Climbing the Mountain Bursary

What you will need

• ✓ Indigenous affiliation
• ✓ Enrollment in a post-secondary institution (college, university, technical college, or apprenticeship program)
• ✓ Demonstrated financial need

About this award

No fixed dollar amount is posted — contact Marcia Perryman 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 facing financial barriers while pursuing your education. 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 an online portal. Selection criteria aren't published — ask Marcia Perryman how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask Marcia Perryman 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 Marcia Perryman whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

You must be an Indigenous student with any Indigenous affiliation. You must be attending a post-secondary institution, such as a college, university, technical college, or apprenticeship program, regardless of your level or program of study. You must also show demonstrated financial need. Priority is given to you if you have been a product of foster care, if you are applying to a field or program not normally associated with your gender, or if you are living with a disability.

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 or trades 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 clear budget showing exactly how the bursary will cover specific education costs. List your tuition gaps and book costs explicitly.
• SupportAvoid using a generic character reference. Instead, use referees who can specifically speak to your resilience and your commitment to your community. Ensure your referee mentions your specific Indigenous ties or lived experience.
• RealismAvoid assuming the preference criteria are mandatory. You can still win if you aren't a former foster youth or in a non-traditional gender role, but you should emphasize your financial need more heavily to compete.

Questions students ask

Similar awards

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• Nipissing UniversityL'Hibou Award$600
• Seger Family FoundationSeger Family Bursary for STEM
• Tachane Foundation Inc.Tachane Foundation Inc. Bursary for Indigenous Students
• Gouvernement du Québec — Aide financière aux étudesAFE Loans and Bursaries Program (Programme de prêts et bourses)$14,000
• Toronto Metropolitan University - The Creative School / Shure Inc.Shure Award for Excellence in Sound Design (Image Arts)$5,000
• Saskatchewan PolytechnicSaskatoon City Hospital School of Nursing Alumnae Bursary$2,000
• Calgary FoundationShannon Burwash Award for Leadership and Excellence in Equine, Agri-Business and/or Agricultural Studies$5,000