CIBC Achiever Awards

What you will need

• ✓ Indigenous affiliation
• ✓ Enrollment in an undergraduate or post-graduate program

About this award

No fixed dollar amount is posted — contact CIBC to confirm the value for your specific award before you apply. As these are bursaries and scholarships, this money is yours to keep and you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you have any Indigenous affiliation and are pursuing higher education, particularly in professional or technical fields. 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 CIBC how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask CIBC 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 CIBC whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

You must have any Indigenous affiliation to apply. This award is open to any level of study. If you are a post-graduate student, you must be in a business, engineering, law, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), or technology program. Undergraduate students can apply regardless of their program or field. Please note that preference is given to students in undergraduate and post-graduate business, engineering, law, and technology programs; however, undergraduate students in any program are eligible if there are not enough applicants in those priority fields.

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 undergraduate or graduate students
• ✓ Studying business, engineering, law, STEM, Science, Technology or Math

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

• Program ChoiceAvoid assuming you cannot apply if you aren't in a technical field. While there is a preference for business, engineering, law, and technology, undergraduate students in any program or field are still eligible. Clearly state your program and why it matters to your community.
• StrategySince there are three separate deadlines (August 1, November 1, and February 1), do not wait until the final one. Applying in the earliest window may give you a better chance if funds are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
• RealismBecause this is a large corporate-funded award, competition can be high. To stand out, focus your application on how your specific degree will allow you to give back to First Nation, Inuit, or Métis communities.

Questions students ask

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