OTIP Bursary for Indigenous Students

What you will need

• ✓ Indigenous affiliation
• ✓ Residency in Ontario
• ✓ Enrollment in a post-secondary program at any level

About this award

No fixed dollar amount is posted — contact Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan (OTIP — the insurance provider for Ontario's education community) 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 identify as Indigenous and are pursuing your education in Ontario. 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 by email, phone, or through an application portal. 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.

Who qualifies

You qualify for this award if you are a student from Ontario with any Indigenous affiliation. This bursary is open to you regardless of your program of study or your level of study.

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, trades or certificate students
• ✓ Resident of Ontario

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

   Submit your application

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

Tips for applying

• IdentityAvoid providing a generic statement about your background. Instead, share specific stories about how your Indigenous heritage and community connection drive your educational goals. Write a personal narrative that connects your identity to your future career.
• StrategyAvoid waiting until the final deadline to apply. Since there are three windows (August, November, and February), it pays to apply in the earliest cycle to maximize your chances. Submit your materials for the August 1 deadline to get ahead of the crowd.
• RealismAvoid assuming this is the only funding you need. Instead, treat this as one piece of a larger financial plan. Combine this bursary with other Indspire (the national Indigenous education organization) funding options to cover your full cost of attendance.

Questions students ask

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