Mel Benson Scholarship

For Indigenous students anywhere in Canada in engineering or technical programs who show financial need.

Published by G Paul · last checked August 31, 2026

Next deadline

Nov 1, 2026

Level

College, Undergraduate, Graduate, Trades

Open to

Across Canada

Apply on the official site ↗

What you will need

Indigenous affiliation
Demonstrated financial need
Enrollment in a post-secondary engineering or technical studies program

About this award

No fixed dollar amount is posted — contact Indspire (the national Indigenous education organization) to confirm the value for your specific award before you apply. As a scholarship, 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 from anywhere in Canada who is pursuing a career in engineering or technical fields and needs financial support to complete your 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 through email, a portal, or by phone. 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 from across Canada with any Indigenous affiliation. You must be studying post-secondary engineering or technical studies and show demonstrated financial need.

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 or trades students
Studying Engineering or technical 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

Financial NeedAvoid providing a vague statement about needing money. Instead, provide a clear budget showing exactly how the scholarship fills a gap in your tuition or living costs. List your specific expenses to prove your need.
StrategyAvoid applying only once a year. Since there are three separate deadlines (August, November, and February), you should track which one aligns best with your program's tuition billing cycle.

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