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Aspire & Achieve Terms & Conditions

Please read through the Scholarship Program Terms and Conditions carefully to ensure full comprehension and understanding of eligibility.

1. Program Overview

Zafin (“Zafin”, “we”, “our”, or “us”) administers the Aspire & Achieve Scholarship Program (“Scholarship Program” or “Program”) to support meritorious students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Participation in the Program is voluntary. By submitting an application, you (“Applicant”, “you”, or “your”) acknowledge and agree to comply with these Terms and Conditions (“Terms”).

2. Scholarship Categories

The Scholarship Program awards a total of eight (8) merit-based scholarships each year. Four (4) scholarships are open to all eligible applicants, while the remaining four (4) are reserved specifically for Women in STEM candidates to support greater representation in these fields. All applicants must meet the same core eligibility requirements, and individuals may apply to only ONE scholarship category based on the core eligibility criteria.

3. Eligibility Criteria

  • Applicant must hold citizenship, permanent residency, or a valid student visa or other applicable permit lawfully issued by Canada or India.
  • Candidate must be at least 18 years of age at the time of application, supported by government-issued documentation.
  • Applicants must be enrolled in a recognized and accredited academic institution authorized to operate under applicable national, state, or provincial laws and be pursuing a Master’s (1st or 2nd year) or Bachelors program (3rd or 4th year) in Engineering.
    • Eligible Engineering majors include Computer engineering, Computer science, Computer Application, Data Analytics/science, Electrical & Computer engineering, Software engineering, Software development, Artificial Intelligence, Automation, Cybersecurity, Information Science/Technology, Network Engineering/Security, Block Chain, Machine Learning, Technology Science
  • Demonstrate strong academic performance and be in good standing with their college or university, maintaining a minimum GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale or 4.0 on a 5.0 scale, or its equivalent at the time of application.
  • Demonstrate a commitment to community service, volunteer work, or leadership in their community, university, college, or extracurricular activities.
  • Preference will be given to those candidates who exhibit a strong dedication to promoting a culture of Diversity & Inclusion through their activities, leadership, and passion for their chosen STEM program.

Zafin may request additional documentation to validate eligibility or identity and may contact academic institutions or referees to confirm information provided.

Zafin may disqualify applicants where eligibility cannot be verified to its satisfaction.

3.1 Ineligibility

Employees of Zafin and its subsidiaries, and any dependents of any of the foregoing are not eligible for the Scholarships. For greater certainty, “dependents” shall be defined herein as a person whose parent or legal guardian is an employee of Zafin or any of its subsidiaries.

4. Application Requirements

Submit the following in English:

  1. The online application form using the application submission portal link.
  2. A resume/CV that emphasizes relevant experience, extracurricular activities, and community engagement.
  3. Applicants must provide two short essays demonstrating personal growth narrative: (1) describing their motivation for applying, how the scholarship will impact their academic and professional growth, and how they plan to create positive change; and (2) outlining examples of leadership or innovation in emerging technologies and how they intend to build on these experiences in the future.
  4. Applicants must provide official transcripts from all post-secondary educational institutions previously attended.
  5.  At least one letter of recommendation from professors, employers, or community leaders.
  6. Proof of enrolment or acceptance into a qualifying program.

4.1 Verification Rights

All application materials must be truthful, original, and submitted by the Applicant.

By applying, you consent to Zafin verifying the information provided, including through contact with institutions, referees, or employers at any stage of the process for the purpose of administering and evaluating your eligibility for the Program and as described in these Terms and the Candidate Privacy notice. Submission of false, misleading, or incomplete information may result in immediate disqualification, withdrawal of scholarship benefits, and potential reporting to relevant authorities.

Zafin may reject incomplete applications or those submitted after the deadline, without obligation to provide notice or explanation.

4.2 Single Application

Each applicant is permitted to submit only one application. Multiple submissions or attempts to duplicate applications will result in disqualification.

4.3 Application Review Process

Completed applications must be submitted by February 15, 2026.

All submissions must be made online via the application submission portal link.

Zafin’s panel of reviewers will evaluate all applicant profiles. Applicants who are shortlisted for further rounds may participate first in regional-level interviews and, if further shortlisted, in final round of global interviews, after which, the winners will be determined.

5. Scholarship Awards & Conditions

5.1 Disbursement Conditions

  1. Proof of citizenship or visa, as applicable, and
  2. Government-issued proof of identity must be submitted upon request, and
  3. Proof of Eligibility as described in Section 3
  4. Any additional documents required to verify eligibility
  5. The recipient completes and signs the mandatory Declaration of Compliance and Liability Release

Scholarship funds shall be disbursed only upon successful and timely submission of all required documentation and its verification.

5.2 Disbursement-Related Suspension or Withholding

Zafin may withhold, suspend, or cancel disbursement if:

  • The recipient’s academic status, enrolment, conduct, or legal eligibility changes
  • The recipient fails to meet performance requirements (e.g., minimum grades)
  • Required documentation is not provided by the candidate within the specified period

Zafin will have no obligation to provide detailed reasons for withholding or cancelling disbursement.

5.3 No Employment or Contractual Relationship

Receipt of the scholarship does not create an employment, contractual, or agency relationship between the recipient and Zafin.

Internship opportunities are not guaranteed and, if offered, are subject to separate terms and a background verification process aligned with applicable laws and any additional privacy disclosures provided at that time.

5.4 Travel, Accommodation & Expenses

Any travel and accommodation costs associated with Program participation are solely the responsibility of the Applicant or recipient. Zafin assumes no liability for any expenses, loss, injury, or damages incurred during travel or participation.

5.5 Right to Modify or Cancel

Zafin may modify, suspend, or terminate the Program at any time, in whole or in part, without prior notice, including changes to eligibility, timelines, requirements, or award value.

Zafin bears no liability for any loss or damages arising from such modification or cancellation.

5.6 Consent, Publicity, and Intellectual Property

If you are selected as a scholarship recipient, Zafin may invite you to provide a separate, explicit consent for the use of your name, likeness, academic profile, photographs, and testimonial statements for Program-related publicity, marketing, research, and reporting purposes in Canada, India, and globally, without further compensation, unless prohibited by law. Such publicity use is voluntary and not required for eligibility or receipt of the Scholarship.

You may withdraw consent for publicity use at any time by contacting Zafin as described in the Candidate Privacy Notice. Withdrawal of consent will not affect prior lawful uses.

All intellectual property contained in your essay submissions remains with you, the Applicant. However, you grant Zafin a non-exclusive, royalty-free right to use excerpts for internal evaluation or anonymized reporting and for inclusion in aggregate, de-identified analytics relating to the Program.

6. Conduct, Integrity, and Grounds for Disqualification or Withdrawal

Zafin may disqualify applicants or withdraw a scholarship if:

  • Any form of misrepresentation, academic dishonesty, identity fraud, or plagiarism is detected
  • False, fraudulent, inaccurate, or unverifiable information is discovered in the application or supporting materials
  • Behaviour inconsistent with academic integrity, professional ethics, or Zafin’s values becomes known
  • Legal or disciplinary action is initiated against the Applicant by any institution or authority
  • The Applicant or recipient fails to provide required information or documentation needed to verify eligibility or compliance with these Terms.

Zafin’s decisions regarding disqualification or withdrawal are final, binding, and not subject to appeal, except where prohibited by law.

7. Privacy & Data Protection

Please direct any questions orBy applying, you consent to Zafin’s use of your personal data and submitted materials for the purpose of administering, evaluating, and reporting on the Scholarship Program, as described in these Terms and in the Candidate Privacy Notice.

Submission of application materials grants Zafin a limited, non-exclusive license to review, store, and process the materials solely for evaluation and administrative purposes consistent with applicable privacy laws, including but not limited to:

  • Canada: PIPEDA, provincial privacy acts
  • India: Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP Act) and DPDP Rules 2025

Zafin will process personal data in accordance with these laws and the Zafin Candidate Privacy Notice, which describes in more detail the categories of personal data collected, the purposes of processing, retention periods, and your rights. By submitting an application, you acknowledge that you have had an opportunity to review the Candidate Privacy Notice.

7.1 By submitting an application, you consent to:

  • Storage of your data on Zafin’s secure systems (including systems operated by affiliates or third-party processors)
  • Cross-border transfer of your information between Canada and India, and other jurisdictions where Zafin operates, subject to appropriate safeguards
  • Retention of your application records for legal, audit, or administrative purposes for the duration of the Scholarship selection and administration process and for such additional period as is required or permitted under applicable law, after which your data will be deleted or anonymized.

Zafin implements reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your data but does not guarantee absolute data security. Subject to applicable law, you may have rights to access, correct, or request deletion of certain personal data, or to withdraw consent for specific processing activities, by contacting Zafin as set out in the Candidate Privacy Notice.

8. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law:

  • Zafin, its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and agents shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages arising out of or related to the Scholarship Program.
  • Zafin makes no representation regarding the availability, continuity, or outcomes of the Program.
  • Participation is entirely at the Applicant’s own risk.

9. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

These Terms shall be governed by:

  • For Canadian applicants: The laws of the Province of Ontario and federal laws of Canada.
  • For Indian applicants: The laws of the Republic of India.


Any dispute shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be resolved through binding arbitration:

  • For Canadian applicants: seated in Toronto, Ontario
  • For Indian applicants: seated in Chennai or Thiruvananthapuram, India

Arbitration shall be conducted under the applicable institutional rules. Applicants waive any right to participate in class or collective proceedings, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. Nothing in this Section limits any mandatory right you may have to bring complaints to, or seek assistance from, a regulator or data protection authority.

10. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be severed without affecting the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions.

11. Acceptance of Terms

By submitting an application, the Applicant acknowledges:

  • They have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms and the Candidate Privacy Notice
  • All information submitted is accurate and truthful
  • Zafin’s decisions regarding the Program are final and binding
  • They consent to the processing of personal data as described in these Terms and the Candidate Privacy Notice
  •  Before being awarded a Scholarship, recipients will be required to sign a Declaration of Compliance and Liability Release
  • Zafin may also request that recipients consider a separate, optional, Publicity and Media Consent Form. Consent to publicity is entirely voluntary and is not a condition of eligibility for, or receipt of, the Scholarship
  • They understand that Zafin may modify the Program at any time in accordance with Section 5.5

12. Inquiries

Please direct any questions or concerns regarding this disclaimer or the scholarship to [email protected].

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