Laurier General Bursary

Wilfrid Laurier University

Laurier students with financial need can apply for several bursaries through one General Student Profile, including the First Generation Bursary (about $1,000 a year) and the Indigenous Student Bursary (about $1,000).

Published by G Paul · last checked September 26, 2026

Level

Post-secondary

Apply on the official site ↗

What you will need

Complete the General Student Profile by the posted deadline
Complete the Student Budget portion of the profile
For Indigenous Student Bursary applicants: Indicate Indigenous status in the profile and complete the Indigenous Student essay question
For First Generation Bursary applicants: Indicate First Generation status in the profile and complete the First Generation essay question in LORIS
For Indigenous Student Bursary applicants: Complete the online budget form or financial statement in the General Student Profile or First Generation application

About this award

These are bursaries, not loans, so you do not have to pay the money back. The First Generation Bursary averages $1,000 per year, and the Indigenous Student Bursary provides approximately $1,000 for approximately 21 eligible candidates. Other options include the Laurier Tuition Bursary for tuition costs, the Student Access Guarantee (SAG) which is calculated through your OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Program — the provincial student financial aid system) assessment, and various Donor-Supported Bursaries. This is for you if you are a Laurier student with financial need. Two of the programs are only for Indigenous students and for students who are the first in their family to attend college or university. No single deadline is posted publicly for all awards — entrance bursary applications open before the start of each academic year, while others are open throughout the year. Donor-supported awards are granted between October and March. Before you start, check Wilfrid Laurier University's program page or call their office to confirm the exact closing date for this term. You will be notified of your result through your @mylaurier.ca email account. Selection depends on the specific award. For donor-supported funds, winners are chosen based on the stated criteria and who demonstrates the highest financial need. For the First Generation Bursary, there are an average of 500 applications, so not all eligible students receive funding. Selection criteria for other variants aren't published — ask Wilfrid Laurier University how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask Wilfrid Laurier University 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 Wilfrid Laurier University whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

The Donor-Supported Bursary is available to all students. For the Indigenous Student Bursary, you must be an Indigenous student enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program (full or part-time), a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident (landed immigrant), and a long-term resident of Ontario as per OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Program — the provincial student financial aid system). You also need a minimum cumulative GPA of 4.0 (C-). For the First Generation Bursary, you must be an undergraduate student, a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident (landed immigrant), and registered (full or part-time) in the Fall or Winter term with a minimum cumulative GPA of 4.0 (C-). You are a first-generation student if your parents did not attend college or university, or if they took courses but did not complete a program.

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.

Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person
Open to post-secondary students

How to apply

Read the award's official page
Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.
Write your essay
Be specific about what you did and what changed because of it. Proofread it twice.
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

EssayAvoid writing a generic personal history. Instead, focus your response on the specific essay question provided in LORIS (Laurier's online student portal) to show how the funding impacts your studies. Draft your answer in a separate document first to check for clarity.
Financial NeedAvoid leaving gaps in your budget form. Instead, provide a complete picture of all your income sources and expenses in the student profile. Double-check that your reported income matches your official records.
StrategyAvoid waiting until the application opens to prepare. Instead, complete your General Student Profile immediately, as this is the trigger that makes specific bursary applications like the First Generation or Indigenous awards appear in your portal.
RealismAvoid assuming that meeting the basic eligibility means you will get money. Instead, remember that for the First Generation Bursary, there are an average of 500 applications for limited funds. Apply for multiple options, such as the Laurier Tuition Bursary, to increase your chances.

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?

We don't have a confirmed deadline for this one. Check the award's official page for this year's date.

Can international students apply?

No. You need to be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person.

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FundMyCourse.ca · checked Sep 26, 2026