Rio Tinto · National
Rio Tinto Award for Indigenous Students
About this award
Apply by August 1, November 1, or February 1 for funding to support your Indigenous identity and studies in STEM or mining and metals. 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 Rio Tinto to confirm the value for your specific award before you apply. As a scholarship, 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 a career in the metals and mining industry or a technical field. You have three deadlines to choose from: August 1, November 1, and February 1. When you apply, ask how and when you'll hear back — whether it is by email, phone, or through a portal. Selection criteria aren't published — ask Rio Tinto how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask Rio Tinto 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 Rio Tinto 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
- Undergraduate, Graduate — study level
- Studying mining and metals, metallurgy, Science, Technology, Engineering, Math — 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 general application.
Winners instead explicitly link their degree to the mining, metals, or metallurgy sectors or a specific STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math) field.
Detail exactly how your studies help the industry grow.
The biggest mistake is ignoring the geography.
Winners instead highlight their connection to the specific towns or regions where Rio Tinto operates.
Mention your community by name to show you fit their priority profile.