The Slaight Family Foundation Indigenous Student Awards

What you will need

• ✓ Indigenous affiliation
• ✓ Demonstrated financial need
• ✓ Enrollment at a post-secondary institution

About this award

No fixed dollar amount is posted — contact Slaight Family 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 from across Canada who has a demonstrated financial need while attending school. 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 Slaight Family Foundation how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask Slaight Family 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 Slaight Family Foundation whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

You must be an Indigenous student from across Canada attending a post-secondary institution. You can have any Indigenous affiliation and be at any level of study. You must show demonstrated financial need. While open to various fields, preference will be given to students studying in arts, culture and language programs.

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 budget showing exactly how the funding fills a gap in your tuition or living costs. List your specific expenses and the shortfall you are facing.
• SupportAvoid using a generic character reference. Instead, use referees who can speak directly to your cultural contributions or academic persistence. Ask your referee to provide a concrete example of your leadership in your community.
• StrategyAvoid ignoring the preference for arts, culture and language programs. Instead, highlight any intersection between your primary degree and these fields. Even if you are in a different program, explain how you engage with arts or language outside of class.
• RealismAvoid treating this as a guaranteed source of funds. Instead, apply to multiple bursaries simultaneously. Because the dollar amount isn't public, treat this as a helpful supplement rather than your sole funding source.

Questions students ask

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