Express Scripts Canada Awards

What you will need

• ✓ Indigenous affiliation
• ✓ Demonstrated financial need
• ✓ Enrollment in a Canadian post-secondary institution (College, University, technical college, or apprenticeship program)
• ✓ Records of academic merit and performance
• ✓ Involvement in and contribution to the community

About this award

You can receive one of four $6,250 awards to help cover your education costs. 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 with demonstrated financial need who is committed to your community and your studies. 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 Indspire (the organization that manages this funding) how and when you will be notified of the results. Selection is primarily based on your demonstrated financial need, though the committee also looks at your academic performance and how you contribute to your community. Selection criteria aren't published in detail — ask Express Scripts Canada how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask Express Scripts Canada 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 Express Scripts Canada whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

You must be an Indigenous student attending a post-secondary institution across Canada, such as a college, university, technical college, or apprenticeship program. You must show demonstrated financial need. While any program of study is eligible, preference is given to those studying Project Management, Pharmacy, Marketing and Communications, or IT Technology/ IT Data. Additionally, preference is given to students located in Ontario.

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, graduate, trades or certificate 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 summary of your expenses. Instead, provide a detailed breakdown of your tuition gaps and living costs to prove exactly why the $6,250 is needed. List every specific cost you are struggling to cover.
• Community LeadershipMany applicants simply list their volunteer hours. Instead, describe the actual impact you had on your community and how your education will allow you to give back even more. Use a specific story of a project you led.
• StrategySince there are three deadlines (August 1, November 1, and February 1), do not wait until the final one. Apply during the earliest window possible to increase your visibility before the four awards are fully distributed.
• RealismWith only four awards available across all of Canada, this is highly competitive. Treat this as a helpful bonus rather than your primary source of funding, and continue applying for other Indigenous-specific bursaries.

Questions students ask

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