The RBC Bursary for Indigenous Students

What you will need

• ✓ Enrollment at an approved post-secondary institution in Canada
• ✓ Indigenous affiliation
• ✓ Information regarding academic performance
• ✓ Details of community involvement or contributions

About this award

No fixed dollar amount is posted — contact RBC 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 identify as Indigenous and need financial help to cover the costs of your education. 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 RBC how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask RBC 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 RBC whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

You can apply regardless of your community, region, or specific Indigenous affiliation. You must be attending an approved post-secondary institution across Canada at any level of study. While you can be in any program of study, preference is given to students in Health, Education, and Social Sciences. There are also additional bursaries available to students in any program of study through matching funds. To qualify, you must demonstrate financial need related to your educational costs, though the organisers also look at your academic performance and how you contribute to your community.

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, trades or certificate 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

   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 tuition gaps and living expenses to prove exactly why the funds are needed. List your specific costs to show the urgency.
• SupportAvoid using a generic character reference. Instead, secure letters from community leaders or teachers who can speak to your specific contributions to Indigenous communities. Get a referee who knows your impact on others.
• StrategyAvoid ignoring the preference for Health, Education, and Social Sciences if you are in a different field. Instead, emphasize how your specific program of study will eventually allow you to give back to your community. Connect your degree to a community goal.
• RealismAvoid assuming the award is guaranteed because you meet the basic identity criteria. Instead, treat this as a competitive application by highlighting your academic achievements alongside your financial need. Balance your need with your strengths.

Questions students ask

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