First-generation students (the first in their family to attend or complete post-secondary) have their own funding category. Schools and foundations set aside money for first-gen students on purpose, so it is worth looking for.
Who this page is for
You're a Canadian student whose parents did not go to, or did not finish, post-secondary. Specifics vary by program. The Ontario First Generation Bursary counts you if your parents have never attended post-secondary studies anywhere in the world. The University of Calgary's First-Generation Scholars Award and Simon Fraser University's Joseph Lee Family Award count you if your parents never completed a post-secondary credential. The core status is the same: you're charting the path yourself, without a family member who's been through it recently.
The categories of first-gen funding
- Government first-gen bursary. The Ontario First Generation Bursary is for students with financial need at a publicly-assisted Ontario college or university, in a first-entry undergraduate program. It ranges from $1,000 to $3,500, and you apply through your school's own form, separately from OSAP.
- University first-gen awards. York University's Bennett First Generation Award, Simon Fraser University's Joseph Lee Family Award for First Generation Learners (at least $5,000 each), the University of Calgary's First-Generation Scholars Award, the University of Saskatchewan's Robert H. and Jean M. Taylor Family First Generation Award, Nipissing University's First Generation Bursary and Université Laval's first-generation bursaries are all on this page. If your school is not here, ask its awards office whether it has one.
- Community awards. The Community Foundation of Nova Scotia's First-in-Family Scholarship and the FCNSP First Generation Scholarship are on the list, and your local community foundation may run its own.
- Need-based student aid. OSAP, Canada Student Grants, StudentAid BC, and their provincial equivalents don't ask "are you first-gen?" but if your family has a lower income, you may be eligible for the grant part of student aid. Claim everything.
- Adversity awards. Horatio Alger Canada is not a first-generation award, but it is need-based: it awards up to $25,000 to Grade 11 students with financial need (family income under $80,000) who have persevered through adversity.
Application specifics
For first-gen scholarships, the personal essay is your chance to explain your context, not just your transcript. Three things to prepare:
- Your family's educational background in one sentence. Name names if appropriate ("My mother left school in Grade 10 to support her family, and my father apprenticed rather than attending post-secondary"). Honesty here is a strength.
- Your support network and what you had to do without. Who helped you navigate the application process? Who didn't know how to help? What gaps did you fill yourself? This shows how you found your own way.
- Your post-graduation intent. Some first-gen scholarships fund students who want to build financial stability for their family. You can be honest about wanting to help your family, for example wanting to be a doctor "because it pays well and I want to buy my parents a house."
Documentation
Most programs ask for:
- A statement from you confirming your status.
- Parents' highest education (sometimes a parental attestation).
- Transcripts + standard application materials.
- Two references (one academic; one from community, coach, employer, or mentor).
Keep scans of report cards + application materials organized; you'll submit many versions of the same package to different programs across the year.
What this list includes
We mark an award as first-generation when the award says it is for, or gives priority to, first-gen applicants. Some awards don't carry the tag but may still suit first-gen students (such as community foundation awards and Horatio Alger). For the wider landscape, use the "Read next" links, especially the "Unclaimed scholarships" guide.