Indigenous Bar Association (IBA) Scholarship

Three awards for students past their first year of law, preference to Indigenous applicants. Includes funds to attend the IBA annual fall conference.

Published by G Paul · last checked August 31, 2026

Next deadline

Nov 1, 2026

Level

Graduate

Open to

Across Canada (preference for Indigenous students enrolled in law school)

Apply on the official site ↗

What you will need

Completed at least one year of Law or Legal Studies

About this award

No fixed dollar amount is posted for these awards — contact the Indigenous Bar Association (IBA — a national professional organization for Indigenous legal professionals) to confirm the value of the funding before you apply. As a scholarship, this money is yours to keep and does not have to be paid back. You will also receive a certificate of recognition and direct funds from the IBA to attend their annual fall conference. This is for you if you are an Indigenous student pursuing a legal career, though it is open to anyone who has finished at least one year of legal 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 how and when you'll hear back — whether it is by email, a portal, or phone. Selection criteria aren't published — ask the IBA how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds for one of the three scholarships available. Ask the IBA 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 IBA whether it's a one-time award or renewable and what you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

To qualify, you must have completed at least one year of Law or Legal Studies. While any student meeting this requirement can apply, preference will be given to Indigenous students enrolled in law school. You may also be considered if you are enrolled in other professional legal studies, such as LL.M (Master of Laws) students, graduate students, or those in a bar admission course.

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 graduate students
Studying Law or legal studies

How to apply

Read the award's official page
Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.
Submit your application
Save a copy, and submit at least a day before the deadline shown above.

Tips for applying

ReferencesAvoid providing references who only know you socially. Instead, use law professors or legal mentors who can vouch for your academic performance during your first year of legal studies.
StrategyAvoid waiting until the final deadline. Since there are three separate deadlines (August 1, November 1, and February 1), apply for the earliest one possible to get your application in front of the committee sooner.

Questions students ask

How do I apply?

Use the Apply on the official site button on this page: it opens the official application page in a new tab.

When is the deadline?

Applications close on November 1, 2026. Submit a day or two early: application sites get busy at the end.

Can international students apply?

Check the award's official page for the citizenship rules.

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FundMyCourse.ca · checked Aug 31, 2026