Sienna for Seniors Foundation Bursary

What you will need

• ✓ Indigenous affiliation
• ✓ Enrollment in a Nursing or Personal Support Worker (PSW) program
• ✓ Residency or study location (especially if living and studying in British Columbia)

About this award

No fixed dollar amount is posted — contact Sienna for Seniors Foundation 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 pursuing a career in healthcare, specifically within nursing or personal support work. 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 Sienna for Seniors Foundation how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask Sienna for Seniors 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 Sienna for Seniors Foundation whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

You must be an Indigenous student with any Indigenous affiliation. You must be enrolled in a Nursing program and/or a Personal Support Worker (PSW — a healthcare role providing basic care to seniors or people with disabilities) program. This award is open to any level of study. While you can apply from anywhere, preference will be given to students living and studying in British Columbia.

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 or certificate students
• ✓ Studying Nursing or Personal Support Worker (PSW)

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

• ReferencesAvoid using a general teacher who doesn't know your clinical work. Instead, provide a reference from a placement supervisor or a healthcare professional who has seen you interact with patients. Get a letter that confirms your bedside manner.
• StrategyAvoid applying only once a year. Since there are three deadlines (August, November, and February), you should track which one aligns best with your semester start or financial need. Check if you can re-apply in different cycles.
• RealismAvoid assuming the preference for British Columbia residents is a strict requirement. Winners from other provinces still apply but emphasize any ties they have to BC or their willingness to work in those communities after graduation.

Questions students ask

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