Awards and financial aid for Indigenous students

UNBC Awards and Financial Aid helps students obtain the funds necessary to support their UNBC education. Funds for Indigenous students may be obtained from the following sources:

We also provide information about emergency-need resources. Contact Awards and Financial Aid for more information.


UNBC internal award competitions

Download a list of awards for Indigenous applicants and students on the Awards and Financial Aid website.

October 15 to March 1: Annual UNBC Award Competition (available after receiving admission)
September 15 to October 14: Fall UNBC Award Competition (occurs during the first semester of study)

Each year, students can apply for In-Course Undergraduate Awards, General Awards or Graduate Awards. As long as you submit an online awards application for the award types above, we will try to match you to any UNBC Awards you are eligible for. Apply online through the awards application found in the myUNBC student portal.


External awards for Indigenous students

Many organizations provide external awards to incoming and continuing students.

Alliance Pipeline Indigenous Student Awards
Admission deadline: July 15
Amount: Up to $2,000
Eligibility: Member of an Indigenous community (band or settlement). Residents of British Columbia, Alberta or Saskatchewan. Relevancy of the program to the oil and gas industry and Alliance Pipeline.

ATCO Indigenous Education Awards Program
Admission deadline: July 15
Amount: Up to $1,500
Eligibility: Indigenous students enrolled in full-time post-secondary.

AUCC Scholarship Program for Indigenous Students (Husky Energy)
Admission deadline: May 31
Amount: Up to $5,000
Eligibility: An Indigenous student studying Business, Engineering, Geosciences, Environmental Studies, Computer Sciences, Law, or skilled trades, including power engineering and instrumentation technician courses.

BC Hydro Indigenous Scholarships and Bursaries
Admission deadline: May 15
Amount: Up to $5,000
Eligibility: Indigenous student who are residents of British Columbia enrolled in full-time post-secondary.

Canadian Institute of Forestry (CIF) - J. Michael Waldram Memorial Model Forest Fellowship
Admission deadline: May 1
Amount: Up to $1,000
Eligibility: Indigenous student under 30 years old studying in the Natural Resource Management filed.

Canadian Water Resources Association (CWRA) - Golder Scholarship for Indigenous Students in Water
Admission deadline: February 14
Amount: $2,000
Eligibility: Indigenous graduate student whose research focuses on applied, natural, or social science aspects of water resources.

Chief Joe Mathias British Columbia Aboriginal Scholarship Fund
Admission deadline: June 15
Amount: Based on financial need
Eligibility: Members of a B.C. First Nations Band enrolled in full-time post-secondary.

Ch'nook Scholars Program
Admission deadline: October 5
Amount: Up to $2,000
Eligibility: Indigenous students studying full-time in a business program at a college or university in B.C. (inclusive of status and non-status First Nations, Inuit and Métis students).

First Citizens Fund Student Bursary Program
Admission deadline: January 31
Amount: Visit website
Eligibility: Indigenous (status, non-status, Métis, and Inuit) post-secondary students that are in financial need and registered full-time in a minimum two-year academic program at any B.C. recognized post-secondary institution.

Health Sciences Association of B.C. Indigenous Bursary Award
Amount: Up to $1,000
Eligibility: Indigenous Students in the fields of: Dentistry; Health Careers and Services; Medicine; Social Services.

Indspire - Bursaries and Scholarship Awards (Indigenous Education, Canada's Future)
Admission deadlines:  February 1, August 1, November 1
Amount: View on website
Eligibility: Bursary and Scholarship awards for Indigenous students/applicants. 

Irving K. Barber Indigenous Scholarships
Admission deadline: March 31
Amount: Up to $5,000
Eligibility: Various award programs for Indigenous students pursuing post-secondary education in B.C.  Available to First Nations (Status or Non-Status), Métis, or Inuit.

Jim Bourque Scholarship
Admission deadline: July 13
Amount: $1,000
Eligibility: Indigenous student enrolled in post-secondary training in Education, Environmental Studies, Traditional Knowledge or Telecommunications.

Kleanza Awards
Admission deadlines: September 15, October 31
Amount: Various
Eligibility: View on website

KPMG Indigenous Student Awards
Admission deadlines: February 1, August 1, November 1
Amount: Various
Eligibility: Indigenous student enrolled in post-secondary training in Commerce, Business Administration, Masters of Accounting / Administration and Management, Masters of Accounting / Taxation, Economics, International Business, Masters of Finance / Administration, Computer Sciences, Information Systems, Bachelor of Technology (BTech), Masters of Information Technology, Communications, Marketing and Business Administration, Human Resources / Organizational Management, or Masters of Marketing.

New Relationship Trust Foundation Scholarships
Admission deadline: April
Amount: $5,000 - $20,000
Eligibility: Indigenous student (First Nations, Métis (Métis Nation of B.C. verified), and Inuit) residing in British Columbia.

NWAC Helen Bassett Commemorative Student Award
Amount: $1,000 
Eligibility: Indigenous women enrolled in full-time post-secondary under the age of 31. Priority is given to students who are studying law or are in a law related field. Demonstrate a commitment to improving the situation of Indigenous women and youth in Canada politically, culturally, economically or otherwise.

Pacific Association of First Nations Women
Admission deadline:  February 28
Amount: $1,000
Eligibility: Indigenous women in post-secondary.

Post-Secondary Student Support Program
Admission deadline:  April 30, August 31, December 31
Amount: Visit website
Eligibility: Indigenous Northwest Territory or Nunavut Inuit students who have been residing in British Columbia for 12 consecutive months.

RBC Future Launch Scholarship for Indigenous Youth
Admission deadline:  December 8
Amount: Up to $10,000
Eligibility: Indigenous students (status and non-status First Nations, Inuit or Métis).

Storwell Foster Children Bursary Program
Admission deadline: December 31
Amount: $2,000
Eligibility: Full-time student who is a former foster child with a Canadian or American foster care program. Must be 24 years of age or less at the time of application.


Government student loans (repayable) and grants (non-repayable)

Students may borrow money in the form of a government student loan on a promise to repay the loan at a specified time in the future. Government student loans are available to students who can demonstrate financial need. Both full-time and part-time student loans are available. Grants are another type of funding available through application to the government, but do not require repayment.

Email us at awards@unbc.ca to find out more – we are here to help and can assist you with completing the online government student loan application for this type of funding.


Band / community funding

Options may be available for you to receive financial support for Post-Secondary Education through your Band/Community. Each Band/Community has different options and availability to access funding. Contact your Band office or Community to find out if this option is right for you.

Forms and information

Forms and information for band-sponsored students can be found on the Finance website under Third Party Sponsorships.

Still have questions?

If you need more information about this process or need assistance with the Band/Community funding application, please feel free to contact our Aboriginal Student Life Navigator in the First Nations Centre.