College of Fellows · National
College of Fellows Indigenous Planning Student Award
About this award
Get $5,000 for your studies in an accredited Canadian planning program — apply by August 1, November 1, or February 1. Apply through Indspire's central Building Brighter Futures program — one application covers all sponsor pools.
You get a $5,000 annual award. 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—including First Nation, Inuit, or Metis—who wants to bring your professional voice into the field of urban and regional planning. You have three deadlines to choose from: August 1, November 1, and February 1. No notification timeline is posted publicly — before you start the application, check the College of Fellows's program page or call their office to confirm when you will hear back. Selection criteria aren't published — ask the College of Fellows how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask the College of Fellows 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 College of Fellows 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
- Studying Accredited Canadian Planning Program — 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 writing a generic essay about wanting to be a planner.
Winners instead explain exactly how their Indigenous perspective will improve Canadian planning practices and broaden the professional voice in the field.
The biggest mistake is providing references who only know you socially.
Winners provide letters from professors or community leaders who can vouch for their academic ability and their connection to their Indigenous community.
The biggest mistake is waiting until the final deadline to apply.
Since there are three separate deadlines (August 1, November 1, and February 1), try to apply for the earliest one possible to get your funding sorted sooner.