Yvonne Mercer · National
The Yvonne Mercer Indigenous Student Bursary
About this award
Get financial support for your education costs if you are an Indigenous student with demonstrated financial need — apply by August 1, November 1, or February 1. 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 Yvonne Mercer 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 extra help covering the costs of going to college or university. You have three different deadlines to choose from: August 1, November 1, and February 1. When you apply, ask how and when you'll hear back — email, portal, or phone. Selection criteria aren't published — ask Yvonne Mercer how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask Yvonne Mercer 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 Yvonne Mercer 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
- Resident of MB, BC, NL — provincial eligibility
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 fills those holes.
The biggest mistake is submitting a generic letter.
Winners instead get a reference who can specifically describe their perseverance, especially if they are applying based on overcoming learning disabilities.
The biggest mistake is waiting until the final deadline.
Since there are three windows (August 1, November 1, and February 1), apply for the earliest one that fits your situation to get your funds sooner.