Guidelines & Application

The CICan Paul and Gerri Charette Bursary Program provides financial support to students who demonstrate financial need and often face greater challenges and barriers to participate and complete post-secondary education.

Guidelines

Eligibility

Note: This must be the first time that the student will be attending a post-secondary institution.

  • The student is enrolled full time in the first or second year of a multi-year program at a CICan member institution.
  • The student must be a Canadian citizen, landed immigrant, permanent resident, or a protected person.
  • Students attending colleges or institutes in rural, remote, or northern areas will be given preference for the 10 bursaries of up to $5,000 each.
  • Students must contact the registrar office of the college or institute where they are enrolled by September 22, 2023 in order to express their interest and justify their need for financial support.

Deadline

Institutions must submit an application on behalf of their student by Friday, October 27, 2023.

Application Tips

  • Endorsement letter: the endorsement letter presents a great opportunity to highlight the student.
  • Application questions: supply data-driven responses when possible, and always keep the focus on the application to help the reviewer understand the key element(s) being highlighted.
  • Testimonials: use these three opportunities to provide multiple points of view by requesting a testimonial from both campus and community leaders, and from different levels and/or departments within the campus.
  • Student essay: This essay holds weight with reviewers so be specific, be clear, and be bold! Please remember to focus on the following:
    • financial need;
    • challenges and barriers to attending a college or institute;
    • community involvement.

Selection

Each submission will be reviewed by a national committee of regional representatives from CICan member institutions whose positions are directly related to student services: e.g. registrars, academic counsellors, vice-presidents.

Selection Criteria

Bursary application reviews will be based on the demonstration of:

  • financial need
  • challenges and barriers to attending a college or institute
  • impact that the bursary will have on the ability to attend a college or institute
  • community involvement

Final Results

Colleges and Institutes Canada will inform the President’s Office of the status of the application by Monday, November 27, 2023. The first bursary disbursement will be done by December 15, 2023.

Application

  • College or Institute Information

  • The college or institute meets all of the following criteria:
  • Student Information

  • Eligibility

    The student meets all of the following criteria:
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    The student meets all of the following criteria:
  • Endorsement Letter

    An endorsement letter signed by the President or Director General of the institution that should highlight the financial needs of the student.
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    Accepted file types: doc, docx, pdf, rtf, Max. file size: 50 MB, Max. files: 3.
    • Student Application

    • A demonstration of the financial impact that this bursary would have.
    • Please demonstrate how the bursary will help eliminate challenges or barriers to participating in and completing education
    • A short essay (max 10 000 characters) by the student describing the impact that the bursary will have on their ability to attend a college or institute and their involvement in the community.
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      Accepted file types: doc, docx, pdf, rtf, Max. file size: 50 MB, Max. files: 1.
      • Letters of Support

        Three letters of support from people who know the student. This can include a past or current employer, a teacher, a college administrator, a member of a community or campus organization, someone involved in student services or a faculty member.
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        Max. file size: 50 MB, Max. files: 3.