Bursaries
AU bursaries are intended to help those students who need it most. AU considers it a priority to address financial privation that jeopardizes students' ability to continue their studies. As Canada’s Open University, AU strives to remove the barriers of income level in part by providing, and encouraging support for, student financial bursaries.
If the award description states that the application should be submitted to the Office of the Registrar, application documents should be submitted to
Student Awards Administrative Assistant
Office of the Registrar
Athabasca University
1 University Drive
Athabasca, AB
T9S 3A3
Phone: 1-800-788-9041 ext 6197
Fax: (780) 675-6174
awardsinfo@athabascau.ca
All bursaries managed by Athabasca University require students to follow an application process as outlined in the description of each bursary listed below.
**IF APPLICATION DEADLINE DATE FALLS ON A HOLIDAY OR WEEKEND, APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED THE FOLLOWING BUSINESS DAY.**
- AU Access Fund for Students with Disabilities Apply by Oct 15th
- AU Access to Students With Disabilities Education Bursary Apply by Oct 15th
- AU Access to Students with Disabilities Technology & Support Service Bursary Apply by Oct 15th
- AU Community Contributor Bursary Apply by Oct 15th
- AU Doctoral Level Student Bursaries Apply by Oct 15th
- AU Masters Level Student Bursaries Apply by Oct 15th
- AU PLAR Bursary
- AU Undergraduate Student Bursaries Apply by Sep 15th
- CIPS Alberta Bursary
- Edmonton-Glenora Rotary Bursary Apply by Oct 15th
- First Peoples Technology Bursary Apply by Aug 15th
- Florence Dwyer Bursary Apply by Oct 15th
- Frank and Agnes Cardinal Neheyiwak Bursary Apply by Sept 15th
- Rotary Club of Athabasca Apply by Oct 15th
- School of Business Bursary Apply by Oct 15th
Are you looking for a different award? See our alphabetical listing of all AU awards.
Award Descriptions
AU Access Fund for Students with Disabilities
Value: Up to $1500
Number Awarded: Varies
Application Deadline: October 15th
Students must have an identified learning, physical, or mental disability. A disability is a functional limitation resulting from physical, sensory or mental impairment, which, for an indefinite period, affects the ability of the student to perform the activities necessary to participate fully in post-secondary learning.
Candidates must be participating in undergraduate or graduate coursework at Athabasca University. Preference will be given to students in an AU degree, diploma, or certificate program who have made noteworthy progress toward graduation and who have an identified financial need for funding assistance.
Apply by submitting a completed application to the Student Awards Unit.
AU Access to Students With Disabilities Education Bursary
Value: A credit for one 3 credit course at an undergraduate or masters level.
Number: Varies
Application Deadline: October 15th
Awarded to a student, or potential student, with an identified learning, physical, or mental disability. A disability is a functional limitation resulting from a physical, sensory, or mental impairment, which, for an
indefinite period, affects the ability of the student to perform the activities necessary to participate fully in
post-secondary learning.
Applicants must have expressed significant determination to commence studies at AU but be in such
desperate financial privation, that investing in personal education is monetarily impossible, as confirmed by
the ASD Office.
Apply by submitting a completed application to the Student Awards Unit.
AU Access To Students With Disabilities Technology & Support Service Bursary
Value: $2,500 (via cash, assistive technology and/or specialized academic support services)
Number: 10
Application Deadline: October 15th
Value: $4,500 (via cash, assistive technology and/or specialized academic support services)
Number: One (1)
Application Deadline: October 15th
Awarded to Athabasca University (AU) students that have an identified learning, physical, or mental
disability. A disability is a functional limitation resulting from a physical, sensory, or mental impairment,
which, for an indefinite period, affects the ability of the student to perform the activities necessary to
participate fully in post-secondary learning.
Conditions of Eligibility
An applicant must meet the following criteria to be eligible to apply for this award:
- Current Athabasca University undergraduate or graduate student.
- Have an identified learning, physical, or mental disability, as defined in the description of the bursaries above.
- Has never received more than two of these awards over a rolling three-year period.
Preference will be given to students who are not eligible for alternative funding sources via the 'Canadian Studies Grant for Students with Disabilities' or 'Employability
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities'.
Apply by submitting a completed application to the Student Awards Unit.
AU Community Contributor Bursary
Value: $2000
Number: 20
Application Deadline: October 15th
Awarded to current AU undergraduate program students who have completed at least 9 AU credits. Recipients will be selected on the basis of demonstrated financial need. Preference will be given to applicants who have made contributions to their local community via any level of volunteerism and/or other extracurricular activities. Students are only eligible to receive this award once within any five-year period.
Apply by submitting a completed application to the Student Awards Unit.
AU Doctoral Level Student Bursaries
Donor: Athabasca University
Value: $2500 towards course enrolment
Number: 10 (5 bursaries offered two times per year)
Application Deadline:
September 15 and April 15
The AU Doctoral Level Student Bursaries are intended to assist students continue with their education without interruption to their studies due to financial need or exceptional life circumstances.
Current AU doctoral level program students in financial need and/or those AU students faced with exceptional life circumstances are invited to apply. Applicants must have completed a minimum of 3 AU credits at the doctoral level and have a cumulative AU program GPA of 3.0. Additional circumstances such as disabilities, single parent/caregiver status, and so forth may be taken into consideration.
Applications are accepted year round until all the bursaries are disbursed. No student can receive more than two of these bursaries in a five year period.
Apply by submitting a completed application to the Student Awards Unit
AU Masters Level Student Bursaries
Value: $1500 towards course enrolment
Number: 20 (10 bursaries offered twice a year)
Application Deadline: September 15th and April 15th
The AU Masters Level Student Bursaries are intended to assist students continue with their education without interruption to their studies due to financial need or exceptional life circumstances.
Current AU masters level program students in financial need and/or those AU students faced with exceptional life circumstances are invited to apply. Applicants must have completed a minimum of 9 AU credits at the graduate level and have a cumulative AU program GPA of 3.0. Additional circumstances such as disabilities, single parent/caregiver status, and so forth may be taken into consideration.
Applications are accepted year round until all the bursaries are disbursed. No student can receive more than two of these bursaries in a five year period.
Apply by submitting a completed application to the Student Awards Unit
AU PLAR Bursary
Value: $500 towards PLAR assessment
Number: 2
Application Deadline: February 15th
The AU PLAR Bursary will enable applicants in financial need to have access to AU’s PLAR process and, as a result, the credit that results from that process.
Apply by submitting a completed application to the Student Awards Unit.
AU Undergraduate Student Bursaries
Value: $750 towards course enrolment
Number: 48 annually, 12 every four months
Application Deadline: March 15th, June 15th, September 15th, and December 15th
The AU Undergraduate Bursaries are intended to assist AU program students continue with their education without interruption to their studies due to financial need or exceptional life circumstances.
Current AU students in financial need and/or those AU students faced with exceptional life circumstances are invited to apply. Applicants must have completed a minimum of 3 AU credits at the undergraduate level. Additional circumstances such as disabilities, single
parent/caregiver status, and so forth may be taken into consideration.
Applications are accepted year round until all the bursaries are disbursed. No student can receive more than two of these bursaries in a five year period.
Apply by submitting a completed application to the Student Awards Unit.
CIPS Alberta Bursary
Value: $1000
Number Awarded: 1
Application Deadline: May 15th
Awarded annually to a student currently enrolled in the Athabasca University (AU) Master of Science in Information Systems (MSc - IS) program and who holds the Information Systems Professional (I.S.P.) designation. Recipients will be selected on the basis of financial need, active involvement in Alberta’s Information Technology community and demonstrated commitment to professionalism.
An applicant must meet the following criteria to be eligible to apply for this award:
- Be a current AU MSc – IS degree program student
- Have an ISP designation
- Have not received this award in the last 5 years
- Demonstrate financial need
- Submit a fully completed application to the Student Awards Administrative Assistant, Office of the Registrar at AU, by May 15th, of the current year
Apply by submitting a completed application to the Student Awards Unit.
Edmonton-Glenora Rotary Bursary
Value: $500
Number: 1
Application Deadline: October 15th
Awarded annually to an AU program student who has successfully completed a minimum of 9 AU credits between October 16, of the previous year and October 15, of the current year, who currently resides in the Alberta Capital Region.
The recipient is selected based on financial need, with preference given to female applicants. It is recommended that applicants have a history of contributions to community through volunteerism, and active participation, along with a demonstrated enthusiasm to succeed through life-long learning. The recipient of this bursary should be willing to provide a visit to the Rotary Club to participate in a short acknowledgement ceremony.
Apply by submitting a completed application to the Student Awards Unit.
First Peoples Technology Bursary
Value: Up to $1250
Number: 3
Application Deadline: May 15th, August 15th, November 15th and February 15th
Awarded to current AU undergraduate program or collaboration program students in their 1st, 2nd, or 3rd year of study who are in good academic standing, who have demonstrated a financial need, and who possess identified technological obstacles to continuing academic study at Athabasca University.
Recipients must be of Aboriginal descent as defined by their Indigenous nation of origin. While proof of ancestry is not required, proof of community acceptance and participation should be addressed in the application.
Apply by submitting a completed application to the Student Awards Unit.
Florence Dwyer Bursary
Value: $500
Number: 1
Application Deadline: October 15th
Awarded annually to Athabasca University Masters of Business Administration program students who have been accepted in the program.
Recipients will be selected based on financial need. Preference will be given to those applicants who have made contributions to their communities through volunteerism and have demonstrated an enthusiasm to succeed through life long learning.
Apply by submitting a completed application to the Student Awards Unit.
Frank and Agnes Cardinal Neheyiwak Bursary
Donor: Athabasca University, and friends of Frank and Agnes Cardinal.
Value: $500
Number: 1
Application Deadline: September 15th
Awarded annually to self-identifying Indigenous undergraduate student enrolled in at least one AU course who are faced with circumstances which necessitate a financial expenditure without which, completion of their studies is impossible.
Rotary Club of Athabasca
Donor: This award is generously funded the Rotary Club of Athabasca
Value: $500
Number: 1
Application Deadline: October 15th
Awarded annually to an Athabasca University degree program student who has completed at least 12 AU credits. Applicants must be permanent residents of Northern Alberta. The recipient will be selected based on financial need. Preference will be given to the applicant who has made contributions to his/her community through volunteerism, active participation in their community, and have demonstrated an enthusiasm to succeed through life long learning.
The recipient should be willing to visit to the Rotary Club of Athabasca to participate in a short acknowledgement ceremony.
Apply by submitting a completed application to the Student Awards Unit.
School of Business Bursary
Donor: This award is generously funded annually by friends and alumni of the Athabasca University School of Business
Value: $1000
Number: 1
Application Deadline: October 15th
Awarded annually to a student currently enrolled in a School of Business degree program who has completed at least 12 AU credits in the last 12 months. Applicants must have a cumulative AU GPA of 3.0 or greater.
Recipients will be selected based on financial need and may only receive this award once.
Apply by submitting a completed application to the Student Awards Unit.
If you have questions about any of these awards, feel free to contact our awards unit at 1-800-788-9041 ext 6197, or via email.
Lorraine Duma - Office of the Registrar - Last Updated September 08, 2010, 16:27:50
