Cando · National
CIBC NIEEF Scholarships
About this award
Apply by August 1, November 1, or February 1 for annual funding for Indigenous students in business, economics, or natural resource programs. Apply through Indspire's central Building Brighter Futures program — one application covers all sponsor pools.
The provider doesn't post a fixed dollar amount — contact Cando to confirm the value for your specific award before you apply. This is a scholarship, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you are an Indigenous student focusing your studies on business, finance, economics, or managing natural resources and community development. You have three deadlines to choose from: August 1, November 1, and February 1. When you apply, ask how and when you'll hear back — email, portal, or phone. Selection criteria aren't published — ask Cando how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask Cando 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 Cando whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain. Note that for the award targeting any year of study, you are only eligible for that specific award once. 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, Diploma — study level
- Studying Business Administration/Economics, Business Finance, Business Management, Natural Resources, Community Economic Development, CED — 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 applying with a general business degree without mentioning the specific focus.
Winners instead explicitly link their coursework to Business Administration, Economics, Finance, Management, Natural Resources, or Community Economic Development (CED) to match the provider's priorities.
The biggest mistake is ignoring the preference for accredited schools.
Winners instead highlight their enrollment at institutions like the University of Winnipeg or Cape Breton University to show they fit the preferred profile.
The biggest mistake is waiting until the final deadline.
Since there are three dates (August 1, November 1, and February 1), you should apply as early as possible to see if funds are distributed in waves.