Nunatsiavut Government Post-Secondary Funding for Labrador Inuit Students

What the Nunatsiavut Government Funds

Nunatsiavut Government is the self-governing Inuit government for Labrador Inuit, created under the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement signed in 2005. Its Education Division, based in Makkovik, offers financial and non-financial assistance to Labrador Inuit beneficiaries pursuing post-secondary education and skills training.

Beyond direct post-secondary funding, the division runs a Mobility Assistance program, a Work Experience Program, a Summer Work Program and Job Start Supports, aimed at helping beneficiaries move for school, gain work experience during study, and transition into employment after graduating.

Who Qualifies

You need status as a beneficiary under the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement to access Nunatsiavut Government funding. This status is separate from being a Newfoundland and Labrador resident, so confirm your beneficiary enrollment with Nunatsiavut before you apply, especially if you grew up outside Labrador.

The Education Division's programs cover students heading into college or university as well as those pursuing labour market training short of a full degree, so check which stream matches your plans when you contact the office.

Confirming Your Beneficiary Status

The Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement sets out who counts as a beneficiary, generally tied to Labrador Inuit ancestry and community ties recognized under the agreement. Confirm your enrollment status with Nunatsiavut Government directly rather than assuming eligibility, particularly if your family has moved outside Labrador or if you are applying for funding for the first time.

How It Works With Provincial Aid

Newfoundland and Labrador runs its own student aid system through Student Financial Services, integrated with the Canada Student Loans and Grants program. Nunatsiavut Government funding sits alongside this provincial and federal aid rather than replacing it, so apply to both.

Submit your Newfoundland and Labrador student aid application through the standard provincial process, and contact the Nunatsiavut Education Division separately to register for beneficiary-specific support. Keep your beneficiary documentation and school acceptance ready for both applications, since neither office shares files with the other.

Mobility and Work Supports

Most post-secondary programs sit outside Labrador, so the Mobility Assistance program is built around the reality that Nunatsiavut beneficiaries generally leave the region to study. Ask the Education Division how this support interacts with your travel and moving costs before you book flights or sign a lease.

The Work Experience Program and Summer Work Program give you a way to build relevant experience during breaks in your program, and Job Start Supports help with the transition once you finish and start looking for work. Treat these as part of a full plan around your degree, not just extras once you are close to graduating.

Timing Your Applications

Provincial and federal student aid applications for Newfoundland and Labrador generally open months before the academic year starts. Submit your provincial aid application on that schedule, and contact the Nunatsiavut Education Division at the same time so both funding streams are confirmed before tuition and moving costs come due.

How to Apply

Contact the Education Division directly at [email protected] to get current application forms and confirm which programs fit your situation. The division's Education and Economic Development page lists its programs and contact details.

Apply as early as you can once you have a school acceptance, since funding decisions and disbursements take time to process. Reconfirm your funding status each academic year rather than assuming it carries forward automatically.

Build a Full Funding Package

Layer Nunatsiavut Government funding on top of your provincial and federal aid rather than relying on one source. Ask your school's financial aid office about Indigenous-specific scholarships too, since many Canadian universities and colleges run their own awards that beneficiaries can combine with Nunatsiavut and provincial funding.

What to Ask Before You Commit

Before you accept a school offer, ask the Education Division how your funding handles a program change, an extended program length, or a reduced course load for health or family reasons. Ask the same question of Newfoundland and Labrador Student Financial Services, since provincial rules on program changes do not always match Nunatsiavut's own policies.

Get both answers in writing before you commit to housing or a program switch, so you know what happens to your funding if your plans shift partway through the year.

If Your Circumstances Change

Tell the Education Division as soon as your program, school, address or household situation changes, since your funding package is tied to the details on file. Report the same changes to your provincial student aid file directly, rather than waiting until renewal season.

A change in circumstances does not automatically end your funding, but an unreported change risks a delay in your next payment. Reach out to both offices as soon as something shifts in your plans.