Hilary Pearson Award

What you will need

• ✓ Indigenous affiliation
• ✓ Enrollment in a post-secondary institution

About this award

No fixed dollar amount is posted — contact Indspire (the organization that administers this award) 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 who needs financial help to cover your education costs, with preference going to female applicants. 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 Indspire how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask Indspire 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 Indspire whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

You qualify if you are an Indigenous student with any Indigenous affiliation. While the award is open to those meeting that criteria, preference is given to female students. You can be in any program of study at any level of post-secondary education, provided you have demonstrated financial need for help with your education costs.

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 statement about needing money. Instead, provide a clear breakdown of your tuition gaps and living expenses. List your specific costs to show exactly why you need this bursary.
• SupportAvoid using a generic reference letter. Instead, use referees who can speak to your specific cultural leadership and academic persistence. Ask your referee to include a concrete example of your growth.
• StrategyAvoid applying only once a year. Since there are three separate deadlines (August 1, November 1, and February 1), you should track which one aligns best with your school's billing cycle.
• RealismAvoid assuming a guaranteed win because you meet the basic criteria. Because this is distributed annually among many supporters, treat this as a helpful supplement rather than your only source of funding.

Questions students ask

Similar awards

• IndspireJohn Bernard Kennedy Bursary
• IndspireThe Butt Family Memorial Bursary for Indigenous Students$2,000
• IndspireElizabeth Freeland Compassion Fund
• IndspireFeiga Bresver Academic Fund
• IndspireThe Indspire Star Scholarship for Business/Engineering$5,000
• IndspireDoreen Bell Bursary
• IndspireIndspire Building Brighter Futures Bursaries & Scholarships
• IndspirePractical Nursing Bursary