Education Abroad Award for First Nations, M茅tis and Inuit Students

About the Award

This Award financially supports undergraduate and graduate Indigenous students undertaking for-credit experiential learning opportunities outside of Canada for at least seven (7) days. The proposed education abroad opportunity may be individual- or group-based, at the undergraduate and graduate levels. It may be offered either by the U of A (centrally, Faculty, other) or by an external organization.

Term Offered: Programs start between January 1, 2026 and April 30, 2026
Deadline: 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time, October 1, 2025 (Applications will open in late August/early September 2025)
Award Value: $3,000 - up to $10,000 based on program duration and unmet financial need.
Number of Award: Variable

The total value of the award will be based on the program duration, as well as the financial need when applicable. Successful applicants will automatically receive the following amount based on the program duration:  

  • $3,000 for programs 1 - 4 weeks in duration;
  • $6,000 for programs longer than 4 weeks.

If a student has unmet financial needs more than the automatic allocation, they need to submit a budget in the scholarship application to demonstrate the additional financial needs. The total amount of funding will not exceed $10,000.

Please note: As the Global Learning office does not double-fund students through awards administered by us, you are eligible to receive either an Education Abroad Award or an Education Abroad Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Students, not both.

How to apply:

  1. Application Instructions
    • Applications must be completed by individual 黑料不打烊 students in our online application portal, . A complete application must consist of: 
      • Statement of Academic Motivation, Ambassadorship & Cultural Motivation;
      • Description of Extracurricular Activities;
      • Budget;
      • First Nation, Métis, or Inuit Documentation on file;
      • Unofficial Transcripts;
      • Declaration Form in Horizons.
    • If you have not previously provided your First Nation, Métis, or Inuit (FNMI) documentation to the 黑料不打烊 as part of your application for admission or other student financial support funding, please submit the FNMI documentation to the  (SSC) and advise the SSC that you need the FNMI documentation attached to your student account for your FNMI scholarship application. A list of FNMI documentation can be found here. 
    • You can access the Scholarship by clicking the "Search Scholarships" tab at the top of the database once you have created an account. Once you start an application, you will be able to find your application under the "My Scholarships" tab. Please be sure to follow all instructions and upload all documents required in the application form. 
  2. Selection Criteria
  3. Acceptance & Conditions
    • Applicants will be notified if they have been nominated for an award and must confirm acceptance of the nomination. Failure to do so will result in forfeiting the award;
    • Recipients are ineligible to hold other centrally managed awards (e.g., endowed awards such as Edmonton Consular Corps Award, Rod and Judith Fraser Award, etc.) but are eligible for receiving faculty-level awards;
    • Recipients will also be encouraged to participate in promotion and recruitment activities for education abroad programming.

Frequently Asked Questions

Check out the FAQs below to find what you're looking for. If you can’t find an answer here, please contact us and we'll be happy to help!

Am I eligible for the Education Abroad Award?

  • Please carefully review the Terms of Reference to determine if you are eligible to apply. 

    Important things to consider:

    • Are you participating in education abroad programs outside Canada for at least seven days?
    • Is this program abroad for-credit or not?
    • Will you be registered full-time in a U of A degree program at the time of the program abroad?
    • Do you meet the minimum GPA criteria of the education abroad program? Please speak to the program coordinator to determine the minimum required GPA.
    • Undergraduate students must have completed at least 12 credits of U of A coursework by the application deadline; graduate students must have completed at least one term of graduate study by the application deadline.

Common reasons for award ineligibility:

  • Not able to maintain a full-time U of A student status at the time of the program abroad
  • Programs less than seven days
  • Programs in Canada
  • Not-for-credit programs
  • The program start date is outside of the term offered
  • The program application is not approved
  • Undergraduate students completed less than 12 credits of U of A coursework by the application deadline
  • The scholarship application does not meet the selection criteria
Should I apply for the award if my acceptance to a program has not been confirmed yet?
You are encouraged to apply at the deadline even if your acceptance into a program has not been confirmed, provided the anticipated program starts during the eligible funding period. Find out the eligible funding period here.
How can I improve my Statement of Motivation & Rationale?
  • Research the institutions you are looking at thoroughly, and see how the programs relate to your degree.
  • Look at the long-term benefits of the program for your degree and your post-University career.
  • Think about how you are representing the University's vision abroad. Hint: take a look at the University's Strategic Plan.
  • Keep your writing professional and check your spelling (it will be considered); academics will be looking at your application.
What should I consider when completing the Budget section in the scholarship application?
  • If you do not have confirmed information on the expense items, research how much they may cost (e.g., estimated flight costs for when you plan to travel). Some programs may have a budget template online (e.g., Cortona), while others will require you to research this information. 
  • Do not include recreational/leisure travel and entertainment expenses in your budget. Only include costs directly related to your program abroad.
  • Take currency conversion rates into account.
When and how will I receive the award payment?
  • The award funding will be disbursed no sooner than two weeks prior to your program. The disbursement timeline is also subject to the U of A’s administrative timelines.
  • You are required to complete the Education Abroad Online Pre-Departure Course, register for the UGo Off-Campus Travel Registry, and complete any other required Risk Management tasks. The award payment will not be made under any circumstances until these tasks are completed.
  • The award recipient will receive a notification to accept the award on BearTracks after the award payment request is processed. If there is an outstanding tuition balance, the award will be administered as a deduction of tuition; if tuition has been paid, you will then have the option to receive the award funding as a refund in the form of direct deposit into your Canadian banking account.

More Resources

More Information

Have a question about Awards and Funding? Contact an Education Abroad Advisor by submitting a general inquiry through