FIRST Canada Skilled Trade Scholarship
$ 2,500
2 × $2,500
Heads up: this scholarship was renamed from
….
Update your bookmark or shared link to use this URL.
FIRST Canada Skilled Trade Scholarship
Win one of two $2,500 scholarships for Canadian students pursuing a skilled trade.
Reviewed by G Paul · verified August 31, 2026
$2,500
Total value
Mar 15, 2026
Deadline
FIRST Robotics Canada
Administered by
Applications are closed for this cycle
Applications are not open right now (they last closed Mar 15, 2026). Many awards like this one run again each year, so we re-check this page and update it when the next cycle opens. Last verified Aug 31, 2026.
● Still open
7 similar awards are still open, worth up to $14,000
- AFE Loans and Bursaries Program (Programme de prêts et bourses)Gouvernement du Québec — Aide financière aux études$14,000
- Youth Work in Trades (WRK) ScholarshipProvince of British Columbia$1,000
- Tachane Foundation Inc. Bursary for Indigenous StudentsTachane Foundation Inc.
- Saskatchewan Student Aid + Saskatchewan Advantage Scholarship + Rural-Service Loan ForgivenessGovernment of Saskatchewan
What you will need
- Completed application form
- Letter of recommendation from a high school instructor from whom you have taken one or more classes
- Current, official high school transcript
- Typed brief essay (max 500 words) discussing your FRC or FTC participation, the program's impact on your life, and your interest in skilled trades
- For home schooled students: contact the FIRST Scholarship Committee for guidance on alternative materials for the recommendation letter and transcript
About this award
You can win one of two scholarships valued at $2,500 each. As a scholarship, this money is yours to keep and you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you have been part of a robotics team and want to build a career in the skilled trades. Applications closed on March 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Ask FIRST Robotics Canada when the next window opens. The provider will contact winners directly, though they will share more details about the announcement process in 2026. Selection criteria aren't published — ask FIRST Robotics Canada how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. To get your money, you must send FIRST Canada a letter requesting the payment and confirming which college program the funds should go to. You must do this by the end of the second week of classes. Ask FIRST Robotics Canada during your application if the funds are sent directly to the school or if any portion comes to you. Renewal conditions aren't listed — if you're counting on this for multiple years, confirm with FIRST Robotics Canada whether it's a one-time award or renewable and what you need to maintain.
Who qualifies
You are eligible for this award if you are a Canadian student who has participated on a FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC — a high school robotics competition) or FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC — a middle school robotics competition) team. You must also be pursuing higher education or a career in a skilled trade, such as a skilled trades college program.
This is what the award's own page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm with the provider before you apply.
- Canadian citizen
- Open to trades students
- Studying skilled trades
How to apply
Read the award's own page
Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.
Order your transcript1–2 weeks
Your school's registrar can take a week or two.
Ask for reference letters2 weeks
Give your referees at least two weeks' notice, and send them your résumé.
Write your essay
Be specific about what you did and what changed because of it. Proofread it twice.
This round closed on March 15, 2026
Check the award's own page for the next round before you prepare anything.
More details
Essay
Avoid writing a generic summary of your robot's specs.
Instead, focus on the personal impact the FIRST program had on your life and connect your passion for robotics directly to why you chose a specific skilled trade.
References
Many students submit a basic letter of character.
Instead, ask your high school instructor to provide specific examples of your technical skills and work ethic in the classroom.
Strategy
Since you need to provide a transcript and a recommendation letter, start these requests at least two weeks before the March 15 deadline to avoid last-minute delays.
Realism
With only two awards available, this is highly competitive.
-
How do I apply?
Click the Start application button above: it opens the official application page in a new tab.
-
When is the deadline?
This round closed on March 15, 2026. Many awards like this run again each year, so check the award's own page for the next round.
-
Can international students apply?
No. You need to be a Canadian citizen.
-
Tachane Foundation Inc. Bursary for Indigenous Students
Tachane Foundation Inc. -
AFE Loans and Bursaries Program (Programme de prêts et bourses)
Gouvernement du Québec — Aide financière aux études $14,000 -
Saskatchewan Student Aid + Saskatchewan Advantage Scholarship + Rural-Service Loan Forgiveness
Government of Saskatchewan -
The State Group Inc. Indigenous Bursary
The State Group Inc. -
Jeanne Henuset-Fraser Memorial Bursary for Rural Manitoba Students
Calgary Foundation $2,500 -
WSP Canada Indigenous Student Scholarships
WSP Canada -
Youth Work in Trades (WRK) Scholarship
Province of British Columbia $1,000 -
Shell Apprenticeships, Skilled Trades and Technology (ASTT) Program
Shell Canada
Share this scholarship
Screenshot this card to share it, or copy the citation. It shows when we checked it and links back here.