While not guaranteed, NAIITS attempts to offer a tuition-directed award for Master program and the PhD program, which is made available through the generosity of faculty and friends, as well as the Elijah Harper Education Fund in Canada and the Richard Twiss Education Fund in the USA. If you believe you might qualify for an award, you are encouraged to apply according to the following guidelines.

AWARDS:

• Graduate Students will receive an award commensurate with need, and funding availability up to a maximum award of $10,000 during the student’s time spent toward degree completion.
• PhD students will receive an award commensurate with need, and funding availability, to a maximum of $25,000 during the period of their study. Amount during any given period is dependent on availability of funds.

In each case, awards will be determined on a on a case-by-case basis, and only through the application process.

1. Fund awards are directed primarily toward Native North American, and then other Indigenous peoples – in that order - enrolled in any of the Masters degree or PhD programs.
2. Students must be enrolled or accepted into one of the NAIITS Masters or the PhD degree programs.
3. Eligibility:
   1. Graduate students must be enrolled in a minimum 6 credit hours in two consecutive semesters for the year in which the funds are being awarded.
   2. PhD students may be in either part-time or full-time study. Awards for the PhD will be made according to enrolment and study time allocations.
4. Funds will be awarded solely at the discretion of the NAIITS award committee. The committee is comprised of one Indigenous NAIITS elder, two members of the board of directors, and one faculty member. The committee may make other awards as deemed appropriate.
5. Students must reapply for awards each year.
   • NOTE: Withdrawal from courses to below the above level subsequent to the awarding of funds, or failure to complete courses in the semester for which the award is given, will disqualify the applicant from reapplying until the issues for which the student withdrew have been adequately resolved. If the issue is academic in nature, the student will be required to demonstrate to the committee’s satisfaction, that the issue is able to be resolved.
6. Applications must be received by:
   • January Session - November 01
   • May Session - March 01
   • September Session - July 01
7. Successful applicants are not prevented from applying for funds from other sources. However, students who are applying for other student aid in their country of residence must complete and file required documents personally – they will not be filed by NAIITS.