Metis Nation of Alberta Post-Secondary Student Support Explained
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Aug 19, 2026 • Canadian Universities & Colleges, Canadian Student Aid & Scholarships
Post-secondary funding for Alberta Metis students runs through Rupertsland Institute on behalf of the Otipemisiwak Metis Government, and it pays tuition and fees on a sliding scale up to $15,000 a year depending on your year of study.
🎓 Undergraduate tuition grants run from up to $9,000 in year one to up to $15,000 in year four.
💵 Graduate students, masters or doctoral, receive up to $12,000.
📩 You must join the Otipemisiwak Metis Student and Alumni Association (OMSA) and hold Alberta Metis citizenship to apply.
Childcare support adds up to $75 a week per child for as many as three dependents aged 12 and under.
Who Runs This Funding
Rupertsland Institute (RLI) administers post-secondary funding on behalf of the Otipemisiwak Metis Government, the Metis government for the Metis Nation within Alberta. RLI, not the government office itself, reviews your application, assigns you an advisor and pays out your grant.
A Note on the Name
The Metis Nation of Alberta renamed itself the Otipemisiwak Metis Government. You will see both names on funding pages and older documents, but they refer to the same Metis government and the same citizenship registry.
Who Qualifies
You need three things before you apply: proof of Alberta Metis citizenship issued by the Otipemisiwak Metis Government, Alberta residency, and acceptance into or enrollment in a recognized post-secondary degree program in Canada. RLI funds full-time study only, not open studies or upgrading courses.
You also need to join the Otipemisiwak Metis Student and Alumni Association (OMSA) before you apply. Membership is a separate step from your citizenship registration.
How Much RLI Pays
RLI's grants cover tuition and mandatory academic fees only, not housing, food or books. Amounts rise each year you progress through your degree.
| Study level | Maximum grant |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate, year 1 | Up to $9,000 |
| Undergraduate, year 2 | Up to $10,000 |
| Undergraduate, year 3 | Up to $11,000 |
| Undergraduate, year 4 | Up to $15,000 |
| Graduate, masters or doctoral | Up to $12,000 |
Childcare support runs separately from the tuition grant: up to $15 a day per child, capped at $75 a week, for as many as three dependents aged 12 and under.
Since RLI grants cover tuition and fees only, budget separately for rent, food and books. All RLI funding counts as taxable income and you receive a T4A slip.
Smaller Scholarships Worth Adding
The Metis Education Foundation runs a separate set of scholarships through the Otipemisiwak Metis Government, worth $500 to $2,500 depending on the award. Some target a specific field, such as construction and trades or justice-related studies, while others are open to any program. These scholarships run on their own cycle and close periodically, so check the current status before you count on one in your budget.
How to Apply
Confirm your Alberta Metis citizenship through the Otipemisiwak Metis Government before you start.
Join OMSA, the Otipemisiwak Metis Student and Alumni Association.
Create an account on the RLI application portal at rupertsland.org and verify your email.
Upload every required document in one sitting. Partial applications are rejected outright, and missing or late documents push your file past the deadline.
Disclose any funding you already receive from other Metis governments or organizations on the application.
Wait to be contacted for an assessment and a Student Action Plan with your RLI advisor. Do not call to check status before then.
When to Apply
RLI opens applications during a Spring Application Period ahead of fall and winter term starts. Funding is limited each cycle, so a complete file submitted as soon as the window opens improves your odds over waiting until the last week. Reapply every year, since RLI does not carry an award forward automatically.
Stacking RLI Funding With Other Aid
RLI funding does not replace Alberta Student Aid . Apply to both, since RLI's tuition grant leaves your living costs uncovered and Alberta Student Aid's loans and grants fill that gap. Report your RLI award on your Alberta Student Aid application as part of your total resources, and confirm with a student aid officer how it affects your assessed need before you finalize your budget.
Two Separate Funding Bodies, One Government
Rupertsland Institute's tuition grants and the Metis Education Foundation's scholarships are two different funding pools that both sit under the Otipemisiwak Metis Government. Applying to one does not automatically enter you into the other, so submit separate applications if you want to be considered for both the tuition grant and a Foundation scholarship in the same year.
What Your Advisor Relationship Looks Like
Once RLI approves your file, a METI-S Advisor works with you to build a Student Action Plan tied to your program and timeline. Treat this as an ongoing relationship rather than a one-time form: your advisor is your point of contact if your program changes, you switch schools, or you need to update your funding request partway through the year.