Rick George Family Foundation Award for Indigenous Students

What you will need

• ✓ Proof of Indigenous affiliation
• ✓ Documentation of financial need
• ✓ Academic transcripts showing success
• ✓ Evidence of volunteer work in the Indigenous community

About this award

No fixed dollar amount is posted — contact Rick George Family Foundation to confirm the value for your specific award before you apply. As these are scholarships, 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 with financial need, especially if you are a woman or if you are studying STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), law, or business. 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 the application portal. Selection criteria aren't published — ask Rick George Family Foundation how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask Rick George Family Foundation 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 Rick George Family Foundation whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

You must be an Indigenous post-secondary student with any Indigenous affiliation. You can be studying at the undergraduate or graduate level. There are two main paths for this funding: one is open to any program of study with a preference for female students with financial need, and the other is for those in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), law, or business with a preference for students from Alberta, Northwest Territories, Yukon Territories, and Nunavut.

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 graduate or undergraduate 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

   Order your transcript1–2 weeks

   Your school's registrar can take a week or two.

3. 3

   Submit your application

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

Tips for applying

• Financial NeedAvoid providing a vague statement about needing money. Instead, provide a clear breakdown of your costs and gaps, then explain exactly how this funding changes your ability to finish your degree.
• SupportAvoid using a generic reference letter. Instead, secure letters from Indigenous community leaders or faculty who can specifically vouch for your volunteer work in the Indigenous community and your academic success.
• StrategyAvoid applying only once. Since there are three separate deadlines (August 1, November 1, and February 1), you should track each window and ensure your application is updated with your latest transcripts.
• RealismAvoid assuming a guarantee based on identity alone. Because financial need is the primary consideration, you must be prepared to prove your financial situation with documentation to be competitive.

Questions students ask

Similar awards

• Seger Family FoundationSeger Family Bursary for STEM
• Gouvernement du Québec — Aide financière aux étudesAFE Loans and Bursaries Program (Programme de prêts et bourses)$14,000
• Toronto Metropolitan University - The Creative School / Shure Inc.Shure Award for Excellence in Sound Design (Image Arts)$5,000
• Scott MacCaie Rogers Scholarship for Legal StudyScott MacCaie Rogers Scholarship
• Calgary FoundationShannon Burwash Award for Leadership and Excellence in Equine, Agri-Business and/or Agricultural Studies$5,000
• York University - Faculty of Graduate StudiesYork University Graduate Bursaries
• Sun LifeSun Life Indigenous Student Awards
• Len FlettLeonard (Len) Flett Bursary