CNIB Post-Secondary Scholarships & Bursaries 2026

CNIB post-secondary scholarships help support people who are blind, Deafblind, or have low vision in their educational journeys. These scholarships are for youth entering apprenticeships or skilled trades to adults enrolling in continuing education or certificate programs, and everyone in between.

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirements
• Application Documents
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineJune 26, 2026
• Value$1,000 - $5,000
• Study LevelInternship , Training , Undergraduate
• SponsorCNIB Foundation
• Eligible CountryCanada

Benefits

$1,000 - $5,000

Requirements

To be considered eligible for a CNIB post-secondary scholarship, you must be:

• Be blind, Deafblind, or have low vision (best corrected visual acuity of 20/70 or worse and/or a visual field of 20 degrees or narrower)
• Be pursuing a post-secondary diploma, degree, skilled trades certificate, apprenticeship, continuing education program, or equivalent
• Be a Canadian citizen or have held landed immigrant status for at least one year before applying
• Be motivated, independent, and able to demonstrate a strong level of personal achievement

Application Documents

Letters of Reference – Required for All Applicants
All applicants must submit two (2) letters of reference:

• One Community Letter of Reference
• One Employment Letter of Reference

Letters must be submitted on official letterhead and uploaded in an accessible format (.docx or tagged PDF).

Employment Reference Guidance 
An employment letter of reference may be provided by a current or former employer, supervisor, manager, or workplace mentor.

If you have limited formal employment history, an employment reference may be provided by:

• A paid internship or co-op supervisor
• A practicum or placement supervisor
• A paid research assistantship or fellowship supervisor
• A workplace mentor who can speak to your skills, reliability, and growth

The purpose of the employment reference is to help the selection committee understand your work ethic, transferable skills, and readiness for your next educational or career stage.

Application Deadline

How To Apply

Applicants must complete and submit an application form, along with:

• Proof of secondary education completion (interim)
• Two reference letters (academic and community). All reference letters should be on official letterhead, professional letter format and in an accessible format
• Letter of acceptance from an accredited post-secondary institution, college or university
• Transcript (interim)
• A short essay (two pages max) detailing how a CNIB scholarship will change what it means to be blind for you in your education
• List of other sources of funding

For more details, visit CNIB Scholarship webpage