Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the “Nicol”?

The Nicol Award is a national program designed to generate and reward interest in entrepreneurship on the part of undergraduate students in any faculty or field of study at participating universities across Canada.

2. Who can enter the competition?

The Nicol is open to full-time undergraduate students or teams of students in any faculty or field of study at any of the participating universities across Canada.

3. Which are the “participating universities” for 2011

The following fourteen universities are participating in the Nicol for 2011:

Acadia University University of Alberta Brock University Carleton University University of Guelph University of Manitoba University of Ottawa

University of Prince Edward Island St. Francis Xavier University University of Victoria University of Waterloo University of Western Ontario Wilfred Laurier University York University

4. Can I enter if I am not an undergraduate student at a participating university?

Unfortunately, no. There is currently no provision for individuals to enter the Nicol unless they are undergraduate students at a participating university.

If your school is not among the participants in this year’s competition, please be aware that we will be adding more schools across Canada to the competition next year.  If you are interested, and would like to explore having your school join the competition, please speak to your faculty advisor and encourage them to contact us.

5. When and where are the local competitions?

Each participating university arranges its own competition schedule. All local competitions must be finished by March 4, 2011.

6. When and where are the National Finals?

The national finals will be held in Ottawa on March 28 and 29, 2011.

7. Who gets to participate in the National Finals?

The winning team from each university is entered into the national competition. Six of these teams are selected to come to Ottawa for the Nicol Finals.

8. What prize money is offered by the Nicol?

At each university, prize money is awarded to the winning teams as follows:

• $5,000 to the first place team,
• $2,000 for second place, and
• $1,000 for third place.

There is no additional prize money awarded to the national finalists or the national winner.