a King’s student for the 2026 Fall semester

  • Must self-identify as racialized and/or BIPOC

  • Optional: Applicants are encouraged to reflect on how their work may connect to Hilary’s work at King’s and/or her research interests. 

The Parisa Zahiremami Scholarship

Dr. Parisa Zahiremami holds a BA in Persian Literature from Shiraz University and received both her MA in Persian literature and history and Ph.D. in Persian literature and Islamic mysticism from the University of Toronto. She served as FYP Faculty Fellow and was an instructor in EMSP. Parisa’s extensive research background in the Persianate and Islamic world was reflected in her FYP lectures on Zoroastrianism and the Quran, bringing a new, yet profoundly valuable cross-cultural understanding of the existing FYP curriculum.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Must be enrolled as a King’s student for the 2026 Fall semester

  • Must self-identify as racialized and/or BIPOC

  • Optional: Applicants are encouraged to reflect on how their work may connect to Parisa’s work at King’s. and/or her research interests.

The Nicole Go Scholarship

Nicole Go received her BA (Hons.) and MA in East Asian Studies from the University of Toronto and is currently a Ph.D candidate at McMaster University. She also held a Nippon Foundation Fellowship at Stanford’s Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies. As both a FYP Faculty Fellow and EMSP instructor, Nicole approached both programs with great character of the mind and heart. She had genuine compassion for her students, encouraged student-led tutorials, and provided students with the tools to become thoughtful and powerful communicators.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Must be enrolled as a King’s student for the 2026 Fall semester

  • Must self-identify as racialized and/or BIPOC

  • Optional: Applicants are encouraged to reflect on how their work may connect to Nicole’s work at King’s and/or her research interests.

International Student Scholarship

In light of government cuts to international students and international student supports, this scholarship is designed to aid in minimizing finalcial stress for international students.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Must be enrolled as a King’s student for the 2026 Fall semester

  • Must be an international student

  • Optional: Applicants are encouraged to reflect on how their identity relates to or influences their studies, future, goals, and academic journey so far.

Diaspora Student Scholarship

This scholarship is intended for students that are diaspora members of communites facing genocide. Priority will be given to students of Palestinian, Congolese, Sudanese and Tigrayan origin.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Must be enrolled as a King’s student for the 2026 Fall semester

  • Must self-identify as a diaspora member of a community facing genocide.

  • Optional: Applicants are encouraged to reflect on how their identity relates to or influences their studies, future, goals, and academic journey so far.

How To Apply

Use this link to the application form: 2026 KSU BIPOC Excellence Scholarships

Fill out all three fields:

1) Personal Information

2) Academic Background

3) Application information

Submit your application form by September 29, 2026 at 11:59 pm.

If you have any questions, please contact External Vice President, Iman Mannathukkaren at externalvp@ksu.ca