CAE · National
CAE Award
About this award
Apply by August 1, November 1, or February 1 for an annual bursary for Indigenous students in Canada with financial need, especially those in STEAM or aviation. Apply through Indspire's central Building Brighter Futures program — one application covers all sponsor pools.
The provider does not post a fixed dollar amount — contact CAE to confirm the value for your specific award before you apply. As a bursary, this money is yours to keep and you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you are an Indigenous student who needs extra financial help to cover your education costs. You have three deadlines to choose from: August 1, November 1, and February 1. No notification timeline is posted publicly — before you start the application, check CAE's program page or call their office to confirm when you will hear back. Selection criteria aren't published — ask CAE how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask CAE during your application how the money will reach you — some awards pay students directly, others apply funds to tuition. Confirm this so you can plan your cash flow. Renewal conditions aren't listed — if you're counting on this for multiple years, confirm with CAE whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain. How to apply: This funding is administered through Indspire's Building Brighter Futures Bursaries & Scholarships program. Students complete one central application that's evaluated against all 360+ of Indspire's funding pools (including this one) — you don't apply to the sponsor directly. The Apply button on this page routes to Indspire's portal automatically. For the full program description, all three application deadlines, and detailed eligibility, see Indspire Building Brighter Futures Bursaries & Scholarships on FundMyCourse.
Can you get it?
- Indigenous — citizenship requirement
- Undergraduate — study level
- Studying STEAM — field of study
How to apply
Review eligibility and gather your documents~1 hour
Read the official award page end-to-end. Confirm you meet every requirement before you start.
Draft and revise your essays~10 hours
Use the STAR framework. Be specific, show impact, proofread twice.
Submit by No deadline~1 hour
Double-check every field, save a copy, and submit at least 24 hours early.
More details
The biggest mistake is providing a vague statement about needing money.
Winners instead provide a detailed budget showing exactly how the bursary fills a gap in their tuition or living costs.
List your specific expenses to prove your need.
The biggest mistake is using a general character reference.
Winners instead secure a letter from a teacher or mentor who can specifically vouch for their interest in aviation or their success in STEAM courses.
Get a referee who knows your academic goals.