Scholarship and bursaries available to Military Families
Military children face many challenges throughout their lives, but organizations are coming together to ensure that getting a post-secondary education is not one of them.
Scholarships and grants are available to children of current service members, fallen soldiers and parents with OSI to ensure that all have the same opportunities in life as their civilian counterparts.
Over the years, several new scholarships have been established in an effort to help military children finish college. Thanks to the efforts of these organizations, military children attending college or university in 2021 have a wider range of scholarship options to apply for.
For the 2nd year in a row, the Support and favour Our military Troops Scholarship, present by the Canadian to Forces Morale and Welfare Services& launched in 2015, is expanding its scholarship offerings from 23 to 27 for the 2017/2018 academic year.
Below are some of the scholarships and grants available for military children.
1. Canada Business Scholarship Fund
To honor the sacrifices of CAF members killed in action, Canada Company offers the Canada Company Scholarship Fund each year. Launched in 2007, the scholarship awards $4,000 annually for four years to any eligible child pursuing post-secondary education. In 2016, Canada Company announced an expansion of its scholarship in the amount of $500,000. Due to the expansion, this scholarship is now available to children of serving military members who have taken their own lives, as deemed attributable to their military service. For more details about this scholarship, visit here. And try
2. Support Our Troops Scholarship / National Scholarship (CFMWS)
In 2023 the National Scholarship and bursaries Program offer and distributed $148,000 in scholarships to military family members. This scholarship is sponsored by CFMWS and is available to families of members and currently serving veterans. For the 2017/2018 year, Support Our Troops offers 27 scholarships for full-time and part-time post-secondary education at an accredited educational institution. For more information about this scholarship, please visit their website.
3. Wounded Warriors Canada Veteran Child Scholarship
This scholarship funds the first year of full-time post-secondary education for up to eight children whose parents are CAF members or veterans and are affected by OSI. Payments will be divided by semester with a maximum of $5,000 per child per full course year. Visit here to apply.
4. Top Educational Assistance / Veterans Affairs Canada
Veterans Affairs Canada provides educational support to the children of fallen soldiers by providing monthly fees and allowances. Students must apply for Scholarship and bursaries before their 25th birthday and be enrolled in a full-time academic program. For more details or to try, visit the VAC website.
5. Canadian Heroes Fund
Established in 2009 by University of Toronto students and graduates, this scholarship is open to military spouses and children of fallen soldiers. The Scholarship and bursaries can be used to attend an accredited university, college or technical school in Canada. Visit their website to apply.
6. Canadian Military Engineers Association (CMEA) Scholarship Program
The program awards six individual academic scholarships of $1,000 each year. Applicants must be a dependent of Scholarship and bursaries current or deceased member of CMEA. Visit here to apply.
7. Royal Canadian Legion Grants and Scholarships
Through the Poppy Trust Fund, Royal Canadian Legion branches award a variety of Scholarship and bursaries to students who are children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren of former Canadian service personnel. Scholarships may be awarded at any stage of a college or university program. Visit your nearest Legion branch for more information.
8. Great Royal Canadian Naval. Benevolent Fund (RCNBF)
This Scholarship and bursaries annually to dependents and grandchildren of serving or retired Navy members. The RCNBF awards two $2,000 scholarships and twenty $1,000 scholarships. For more information, visit the RCNBF website.
9. Royal Canadian Regimental Association Scholarship Program
The RCR Association annually awards a series of Scholarship and bursaries to children and grandchildren of RCR family members. The applicant must be in their final year of high school and preparing to attend an institution of higher education. For more information, visit here.
10. Royal Canadian Sea Cadets Scholarship
The Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Education Foundation awards Scholarship and bursaries each year to Royal Canadian Sea Cadets entering the first year of a university or community college course leading to a degree or diploma. Scholarships range from $1,000 to $5,000. Visit here to apply for this scholarship.