Catherine and John Kelly Indigenous Student Bursary

What you will need

• ✓ Indigenous affiliation
• ✓ Demonstrated financial need
• ✓ Enrollment at a post-secondary institution

About this award

No fixed dollar amount is posted — contact Catherine and John Kelly 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 from across Canada attending a post-secondary institution and can show that you have a financial need for funding. Deadlines come around three times a year on August 1, November 1 and February 1, so aim for whichever one is next. When you apply, ask how and when you'll hear back — whether it is by email, phone, or through the application portal. Selection criteria aren't published — ask Catherine and John Kelly how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask Catherine and John Kelly 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 Catherine and John Kelly whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

You must be an Indigenous student from across Canada with any Indigenous affiliation. You can be at any level of study, provided you are attending a post-secondary institution and have demonstrated financial need. While any program is eligible, preference will be given to students studying in education, social services, and health.

This is what the award's official page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm on the award's official page before you apply.

• ✓ Open to college, undergraduate, graduate, trades or certificate students

How to apply

1. 1

   Read the award's official page

   Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.

2. 2

   Submit your application

   Save a copy, and submit at least a day before the deadline shown above.

Tips for applying

• Financial NeedAvoid providing a vague statement about needing money. Instead, provide a detailed budget or a letter from a financial officer showing exactly where your funding gap is. Attach a clear breakdown of your tuition and living costs.
• SupportAvoid using a generic character reference. Instead, use referees who can speak specifically to your resilience and your commitment to your community. Ask your referee to provide a concrete example of your leadership.
• StrategyAvoid ignoring the preference for certain fields. Winners who are studying education, social services, or health emphasize how their degree will allow them to give back to Indigenous communities. Connect your career goals to the funder's interest in social justice.
• RealismAvoid treating this as a guaranteed grant. Instead, apply for multiple bursaries simultaneously to ensure your tuition is covered. Treat this as one piece of your overall funding puzzle.

Questions students ask

Similar awards

• RRC Polytech (Red River College Polytechnic)Manitoba Co-operative/Rural/Economic Development Education Award$1,500
• Nipissing UniversityRon Marleau Memorial Award$1,000
• Nipissing UniversityL'Hibou Award$600
• Seger Family FoundationSeger Family Bursary for STEM
• Tachane Foundation Inc.Tachane Foundation Inc. Bursary for Indigenous Students
• RRC Polytech (Red River College Polytechnic)Manitoba Hydro X Club Winnipeg Chapter Bursary$500
• Holland CollegeEarly Childhood Development Association of Prince Edward Island Award$500
• Gouvernement du Québec — Aide financière aux étudesAFE Loans and Bursaries Program (Programme de prêts et bourses)$14,000