Scotiabank · National
Scotiabank Business and Commerce Bursary
About this award
Apply by August 1, November 1, or February 1 for a bursary based on financial need for Indigenous students attending post-secondary schools across Canada. 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 Scotiabank 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 who needs financial help to afford your education and you have a history of helping your community. You have three deadlines to choose from: August 1, November 1, and February 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 beyond the focus on financial need, community contribution, and academic merit — ask Scotiabank how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask Scotiabank 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 Scotiabank 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
- Studying Business, Commerce — 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.
Request your official transcript1–2 weeks
Order through your school registrar — allow 1–2 weeks.
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 providing a vague statement about needing money.
Winners instead provide a clear budget showing exactly where their funding gaps are and how this bursary solves a specific problem.
The biggest mistake is using a generic character reference.
Winners instead secure letters from community leaders that prove their specific contributions to the community as a whole.
The biggest mistake is ignoring the program preference.
Winners who are in Business or Commerce programs emphasize how their degree will allow them to bring economic skills back to their community.