Ontario First Nations Technical Services Corporation · National
OFNTSC Student Achievement Awards
About this award
Get $2,000 for your post-secondary studies in STEM or a related field — apply by August 1 or November 1. Apply through Indspire's central Building Brighter Futures program — one application covers all sponsor pools.
You can receive a $2,000 award. This is a scholarship, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you are a First Nations student pursuing a career in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM — fields like biology, computer science, or physics). You have two deadlines to choose from: August 1 and November 1. No notification timeline is posted publicly — when you apply, ask how and when you'll hear back via email, portal, or phone. Selection criteria aren't published — ask Ontario First Nations Technical Services Corporation (OFNTSC — the agency providing technical advisory services to First Nations) how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask OFNTSC 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 OFNTSC 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
- Resident of ON — provincial eligibility
- Studying STEM, engineering, water and wastewater, civil, mechanical, chemical, architecture, housing — 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 writing a generic essay about wanting a degree.
Winners instead explain exactly how their STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) studies will help their community solve a specific technical problem.
Describe a real-world project you want to tackle.
The biggest mistake is providing a generic character reference.
Winners instead use referees who can speak to their technical skills and their connection to First Nations communities.
Get a letter from a professor or a community leader who knows your work ethic.