Golden Key International Honour Society

Golden Key is the largest collegiate honour society in the world. Membership into the Society is by invitation only, extended to the top 15% of university students in second to fourth year and top-performing graduate students in all fields of study, based solely on the objective criteria of their academic achievements.

The mission is to enable members to realize their potential through the advancement of academics, leadership, and service. Golden Key exists to unlock and enliven excellence within its members and to assist achieving students to fulfil their personal, professional, and altruistic goals.

Golden Key has over 400 chapters at universities and colleges in Australia, Canada, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Africa, The Bahamas, and the United States of America. It is a non-profit organization under Section 501C(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. Listed below are universities in Canada which already have operating chapters. History

Originally established as Golden Key National Honour Society, the name was later changed to reflect an international presence. Just as the name evolved, so did the Society. Since 1977, the organization has recognized more than 10 million undergraduate and graduate students and awarded more than $8 million in scholarships and grants. With over 390 chapters in eight countries, Golden Key continues to grow while helping its members realize their potential.

To be a member of the Golden Key Society, students must be invited by their institution to join. Once they are members, they do not need to qualify again in the future. If their GPA drops in future sessions, it does not affect their membership in any way. They are a member for life. In order to qualify, students must meet the following criteria:

• be in the top 15% of second- to fourth-year undergraduate students or be a top-performing graduate student, and
• be currently registered in full- or part-time studies in any field of study.

Students are identified by the University according to the established criteria. Thereafter, a letter of invitation is sent to each qualifying student. In their package, students will be given the information on how to join the Society. The student's invitation is valid for one year, and the student can join at any point during that year. Upon registering and paying the $90 membership fee, the student will receive confirmation.

The one-time membership fee, which is a lifetime membership, is $90 per student, of which $12 is sent to the respective chapter.

The Society offers members valuable opportunities for individual growth through leadership, career development, networking, and community service. In addition, over $1,000,000 in awards and scholarships is available to members annually. Members also have access to graduate school and study abroad search engines, as well as other unique product discounts.

Academics

As academics, members are recognized for being in the top 15% of their class, and these academic achievements are celebrated throughout their membership in the Society.

Graduate School Opportunities

Graduate school is a natural next step for many Golden Key members as they continue their studies, pursuing more advanced degrees before making their mark on the world or returning later in life to pursue an academic goal. Golden Key celebrates this dedication to education, offering unique access to graduate schools and over $300,000 in graduate-school scholarships each year. Canadian members have won a high percentage of the $10,000 graduate scholar awards for graduate school. 

Jobs and Internships

Golden Key believes in connecting its members with opportunities for a hands-on, experiential learning. Members have lifelong access to the Society’s jobs and internships listings and a network of like-minded alumni in their fields. The Princeton Review internship is open to Canadian students.

Leadership

Realizing the members’ commitment to making a difference in their communities and the world at large, Golden Key offers its members a number of ways to enhance and practice their leadership skills, including workshops and seminars, regional and international summits, and officer positions.

Networking

Members are automatically connected to an ever-expanding community of individuals with a network of opportunities. This includes relationship-building at the chapter level and at regional and international summits, as well as through online connections with members, advisors, and alumni around the world. There are 330 alumni who listed Manitoba as their permanent address when they joined, and, of these, 163 currently designate Winnipeg as their place of residence. Alumni whose names appear on the Manitoba list joined Golden Key at various university chapters, among them McGill University, University of Saskatchewan, Brandon University, Ryerson University, University of Toronto, Dalhousie University, University of Alberta, and others. To date, there are over 94,000 current and alumni Golden Key members from Canadian universities.

Scholarships, Awards and Grants

Golden Key believes in rewarding members for their academic accomplishments, as well as leadership and service efforts. More than $1,000,000 in member-only scholarships, awards, and grants are awarded each year to pursue specific fields of study and research. Most of the scholarships are open to all students, with a few exceptions, particularly regional scholarships. There are also Canadian regional scholarships, as well as four scholarship categories that are exclusively open to Canadians. In addition to the international scholarships, $25,000 is awarded to Canadian members each year. Canadian members have a long history of winning many of the Golden Key international awards, including a high percentage of the $10,000 graduate scholar awards for graduate school.

Study Abroad Programs

Golden Key makes it easy for its members to study abroad by offering financial assistance and unique opportunities for travel and cultural immersion while earning degree credits.

Continuing Membership

After graduation, Golden Key alumni members are eligible for other select member discounts and promotions after graduation. They are also invited to attend alumni events and receptions during regional and international summits.