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Post-Secondary Student Support Program (PSSSP)

This program provides financial assistance to Status Indian and Inuit students who are enrolled in eligible post-secondary programs, which includes: community college and CEGEP diploma or certificate programs; undergraduate programs; and advanced or professional degree programs.

Am I eligible?
What costs are covered?
How to apply?
Additional Federal Assistance for Aboriginal Students

Am I eligible?

First Nations

Students must be Registered Status Indians (residing on or off-reserve) who have been residing in Canada for 12 consecutive months prior to the date of application for funding. Students must be enrolled in a certificate, diploma or degree program in an eligible post-secondary education institution and must maintain continued satisfactory academic standing within that institution.

Self-governing First Nation members in the Yukon that have not yet assumed responsibility for post-secondary education through a Programs and Services Transfer Agreement are eligible for funding under this program.

Inuit

Inuit students who have been residing outside of the Northwest Territories or Nunavut for 12 consecutive months could be eligible for funding through the Post-Secondary Student Support Program. Inuit students residing in these territories are eligible for funding support from their respective territorial governments.

What costs are covered?

Financial assistance may be provided in the following areas:

Tuition support for part-time and full-time students that may include fees for registration, tuition and the cost of books and supplies required for courses.
Travel support for full-time students who must leave their permanent place of residence to attend college or university. Students may qualify for funding to return home twice per academic year.
Living expenses for full-time students to help cover the costs such as food, shelter, and transportation.

How to apply

Eligible Status Indian Students

Administration of the program is done through the First Nation or designated First Nation organization that determines the funding and selection criteria in accordance with national guidelines.

First Nation students who want to pursue post-secondary studies and access available funding programs should contact their local band office.

Eligible Inuit Students

Eligible Inuit students seeking more information on how to apply for available funding for post-secondary education should contact the designated organizations or the INAC regional office in the province where they have resided for the past 12 consecutive months.

Additional Federal Assistance for Aboriginal Students

You might also be interested in reviewing other potential sources of financial assistance:

CanLearn
Canada Student Loans and Grants, together with provincial or territorial student assistance programs, can help make getting an education more affordable for students from low and middle income families.

Learning and Post-Secondary Education
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) helps Canadians learn and improve their skills by providing financial assistance and information to students and apprentices, helping and encouraging parents to save for their children's post-secondary education, and providing support for student exchanges and international academic mobility.

Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership (ASEP)
The ASEP is a nationally managed and project-based program that promotes increased participation of Aboriginal people in major economic developments. It achieves this through a collaborative approach of Aboriginal, private-sector, and provincial/territorial partnerships. The program supports multi-year training strategies developed by Aboriginal organizations and industry employers, leading to long-term skilled jobs for Aboriginal people in existing and emerging economic opportunities. It is a proposal driven process.

Aboriginal Bursaries

National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation
The National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation (NAAF) is a nationally registered nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to deliver programs that provide the tools necessary for Aboriginal youth to achieve brighter futures. NAAF also provides awards to First Nation, Inuit and Métis.

More than $10 million in bursaries and scholarships is available to Canadian Aboriginal students for their post-secondary education. Many organizations, institutions and private sector businesses offer bursaries to students who want to continue their studies in college and university after high school.

To search for these awards, you can visit Aboriginal Bursaries.