Council of Prairie and Pacific University Libraries (COPPUL) · National
COPPUL Scholarship for Indigenous Students
About this award
Apply by August 1, November 1, or February 1 for financial support if you are an Indigenous student from Western Canada pursuing a master's in library or archival studies. 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 Council of Prairie and Pacific University Libraries (COPPUL) 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 from Western Canada who wants to build a career in libraries or archives within the Western Canadian library community. You have three deadlines to choose from: August 1, November 1, and February 1. No notification timeline is posted publicly — when you apply, ask how and when you'll hear back via email, portal, or phone. Selection criteria aren't published — ask Council of Prairie and Pacific University Libraries (COPPUL) how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask Council of Prairie and Pacific University Libraries (COPPUL) 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 Council of Prairie and Pacific University Libraries (COPPUL) 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, Graduate — study level
- Resident of MB, SK, AB, BC — provincial eligibility
- Studying Library and Information, Archival Studies, Master of Library and Information Studies (MUS), Masters in Library Science Online Programs (MLS), Master of Information Studies (MIST), Master of Archival Studies (MAS), Dual Master of Archival Studies and Library and Information Studies (MASLIS), Master of Arts, Archival Studies (MA), Master of Information (Ml), Archives & Records Management (ARM) Concentration — 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 liking books.
Winners instead explain exactly how they plan to serve the Western Canadian library community after graduation.
Detail the specific region or type of archive where you want to work.
The biggest mistake is providing references who only know you socially.
Winners instead use professors or library supervisors who can vouch for your academic rigor in a master's level program.
Get a letter from someone who knows your professional potential.