SD42 Indigenous Education

Indigenous Education
20905 Wicklund Avenue, Maple Ridge, BC
T. 604.466.6265

Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards for Indigenous Students

There are numerous Indigenous scholarships, bursaries and awards for students with Indigenous ancestry. See the list of resources below.

Indspire Bursaries and Scholarships for Post-Secondary Education

Bursaries and scholarships for full and part time studies in college, university, skilled trades, apprenticeships, and technology programs.

There is one application for all of Indspire’s bursaries and scholarships (with a few exceptions). You only need to complete the application once to be considered for all applicable bursaries and scholarships.

Application Deadlines for 2024/25 academic year: August 1, November 1, February 1

Go to Indspire Bursaries and Scholarships information and application page.

Go to a full list of all Indspire bursaries and scholarships. Click on each individual bursary or scholarship to view details.

New Relationship Trust Student Scholarships and Bursaries

Scholarships and Bursaries – First Nation (status or non-status) member of a B.C. First Nation Community and planning to attend university, college, skilled trades, and technology programs full-time at an accredited post-secondary institution anywhere in the world.

Nursing Scholarships and Bursaries – First Nations (status or non-status), Métis, or Inuit and planning to attend or attending an accredited Nursing program at a post-secondary institution on a full-time basis within British Columbia.

Application Deadlines: TBA

Go to New Relationship Trust Student Scholarships and Bursaries information and application page.

RBC Future Launch Scholarship for Indigenous Youth

The RBC Future Launch Scholarship for Indigenous Youth awards 20 scholarships annually valued up to $10,000 each per year (up to 4 years) to First Nations, Inuit and Métis students across Canada demonstrating strong academic performance and community involvement.

RBC has been providing a scholarship for Indigenous students to complete post-secondary education since 1992. To date, more than $2 million dollars have been awarded to 258 Indigenous youth across Canada pursuing post-secondary education.

Application Deadline:  February 5, 2025

Go to RBC Future Launch Scholarship for Indigenous Youth information and application page.

BC Scholarship Society Indigenous Scholarships and Awards

The Society offers Indigenous Award programs for students pursuing post-secondary education in BC. They are available to students who identify as Indigenous – First Nations (Status or Non-Status), Métis or Inuit. All are renewable in order to provide sustained funding over multiple years.

Indigenous Student Awards: $1000-$5000 (renewable annually) for students pursuing trades training, apprenticeship, diploma, certificates, degree or post-degree programs.

Application deadline: TBA

Go to BC Scholarship Society Indigenous Scholarships and Awards information and application page.

Indigenous Bursaries Search Tool

The Government of Canada Indigenous bursaries search tool is a searchable list of over 500 bursaries, scholarships and incentives aimed at Indigenous students across Canada.

Click on the name of the bursary to view more information about the award including a description, value, institution, deadline (if applicable) and contact information. You can filter the bursaries using the drop down menus.

Applications ongoing

Go to the full Canada-wide list.

Go to the British Columbia-filtered list.

SFU Indigenous Undergraduate Student Entrance Award

This award is based on demonstrated involvement within the Indigenous community through service and/or cultural contribution. Recipients would demonstrate this through their commitment to engagement, leadership and social justice within their community, and would be selected based on their ability to demonstrate how their current and future experience(s) are inclusive of the 4Rs: Respect, Relevance, Reciprocity, and Responsibility.

Minimum academic requirements: Grades in the 80% range in the courses required for their primary program (or the minimum IB Diploma score required for admission) OR minimum 2.50 CGPA.

Application Deadline:  March 31, 2025

Go to SFU Indigenous Undergraduate Student Entrance Award information and application page.

UBC Centennial Scholars Entrance Award

The UBC Centennial Scholars Entrance Award program assists students in transition from secondary school and other post-secondary institutions to UBC. The purpose of this program is to support academically qualified students who show an interest in joining the UBC community, but who would not otherwise be able to attend without significant financial assistance. Through the program, new students can access a variety of one-time and renewable awards of up to $80,000.

Indigenous students who apply before the deadline will be considered for both general and Indigenous-specific Centennial Scholars Entrance Awards. Please note that students should indicate that they are Indigenous in the Description of Circumstance section of the application.

Application Deadline: December 15, 2024

Go to the UBC Centennial Scholars Entrance Award information and application page.

For more information on Indigenous student awards at UBC go to the Indigenous Student Awards page.

UVic Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards for Indigenous Students

UVic offers a large number of bursaries and entrance scholarships that are open to First Nations status/non-status, Inuit or Métis students.

Application Deadline for Entrance Scholarships: February 15 – April 30

Application Deadline for Bursaries: Varies

Go to the UVic Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards for Indigenous Students page.

BC Hydro Indigenous Scholarships and Bursaries

BC Hydro scholarships and bursaries are available to Indigenous students from B.C. First Nations or Indigenous permanent residents of B.C. who are studying at an accredited post-secondary institution in a program that matches a career at BC Hydro.

Application Deadline: TBA

Go to BC Hydro Indigenous Scholarships and Bursaries information and application page.

Ken Michel Memorial Scholarship for Carpentry

This scholarship is for Indigenous students from BC who are interested in studying Carpentry at the post-secondary level. The award is looking for students with volunteer work in the community and with secondary school grades in the 75% or higher range.

This scholarship acknowledges both strong work ethic and the desire to work towards the betterment of the community as a whole.  In loving memory of a man whose skill in the carpentry trade and the love of his people helped build the foundations of honour, pride, and strength in his community.

Application deadline: TBA

Go to Ken Michel Memorial Scholarship for Carpentry information and application page.

Other Scholarship Websites to Check Out

There are a wide variety of scholarships and bursaries available to secondary school students who are moving onto post-secondary education. Your school counsellors and/or Career Life teachers will provide you with scholarship information during your grade 11 and 12 years. Pay attention to scholarship/bursary application deadlines. Some deadlines come very early in your grade 12 year!

Here are some general scholarship websites to check out: