CDIC Bursary

What you will need

• ✓ Indigenous affiliation
• ✓ Enrollment at a Canadian post-secondary institution
• ✓ Financial need
• ✓ Details regarding academic performance or merit
• ✓ Community involvement or contributions

About this award

No fixed dollar amount is posted — contact Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC), the federal Crown corporation that insures bank deposits, 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 woman pursuing your education at any level of study. 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 Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC) how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. They consider your financial need as the main factor, but they also look at your grades and how you contribute to your community. Ask Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC) 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 Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC) whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

You qualify for this bursary if you meet these criteria: - You identify as a woman. - You have any Indigenous affiliation. - You are attending a post-secondary institution anywhere in Canada. - You are enrolled in any program of study at any level of education.

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 summary of your expenses. Instead, provide a detailed breakdown of your tuition gaps and living costs to prove exactly why the funding is needed. List every specific cost you are struggling to cover.
• Community LeadershipMany applicants simply list their volunteer roles. Instead, describe the actual impact you had on your community, such as how many people you helped or a specific project you led. Use concrete numbers to show your contribution.
• StrategySince there are three deadlines throughout the year, do not wait until the final one in February. Apply during the earliest window possible to increase your chances of securing funds before the total pool is exhausted.
• RealismBecause financial need is the primary consideration, this award is highly targeted. If you do not have significant documented financial gaps, focus your energy on merit-based scholarships while keeping this as a secondary option.

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