Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan · National
OTIP Bursary for Indigenous Students
About this award
Apply by August 1, November 1, or February 1 for a bursary supporting Indigenous students from Ontario in any program of study. 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 Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan 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 an Indigenous student from Ontario pursuing your education at any level. You have three different deadlines to choose from: August 1, November 1, and February 1. When you apply, ask how and when you'll hear back — email, portal, or phone. Selection criteria aren't published — ask Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan 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 Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan 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
- Resident of ON — provincial eligibility
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 giving a generic description of your background.
Winners instead share specific stories about their community connection and how their education will help their people.
Write a personal statement that connects your goals to your Indigenous heritage.
The biggest mistake is submitting a reference letter that only confirms you are a good student.
Winners provide letters from community elders or leaders who can vouch for your character and leadership potential.
Get a letter that speaks to your impact on others.