Mel Benson · National
Mel Benson Scholarship
About this award
Contact Indspire to confirm the award value and deadlines for Indigenous students in engineering or technical studies. Apply through Indspire's central Building Brighter Futures program — one application covers all sponsor pools.
The provider doesn't post a fixed dollar amount — contact Indspire to confirm the value for your specific award before you apply. This is a scholarship, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you are an Indigenous student from across Canada who has shown you have a financial need for help with your schooling. You have three deadlines to choose from: August 1, November 1, and February 1. Ask Indspire how and when you'll hear back — whether by email, phone, or a 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. How to apply: This funding is administered through Indspire's Building Brighter Futures Bursaries & Scholarships program. Students complete one central application that's evaluated against all 360+ of Indspire's funding pools (including this one) — you don't apply to the sponsor directly. The Apply button on this page routes to Indspire's portal automatically. For the full program description, all three application deadlines, and detailed eligibility, see Indspire Building Brighter Futures Bursaries & Scholarships on FundMyCourse.
Can you get it?
- Indigenous — citizenship requirement
- Post Secondary — study level
- Studying Engineering, technical studies — field of study
How to apply
Review eligibility and gather your documents~1 hour
Read the official award page end-to-end. Confirm you meet every requirement before you start.
Submit by No deadline~1 hour
Double-check every field, save a copy, and submit at least 24 hours early.
More details
The biggest mistake is providing a vague statement about needing money.
Winners instead provide a clear budget showing exactly where their funding gaps are.
List your specific costs and the exact amount you are short.
The biggest mistake is using a general character reference.
Winners instead use a teacher or mentor who can speak specifically to your aptitude for engineering or technical work.
Ask your referee to highlight a project where you solved a complex problem.