Scholarships and Bursaries in Manitoba: What Exists and Who Qualifies
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Aug 19, 2026 • Scholarships & Funding, Canadian Universities & Colleges
Manitoba funds student aid through the Manitoba Scholarship and Bursary Initiative (MSBI), which matches private donations to your institution, plus separate entrance scholarships, in-course awards and needs-based bursaries run by each school. Most large awards need no separate application: your admission average enters you automatically.
🎓 University of Manitoba general entrance scholarships pay $1,000 to $3,000 for a minimum 85% average, awarded automatically on admission
💵 Brandon University entrance scholarships range from $500 to over $24,000 a year, awarded from your transcript by June 30
📩 Application-based awards like Schulich Leader and BMO Leader of Tomorrow need separate forms and have their own deadlines
💵 University of Manitoba pays out more than $40 million a year in scholarships and bursaries combined
⏱️ MSBI funding for Indigenous Education Awards increased by $500,000 in November 2024, moving to a one-to-one government/private match
How Manitoba funds student awards
Manitoba does not run one central scholarship portal. Money reaches you through three separate channels: the province, your institution and outside organizations. Knowing which channel pays for what saves you from missing free money that never shows up in a loan application.
The Manitoba Scholarship and Bursary Initiative (MSBI) is the province's main lever. The government matches private donations that a school raises, at a ratio of one provincial dollar for every two private dollars. Your institution then combines that pool and hands it out as its own named scholarships and bursaries. In November 2024, the province increased MSBI funding for Indigenous Education Awards by $500,000, moving that program to a one-to-one government-to-private match and enabling 400 awards through the Business Council of Manitoba, double the prior year, according to a provincial news release . Because MSBI money flows through your institution, there is no separate MSBI application. You apply through your school's regular scholarship and bursary process.
University of Manitoba awards
The University of Manitoba runs its largest entrance awards automatically. If you apply for admission with a strong average, the university considers you for a scholarship without any extra form, according to its entrance awards page .
| Award | Value | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| General Entrance Scholarship, Level 1 (Queen Elizabeth II) | $3,000 | 95% average or higher |
| General Entrance Scholarship, Level 2 (Guertin Centennial) | $2,000 | 90% to 94.9% average |
| General Entrance Scholarship, Level 3 (Hogg Centennial) | $1,000 | 85% to 89.9% average |
| Isabel Auld, Chancellors' and President's Laureate | $5,000 a year, renewable 3 years | 95% average, top scores in core subjects, 3.75 GPA to renew |
| International Baccalaureate Entrance Scholarships | $1,100 to $3,500 | Full IB diploma, minimum grade 4 on all papers |
General entrance scholarships require a minimum 85% average across five eligible courses from different subject areas, with at least 24 credit hours completed. You do not fill out a separate form for these. Application-based awards work differently and have their own deadlines: the Alumni Association Entrance Scholarship is essay-based, the Fairfax Financial Holdings Bursaries pay $6,000 each to Canadian citizens or permanent residents with financial need, and the Asper Foundation Entrance Bursary pays $1,000 to students with a 70% average and demonstrated need. Check current deadlines on the university's financial aid and awards page before you apply, since dates shift each cycle.
Beyond entrance awards, the university distributes over $14 million a year in bursaries ranging from $400 to $1,000, based on financial need rather than grades.
Brandon University and other institutions
Brandon University's entrance scholarships span a wide range, from $500 up to more than $24,000 a year for top applicants, according to the university's entrance scholarships page . Submit your transcript by June 30 to be considered. Once admitted, a single annual scholarship and bursary application covers most continuing awards, so you do not reapply separately for every fund.
The University of Winnipeg, Université de Saint-Boniface and Booth University College each run their own award programs funded partly through MSBI. Check each school's financial aid or awards office page directly rather than relying on a general list, since values and eligibility differ by institution and change each year.
Community and employer awards
Outside your institution, look for awards from community foundations, employers of your parents or yourself, unions, and professional associations tied to your intended field. The Manitoba Government and General Employees Union runs member scholarships, and many Manitoba credit unions, Rotary clubs and local business associations fund small annual awards for graduating high school students in their region. These rarely appear on university award lists, so search your hometown newspaper, high school guidance office and any organization you or your family belong to.
How to apply without missing deadlines
Complete your admission application early. Automatic entrance scholarships are assessed from your admission average, so a late application can miss the assessment window.
Separately, fill out your institution's general scholarship and bursary application once admitted. This single form usually covers most in-course and needs-based awards for that school.
Track application-based awards like Schulich Leader and BMO Leader of Tomorrow on a calendar. These have fixed deadlines that do not move with your admission date.
Ask your high school counsellor and your intended university's awards office directly about local or program-specific funds. Many smaller awards never make it onto a general list.