Inuit Post-Secondary Education Strategy (IPSE) Funding

What you will need

• ✓ Consult Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami or your respective Inuit land-claim organization for specific application forms and deadlines
• ✓ Proof of status as a beneficiary of an Inuit land-claims agreement
• ✓ Details of the eligible expenses you need covered (e.g., tuition, books, living expenses, child care or certification fees), in the form your land-claim organization asks for

About this award

No fixed dollar amount is posted for individual students, but the program is backed by a Budget 2019 investment of $125.5 million over 10 years and $21.8 million in ongoing funds. Funding is allocated each year and can help with tuition, books, living expenses, child care, transportation, and professional certification fees. This is for you if you are an Inuit person who is a beneficiary of an Inuit land-claims agreement, no matter where you live in Canada. No deadline is posted publicly — before you start the application, contact Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (the national organization representing Inuit in Canada) or your Inuit land-claim organization, which set the application deadlines. Selection criteria aren't published — ask your Inuit land-claim organization how it decides who receives funding and how much. Ask your Inuit land-claim organization 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 your Inuit land-claim organization whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

You are eligible for this funding if you are an Inuit person and a beneficiary of an Inuit land-claims agreement, regardless of where you reside in Canada. Funding is also available to community and education organizations, regional service organizations (such as mental health supports or child care services), and post-secondary institutions that offer degrees, diplomas, or certificates recognized by a provincial or territorial body. For the fiscal year 2026 to 2027, initial recipients authorized to manage these funds include the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Makivik Corporation, Nunatsiavut Government, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.

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 post-secondary 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

   Check this year's deadline

   We don't have a confirmed date for this round. The award's official page will have it.

Tips for applying

• ApplicationAvoid sending a generic request for funds. Instead, list the specific expenses you need covered, such as transcript fees, books, or child care. Check the National Guidelines 2026 to 2027 to see which costs are eligible.
• SupportAvoid applying in isolation. Instead, reach out to your regional land-claim organization for guidance on the process. They are the ones who distribute the funds to students.
• StrategyAvoid waiting until the last minute to find your deadline. Instead, contact Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami immediately to confirm the closing date for your region. This ensures you have time to gather your documents.
• RealismAvoid assuming this is your only source of funding. Instead, look into other grants and loans from provincial or territorial governments. Receiving this funding does not stop you from getting other supports.

Questions students ask

Similar awards

• Indigenous Services CanadaMetis Nation Post-Secondary Education Strategy Funding
• Indigenous Services CanadaPost-Secondary Student Support Program (PSSSP)$90,000
• Indigenous Services CanadaUniversity and College Entrance Preparation Program (UCEPP)$90,000
• Hockey Nova ScotiaJim Stirling Scholarship$2,000
• University of OttawaUniversity of Ottawa First Generation Bursary$1,000
• University of OttawaFrench Studies Bursary (French Immersion Stream)$4,000
• Bill 7 Award TrustBill 7 Award 2SLGBTQI+ Scholarship$5,000
• Carleton UniversityHollis Peirce Bursary for Students with Disabilities