Scholarships for Indigenous students
Our scholarships for Indigenous students work to address the education inequity faced by Indigenous peoples in Alberta by making post-secondary studies more financially accessible.
The $1,500 awards are based on scholastic achievement, financial need and community involvement. Scholarship recipients are selected by an external committee with expertise in academia and Indigenous education.
We offer 2 types of Indigenous scholarships:
Indigenous students
We award 3 scholarships annually to students who have just completed their high school education and are now in their first year of post-secondary study at an accredited institution.
Mature Indigenous students
We award 6 scholarships annually to individuals, deemed as mature by their post-secondary institution, entering their first year of study at an accredited institution.
We are no longer accepting applications. The next round of scholarships will be open on September 3, 2024. Please check back then.
Eligibility criteria
- Applicants must be a member of a First Nation or band, or have Inuit, Métis or Indian status as referenced on the Indigenous Services Canada website.
- Applicants must be residents of Alberta and have lived here for the past 12 months.
- Applicants must be enrolled in the first year of any full-time post-secondary certificate or diploma program of 2 or more years duration at an accredited post-secondary institution.
All applicants must clearly describe their community involvement, personal goals and financial need, and submit 2 reference letters for evaluation.
How to apply
The scholarship program is closed until September 3, 2024. Please check back then.
Support
If you have questions or need support, please email scholarships.indigenousstudents@ab.bluecross.ca.
Morgan Chalifoux, 2023 recipient of an Alberta Blue Cross® Indigenous scholarship
Meet Morgan Chalifoux, a 2023 recipient of our Indigenous Scholarship program. Watch our video to learn why Morgan is pursuing an education in social work, what she plans to do next and how she supports her community.
Luke Klug, 2022 recipient of an Alberta Blue Cross® Indigenous scholarship
Meet Luke Klug, a 2022 recipient of our Indigenous Scholarship program. Watch our video to learn why Luke has chosen to study kinesiology, how he’s helping the next generation and what he plans for the future.
A spiritual approach to healing
Hear from 1 of our recent Indigenous scholarship recipients, Zoe Kreutzer, about how a debilitating injury and subsequent care changed the course of her life and led her on a new career path.
Learning and growing towards a bright future
Hear from one of our recent Indigenous scholarship recipients, Luke Pambrun, and learn about his inspirational journey towards a brighter future through post-secondary education.
Accredited post-secondary institutions
- Alberta College of Art and Design
- Ambrose University College
- Athabasca University
- Augustana Faculty, U of A
- Bow Valley College
- Burman College
- Concordia University of Edmonton
- Northwestern Polytechnic
- Keyano College
- The King's University College
- Lakeland College
- Lethbridge Community College
- MacEwan University
- Maskwacis Cultural College
- Medicine Hat College
- Mount Royal University
- NAIT
- Norquest College
- Northern Lakes College
- Olds College
- Old Sun Community College
- Portage College
- Red Crow Community College
- Red Deer Polytechnic
- SAIT
- St. Mary's University
- University of Alberta
- University of Calgary
- University of Lethbridge
- University nuhelot'įne thaiyots'į nistameyimâkanak, Blue Quills
- Yellowhead Tribal College
