The Canadian Medical Foundation · National
The Canadian Medical Foundation Bursaries for Indigenous Medical Students
About this award
Apply by August 1, November 1, or February 1 for one of five bursaries for Indigenous medical students studying at any post-secondary institution in Canada. Apply through Indspire's central Building Brighter Futures program — one application covers all sponsor pools.
The provider does not post a fixed dollar amount — contact The Canadian Medical 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 medicine and can show that you have a financial need for extra funding. You have three different deadlines to choose from: August 1, November 1, and February 1. Selection criteria aren't published regarding exactly when you will hear back — ask The Canadian Medical Foundation if they notify you by email, phone, or a portal. Five individual awards are given out. While financial need is the main factor, the committee also looks at your grades and how you help your community. Ask The Canadian Medical Foundation how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask The Canadian Medical 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 The Canadian Medical Foundation 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 Medicine — 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 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.
List your monthly expenses and existing grants to prove the gap.
Many students just list their volunteer roles.
Winners instead describe the actual impact they had on others using specific examples.
Describe one project where you led a team or helped a specific group of people in your community.