University of Alberta · National
University of Alberta Indigenous Scholars Awards
About this award
Get up to $5,500 for Indigenous students in sport and recreation certificates, or various grants for MD, graduate, and undergraduate programs — apply by August 1, November 1, or February 1.
Funding varies by award. For the Indigenous Sport and Recreation Graduate Certificate, you get $1,800 in September and $3,700 in January, totaling $5,500. For the other scholarships and bursaries, the provider does not post a fixed dollar amount — contact University of Alberta to confirm the value for your specific award before you apply. Since these are grants and bursaries, this money is yours to keep and you do not have to pay it back. These awards are for you if you are an Indigenous student—including First Nation, Inuit, and Métis identities—pursuing studies ranging from undergraduate degrees to specialized medical and graduate certificates at the University of Alberta. You have three deadlines to choose from: August 1, November 1, and February 1. No notification timeline is posted publicly — before you start the application, check University of Alberta's program page or call their office to confirm when you will hear back. Selection criteria aren't published — ask University of Alberta how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Note that for the Resilience Graduate Awards, you must be nominated by your faculty to even apply. Ask University of Alberta during your application how the money will reach you — some awards pay students directly, others apply funds to tuition. For the Sport and Recreation award, payments happen in two installments based on your continued enrollment. 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 University of Alberta whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.
Can you get it?
- Indigenous — citizenship requirement
- Undergraduate, Graduate, Md Program — study level
- Studying Arts, Education, Native Studies, Alberta School of Business, Medicine & Dentistry, Indigenous Sport and Recreation Graduate Certificate, Kinesiology, Sport & Recreation — 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.
Request your official transcript1–2 weeks
Order through your school registrar — allow 1–2 weeks.
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 how the funds will cover their tuition or living costs.
List your specific gaps in funding to make your case stronger.
Many students forget that the Resilience award requires a faculty nod.
The biggest mistake is applying without checking your status.
Winners instead build a relationship with the Faculty of Native Studies early so the department knows their work and nominates them.