In addition to the funding sources available on Osgoode’s Financial Services page, there are some additional funding opportunities that are available only to Indigenous applicants.
Band Funding
Status First Nation students and Inuit students may be eligible for band funding. Contact your Band’s education office to obtain information about application forms, application deadlines and policies.
Additional Government Support
In addition to applying for OSAP, Ontario Indigenous students may also be eligible for additional provincial support, also outlined on the OSAP website. Out of Province students are encouraged to look into similar funding opportunities available from their province or territory. Links to all other Provincial and Territorial loan websites are on the Government of Canada site.
Scholarships and Bursaries at Osgoode
Indigenous students are eligible for all scholarships and bursaries at Osgoode. There are some awards specifically for Indigenous students.
- Harris Awards for Indigenous Students – Milton E. Harris, Chairman and CEO of Harris Steel Group Inc., generously donated these awards to support Indigenous students enrolled at Osgoode. It was his intent that the funds provide students with the resources necessary to complete a legal education, which in turn will enable them to benefit their communities. The awards will be offered to Indigenous students who have been admitted or currently registered in the JD Program who demonstrate financial need and good academic standing.
- Harris Internship Award – These awards will be given to students registered in the Intensive Program in Indigenous Lands, Resources, and Governments at Osgoode Hall Law School. The funds will be used to assist students with the travel costs of their internship and other costs associated with their participation in the program. This award was also donated by Milton E. Harris, Chairman and CEO of Harris Steel Group Inc. Mr. Harris was committed to the principles identified by the Royal Commission of Aboriginal Peoples, which included educational initiatives that benefit Aboriginal people and non-Aboriginal people.
- Law Society Education Equity Awards – To encourage diversity and the attainment of equity in legal education and practice, the Law Society Ontario has established the Education Equity Awards, funded by Lexis Nexis. Each year, two students will be selected from Osgoode Hall Law School to receive these awards. To be eligible a student must be a member of a visible minority group, an Indigenous person, a person with a disability, or an LGBTQ student; be enrolled in either the second or third year of the JD Program; and be in good academic standing. The awards will be made primarily on the basis of financial need with due consideration being given to academic achievement and/or devotion and commitment to community and/or university service.
External Awards
There are many funding opportunities for Indigenous students and we strongly encourage you to search for these. For example, you may wish to consult the Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada bursary search tool and the Indspire website where you can find information about a number of bursaries, scholarships and awards. For example, Indspire provides funding for pre-law summer programs such as the Indigenous Law Centre Summer Program at the University of Saskatchewan.