External awards

Students are encouraged to explore other sources of funding to cover their expenses while attending AUArts. Check out the links to learn about award opportunities outside the university. 

*: also available to MFA Students

  • Award/Grant Resources: 

    • alis - Information on awards specific to Alberta residents, including student loan information. How to apply information and links to websites that offer alternative scholarships/bursaries included.  

    • Scholarships Canada - Comprehensive, searchable database of scholarships, awards and bursaries 

       

       Links for Awards:  

    • 4-H Alberta Scholarships - Open to all Alberta rural youth and designed to help rural farm youth who must leave home to pursue a post-secondary education. Must be enrolled as a first-year student and be no older than 25 years of age. Deadline: May 1st 
    • Africa Centre Scholarships - The Ujima Fellowship is a leadership development program that aims to address structural racism and inequity by creating opportunities for diverse representation within advisory or decision-making entities. Deadline: June 1st 
    • Scholarships | Alberta Student Aid - The Government of Alberta offers various scholarships and awards to recognize outstanding student accomplishments, contribution and achievements. Deadlines Vary 
    • Edmonton Community Foundation - Student Awards - Financial circumstances shouldn’t be a barrier to post-secondary education. That’s why ECF offers a range of scholarships and bursaries to help students with financial need achieve their post-secondary goals. Deadlines Vary 
    • ERA’s 2025 Scholarship for $1 Million & $100K Dollars - From the Electronic Recycling Association. Multiple prizes of up to $10000 and a new MacBook Pro for Canadian students that can come up with a marketing plan and collect e-waste in their area. Deadline: September 30th 
    • Hellamaid Scholarship | $500 for Canadian Students - A $500 award given every semester designed to support Canadian students in their academic pursuits. To apply for the scholarship, write an essay on the topic: “How a Clean and Organized Home Improves Focus and Mental Health for Students.” Deadline: Ongoing 
    • Innovation in Education Scholarship - We at LA Tutors are passionate about sparking the creative genius in students and would love to commend those outstanding students who have a made a difference in the lives of others in some innovative or technological fashion. In order to achieve this, we have established a $500 scholarship drawn monthly for students who meet certain criteria. Deadline: 20th Day of each month 
    • Rank-it Consumer Essay Writing Scholarship - Write a 500 word essay regarding the consumer trends you believe are here to stay for a chance at a $500 scholarship. Deadline: March 1st   
    • ServiceScape Scholarship - Scholarships in the amount of $1,000.00 USD to be paid toward the educational certification/degree program of your choice. Deadline: November 29th  
    • Terry Fox Humanitarian Award Program - Terry Fox Humanitarian Award recipients are selected for their dedication to the humanitarian ideals of Terry Fox, their courage in overcoming obstacles, and definite marks of distinction and persistence in the pursuit of excellence in academic, athletic, and civic life. Deadline: December 1st  
    • The BridgesEDU $1,000 Scholarship for Canadian Students - $1000 to students attending a Canadian Post Secondary (including international students) for the best essay answering one simple question: why do you deserve this scholarship? Your essay can either tell us about your past or your vision and future potential. It’s your essay and your story to tell.                     Deadline: June 30th 
    • The RBC Future Launch Scholarship -The RBC Future Launch Scholarship could help you take your next step towards a better job. This Scholarship is for anyone from 15 to 29 who wants to learn something new… Could $1,500 make you more future ready? Accepting applications all year. Submissions will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. 
    • Universities Canada Scholarship Partners - Universities Canada manages government-funded international partnership programs and more than 120 scholarship programs on behalf of private sector companies. Deadlines Vary 
    • Voice Talent Online - Our annual Scholarship Competitions invite academically outstanding students to compete for one of our three monetary prizes. Deadline: April 30th 

    • Women in Technical and Applied Arts Scholarship | Alberta.ca - The Women in Technical and Applied Arts Scholarship supports women pursuing post-secondary education in technical roles within cultural industries, who are often underrepresented in these fields. Applications re-open in October. Deadline: October 31st 

       

    Awards for Students with a Disability: 

    • Canadian Hearing Services National Scholarship Program - For students who have a hearing loss of 50dB or greater, pure tone average in each ear, be 17 years+ old and attending FT studies in a post-secondary school. Deadline: April 5th                                                             
    • Sun Life Alberta's Workplace Readiness Mentorship Scholarship - $2,000 scholarship to a student in Alberta with disabilities who are entering or currently enrolled in a post-secondary institution while matching them with a volunteer mentor who will provide guidance and assist them in preparing for the workplace. Deadline: June 30th 
    • Kevin Collins Abilities Scholarship - The Kevin Collins Abilities Scholarship is presented to a post-secondary student with a disability. Eligible applicants must have at minimum one full semester left in their post-secondary education. Deadline: March 15th every year (not currently accepting applications for 2025) 
    • Phyllis Davidson Easter Seals Scholarship - Phyllis Davidson Easter Seals Scholarship offers post-secondary academic scholarships to students living with physical disabilities. Each year one $20,000 scholarship will be awarded to a successful applicant at $5,000 per academic year for four years. Deadline: June 30th 
    • CNIB Post-Secondary Scholarships & Bursaries - Multiple scholarships available for students in Canada who are visually impaired, from the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. Deadlines Vary. Applications open in the spring 
    • The Rick & Amanda Hansen Scholarship for Youth with Disabilities - This scholarship aims to make a profound impact on the lives of Canadian youth with disabilities by removing financial barriers and supporting career aspirations through post-secondary education. Funding of up to $10,000 per year (up to a maximum of $40,000). Deadline: May 14th  

    Awards for Travel, International & Semester Abroad Students: 

    • Accessscholarships.com - We're a scholarship search tool striving to connect students with scholarship opportunities, helpful information, and resources that they need to be successful in their higher education journeys and beyond. Scholarships are for US citizens. Deadlines Vary 
    • ServiceScape Scholarship Scholarships which will be in the amount of $1,000.00 USD to be paid toward the educational certification/degree program of your choice. Deadline: November 29th  

    • Study abroad program choices | Alberta.ca - Explore different ways Alberta students can get a post-secondary education or internship in another country. Some programs are offered through partnerships between the Government of Alberta and organizations in other countries. These programs offer professional work and study experiences in exciting places around the world. Students can also choose to take programs available through their post-secondary institution or plan their own study abroad experiences. Deadlines vary  

       

    Awards for the Arts: 

    • Alberta Society of Artists - Every year, the Alberta Society of Artists awards one graduate student and two undergraduate students with scholarships pursuing a fine arts education at a post-secondary intuition within Alberta. Deadline: January 15th  
    • Applied Arts Magazine - Offers the Applied Arts Awards. They are the only competition in Canada that recognizes the creative work of professionals across the visual communications sector, from image makers to advertising executives to designers. Deadlines Vary 
    • Call for Entries | Sehsüchte (sehsuechte.de) - From now on, the Sehsüchte International Student Film Festival is once again looking for your films. A film festival competition for young international filmmakers. Takes place internationally. Cash prizes for the winners. Deadline: January of every year 
    • James Lee Foundation Scholarship - The scholarship is open to emerging creative talent from across Canada wanting to enter the advertising industry. All fields of creativity related to the advertising community will be considered. We will be awarding a minimum of $5000 to the winner. Deadline: September 15th  
    • Queen's Platinum Jubilee Scholarship for Visual Arts - One scholarship of $7,000 will be awarded annually by the Government of Alberta to a young Albertan visual artist who shows extraordinary talent and potential and who demonstrates clear educational or training goals. Deadline: March 3rd  

    • Soroptimist Awards - The Soroptimist Awards are presented annually to deserving recipients: women (or anyone who identifies as female) who make a difference in the lives of other women or those who are working through adversity to achieve their educational goals. Deadlines Vary   

       

    Awards for Indigenous students: 

    • Indigenous Arts Individual Project Funding - This funding provides up to $18,000 to support the development of an individual Indigenous artist, arts administrators, or an ensemble of artists in Alberta by providing funding for a specific cultural or artistic project. Deadline: March 3rd
    • Scholarships | Alberta Student Aid - The Government of Alberta offers various scholarships and awards to recognize outstanding student accomplishments, contribution and achievements. These awards are specific to Indigenous students. Deadlines Vary 
    • RBC Future Launch Scholarship for Indigenous Youth - The RBC Future Launch Scholarship for Indigenous Youth will award 20 scholarships annually valued up to $10,000 each per year (up to 4 years) to First Nations, Inuit and Métis students across Canada demonstrating strong academic performance and community involvement. Deadline: February 5th every year 
    • Freehorse Family Wellness Society - Freehorse Family Wellness Society (FFWS) is a non-profit organization proud to assist in the continuing education of First Nations people. FFWS is currently offering a Post-Secondary Funding Program on behalf of Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), which assists eligible students from specific Alberta First Nations. Alberta residents (minimum 12 months) registered with Northwest Territories bands are also eligible under our Post-Secondary Funding Program. Deadlines Vary 
    • Indigenous Scholarships | Alberta Blue Cross - Alberta Blue Cross provides nine scholarships each year to Indigenous students enrolled in an accredited post-secondary institution. Applications open September 1st. Applications close January 27th 
    • The Girls Write the Future Scholarship - As an organization proudly based in Canada and run by Canadians, we want to make sure that we’re contributing to gender equality in education both at home and abroad. This scholarship will cover up to $5000 of tuition fees per year for students beginning their studies at any accredited university in Canada. Deadline unknown, applications open in spring 
    • TD Scholarship for Indigenous Peoples - Together with AFOA Canada, a not-for-profit led by Indigenous Peoples, we’ve worked to build a scholarship for Indigenous Peoples. Through it, 25 scholarships are available to be awarded annually, worth up to $60K over 4 years. Awarded one year in advanced, applications open in fall  

     

    Other Awards: 

    • P.E.O. Projects and Philanthropies - The P.E.O. Sisterhood maintains six educational projects in the form of grants, scholarships and loans as well as the stewardship of Cottey College. Deadlines Vary