The Canada Life Indigenous Student Awards

About this award

Get up to $5,000 for your second or third year of post-secondary studies if you have Indigenous affiliation — apply by August 1, November 1, or February 1.

You can receive one of eleven $4,000 awards or one of twelve $5,000 awards that are distributed annually. These are scholarships, not loans, so you do not have to pay them back. If you are selected for the internship opportunity, you can earn an additional $1,500. This is for you if you are an Indigenous student in your second year of study or higher who has shown academic merit and financial need. You have three deadlines to choose from: August 1, November 1, and February 1. No notification timeline is posted publicly — before you start your application, check Canada Life's program page or call their office to confirm when you will hear back. Selection criteria aren't published — ask Canada Life how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Note that for the internship, the donor conducts formal interviews to finalize the placement by March 15. Ask Canada Life 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 Canada Life whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.

Can you get it?

• ✓ Indigenous — citizenship requirement
• ✓ Undergraduate, Graduate — study level
• ✓ Resident of SK, QC, ON, MB — provincial eligibility
• ✓ Studying Business, Technology, Health Science Supports and Administration, Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Commerce, Computer Engineering, Digital Application Development, Technology Operations and Project Management, Health Informatics, Occupational Therapy, Human Resources Management, International Business, Marketing & Communications — field of study

How to apply

1. 1

   Review eligibility and gather your documents~1 hour

   Read the official award page end-to-end. Confirm you meet every requirement before you start.

2. 2

   Request your official transcript1–2 weeks

   Order through your school registrar: allow 1–2 weeks.

3. 3

   Collect reference letters2 weeks

   Give your referees at least two weeks' notice and share your résumé.

4. 4

   Submit by August 1, 2026~1 hour

   Double-check every field, save a copy, and submit at least 24 hours early.

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