Mohawk College Indigenous Student Awards (FNMI)

What you will need

• ✓ Completed Scholarships and Bursaries Application (open December 1 to January 31)
• ✓ Indigenous Self Identification Form, completed through MyMohawk (Registration page, Indigenous Students section)
• ✓ An Application Letter uploaded into your Scholarships and Bursaries Application: who you are, where you're from, why you are a Mohawk student, your dedication to your future career and Indigenous community, your volunteer and community involvement, other activities, and why you deserve an award
• ✓ At least one Reference Letter (from volunteer work, paid work or faculty) that reflects your community involvement, sent when Mohawk requests it by email

About this award

No fixed dollar amount is posted — contact Mohawk College to confirm the value for your specific award before you apply. As a bursary, this money is yours to keep and you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you are a registered Mohawk College student who identifies as a First Nations, Inuit, or Métis (FNMI) person, regardless of whether you have status or non-status. You apply every winter semester through Mohawk's Scholarships and Bursaries Application, which is open December 1 to January 31 (the Winter 2026 round closed January 31, 2026). All awards communication goes to your Mohawk College email, so check it often. There are 14 awards, each with its own focus — for example, the Academic Proficiency Award (highest grade average), the Community Involvement Award, the Perseverance Award, and the Amber Skye Memorial Award for a Practical Nursing student. Incomplete or late applications are not considered. Ask Mohawk College 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 Mohawk College whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

You must be a registered Mohawk College student who self-identifies as a First Nations, Inuit, Métis (FNMI), status or non-status person. You are not eligible to receive an award from Mohawk's IESS office if you received a PSET bursary awarded by Mohawk College in the Fall or Winter semesters of the academic year.

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

   Ask for reference letters2 weeks

   Give your referees at least two weeks' notice, and send them your résumé.

3. 3

   Submit your application

   Save a copy, and submit at least a day before the deadline shown above.

Tips for applying

• Self-IdentificationAvoid waiting until the deadline to complete your paperwork. Instead, log into MyMohawk now, go to the Registration page, and complete the Indigenous Self Identification Form in the Indigenous Students section. This ensures your identity is verified before the committee reviews your application.
• SupportAvoid guessing which documents you need. Instead, visit the Mohawk College Financial Assistance Website to see the specific profiles and letters required for your submission. Contact iess@mohawkcollege.ca if you have questions about the evidence needed.
• StrategyAvoid applying for overlapping funds that might disqualify you. Instead, check your records to see if you received a PSET bursary from Mohawk this academic year, as that makes you ineligible for an IESS award.
• RealismAvoid assuming you will get an award based on identity alone. Instead, treat this as a competitive process and ensure every required document is uploaded to the Scholarships and Bursaries Application portal by January 31.

Questions students ask

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