About the Award
The Nicholas and Janice Brathwaite Award was established by The PETNA Foundation to support students from the Caribbean (please see list of eligible countries below) in pursuing an undergraduate degree at McMaster University. Awards can be made to students entering any Level I program as a full-time student and are tenable for up to four years (with special consideration for students undertaking a five-year undergraduate program). Brathwaite Awards cover all educational expenses, deposits, tuition, housing, food, books and other education-related supplies.
In the event that students are unable to study in person at McMaster and must remain in their home country taking all courses online, a different funding model will apply and may exclude funding for travel, accommodation and food, based on individual circumstances. In this eventuality, funding will need to be discussed and agreed between PETNA and McMaster prior to confirmation of the Award.
To retain their award, recipients must remain registered as full-time students and meet the minimum course load requirement as outlined in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Expandable List
If you are interested in applying for the Award, we encourage you to review our website for information on eligibility and the applications procedure.
- The application portal will open on September 20, 2025 through the following link https://www.petna-foundation.org/scholarship-application-2025.
- By no later than November 1, 2025, all applicants must upload the following to the application portal:
- Complete copy of their high school transcript. Please note that there is often a delay in obtaining official transcripts – candidates should make these requests as soon as possible, as applications cannot be considered if transcripts have not been submitted.
- CAPE/CSEC/CXC certifications and/or college transcript.
- Statement of financial need: The Nicholas and Janice Brathwaite Award is intended to assist students and families who would not otherwise be in a position to study abroad. Accordingly:
- Please outline your personal and family financial circumstances, including any extenuating circumstances, and indicate what sort of impact this scholarship would have on your own educational plans?
- Please specify current family income and number of household members.
- Please list other grants, scholarships, and other awards for which you have or are planning to apply, including CDN dollar value and costs covered.
- Please estimate the total amount in CDN dollars of your educational costs at McMaster University that you and your family would anticipate being able to cover, if any.
- Maximum two-page essay, as follows:
- Volunteer experience, community engagement, and leadership: What are you most proud of accomplishing outside of academics? How have you served the community and what have you achieved as a volunteer, as a community member, and as a leader? What types of changes would you like to make in the world? If you could start a non-profit or charity, what would you support?
- Career and life goals: What do you want your life to look like in 10 years?
- Candidates must also apply to McMaster University through the Ontario University Application Centre, using the OUAC application no later than January 15th, 2026.
- Candidates must receive an offer of admission from McMaster University to be named the recipient of the Nicholas and Janice Brathwaite Award.
- Applicants are responsible for meeting all subsequent deposit due dates, with information on deadlines being provided directly by McMaster University.
The PETNA Foundation was established by Nicholas and Janice Brathwaite to improve the lives of individuals and communities through education and community development. The Foundation is committed to extending a helping hand to talented young people who would otherwise be unable to pursue their education; to assisting families and communities who would otherwise suffer continuing hardship; and to doing so with a view to long-term self-sufficiency and lasting benefit. For more information, please refer to the PETNA Foundation website here.
Eligible Caribbean Countries (CARICOM)
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Jamaica
- Montserrat
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Suriname
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Anguilla
- Bermuda
- BVI
- Cayman Islands
- Turks and Caicos
- Martinique