Manitoba's funding system layers Manitoba Student Aid (need-based loans and grants) on top of the Manitoba Scholarship and Bursary Initiative (merit and need awards run by schools). There are also university entrance awards and community-foundation bursaries to add on top.
Who this page is for
Manitoba residents applying to post-secondary in Manitoba or elsewhere in Canada. International students at Manitoba institutions should check institutional eligibility for entrance awards.
Manitoba Student Aid
Manitoba Student Aid handles federal student loans together with Manitoba's own grants and loans. Apply at manitobastudentaid.ca:
- Manitoba Bursary: provincial grant for full-time students with high demonstrated need (does not repay).
- Manitoba Student Loan: provincial loan portion stacked on Canada Student Loan.
- Manitoba Grant: smaller need-based grant available alongside loans.
Manitoba Scholarship and Bursary Initiative (MSBI)
The MSBI is money you do not repay. Universities and colleges administer their share, so apply through your school's awards office. The province and the institutions both contribute.
- University of Manitoba awards: U Score (entrance), Chown, Isbister.
- University of Winnipeg awards: U of W Entrance, Continuing Excellence, Aboriginal Student Awards.
- Brandon University awards: Brandon Entrance, Continuing.
- Université de Saint-Boniface: its own scholarships (bourses).
- Red River College Polytechnic: trades and technology entrance awards.
Helen Glass Scholarships in Nursing
Manitoba-specific nursing scholarships. Multiple awards across U of Manitoba, U of Winnipeg, RRC Polytech, Brandon. Application timing varies by school.
Trades and apprenticeships in Manitoba
Federal apprenticeship grants stack with Manitoba Apprenticeship Branch supports. RRC Polytech offers trades programs in Manitoba.
Indigenous Manitoba students
- Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre: First Nations education funding.
- Indspire: national Indigenous awards including Manitoba-specific streams.
- Métis Federation Manitoba: Métis-specific bursary programs.
What our directory lists
Below: Manitoba-eligible scholarships, grants, and bursaries currently in our directory. For the full Manitoba student funding guide (Manitoba Student Aid step-by-step, MSBI nuances, university-specific timing), see the linked blog post.