College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario · National
CDHO Bursary for Indigenous Students in Dental Hygiene Programs
About this award
Get funding to cover your total educational costs and certification exam fees if you are an Indigenous student in an accredited Ontario dental hygiene program — three deadlines annually. 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 the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario (CDHO — the regulatory body for dental hygienists in the province) 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 identify as Indigenous and are pursuing a career in dental hygiene to provide safe, competent care to the public. You can apply by August 1, November 1, or February 1. When you apply, ask how and when you'll hear back — email, portal, or phone. Selection criteria aren't published — ask the CDHO how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask the CDHO 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 the CDHO 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
- Post Secondary — study level
- Resident of ON — provincial eligibility
- Studying Dental Hygiene — 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.
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 asking for a random round number.
Winners instead provide a detailed budget showing exactly what they need for enrollment fees, textbooks, and residence to prove the requested financial assistance is accurate.
The biggest mistake is providing a generic character reference.
Winners instead get a letter from a clinical instructor who can vouch for their skills in a dental hygiene setting.
The biggest mistake is applying only once.
Since there are three separate deadlines (August 1, November 1, and February 1), you should track your financial gaps throughout the year and apply during the window that best matches your upcoming costs.