Paying for Post-Secondary School

1. You are a current or former youth in care in Manitoba (no age or care status restrictions).
2. You have a letter proving that you have CFS care experience in Manitoba. If you need help getting this letter, contact Futures Forward’s Post-Secondary Advisor.

Note: there are no age restrictions on tuition waivers at all participating post-secondary schools. 

Rules and Responsibilities

1. Achieve a minimum of a 2.0 GPA.
2. Maintain full-time studies (18 credit hours or 60% course load). Exceptions can be made for folks with disabilities.
3. Must meet with the academic supports at your school, the Futures Forward Student Support Case Manager, and Career Development Counsellor.

1. Check out the program you want to apply to and make sure you meet the program admission requirements.
2. Apply directly to the participating college or university before March 1 so you are accepted into your program at the same time as your waiver. 
3. Apply for full-time studies (at least 18 credit hours per year or 60% course load) or part-time studies for individuals with a verified permanent disability.
4. Fill out the tuition waiver application between Jan. 1 and March 31 every year. Each institution’s tuition waiver application is linked below in “Tuition Waiver Schools”. 

Financial support is provided by a provincial government program called Workforce, Training, and Employment (WTE). You will be connected with a worker called a Career Development Counsellor (CDC), who will help you receive the financial support available to you while you are on a tuition waiver. 

Financial support includes:

• Books
• Supplies
• Living support
• Computer
• Mandatory health and dental fees not covered by your school
• Childcare
• Transportation
• Tutoring

2025 Tuition Waiver Application Form – Assiniboine College

AC offers an unlimited number of tuition waivers and has no time limit on how long you can remain on your waiver. 

• Full tuition per calendar year
• Can complete a minimum of 18 credits over the fall, winter, and summer semesters
• Mandatory meeting with an academic advisor
• Student ID card fee

Does not include:

• Application fee
• Parking fee
• Student Services fee
• Health and Dental fee 
• U-Pass
• Technology fee
• $400 deposit

2025 Tuition Waiver Application – Booth University College 

Booth offers one Tuition Waiver total, and you must complete your program within six years.

• Full tuition per calendar year
• Can complete a minimum of 18 credits over the fall, winter, and summer semesters
• Optional meeting with an academic advisor
• No deposit
• Application is free
• Student ID
• Student Services fee
• No deposit

Does not include:

• U-Pass

2025 Tuition Waiver Application – Brandon University  

BU offers 20 Tuition Waivers total, so the number of awards offered per year may vary. The Waiver is available for six years total or a maximum of 120 credits.

• Full tuition per calendar year
• Can complete minimum of 18 credits over the fall and winter semesters
• Mandatory meeting with an academic advisor
• Student ID card fee
• Technology fee
• Student Services fee
• Copyright fee
• No place holder deposit

Does not include:

• Parking fee or U-Pass
• Health and Dental fee
• Tuition at other institutions (for joint programs)
• Application fee

2025 Tuition Waiver Application – CMU 

CMU sponsors two Tuition Waiver students at a time and you must renew your waiver each year. The Waiver is available for five years total or a maximum of 120 credits.

What’s covered?

• Full tuition per calendar year
• Can complete a minimum of 18 credits over the fall and winter semesters
• Mandatory meeting with an academic advisor
• Mandatory meeting with Student Services
• Student ID card
• Application fee is $80 and will be refunded
• Student Services fee
• Copyright fee does not exist
• No place holder deposit

Does not include:

• Parking fee
• Health and Dental fee
• U-Pass

2025 Tuition Waiver Application – MITT 

MITT offers a total of four Tuition Waivers each year. There is no time limit on how long you can remain on your waiver.

• Full tuition per calendar year
• Can complete minimum 18 credits over the fall and winter semesters
• Mandatory meeting with an academic advisor

Does not include:

• Application fee
• Locker fee
• Parking fee
• Student fitness fee
• Student ID card fee
• Student Services fee
• No place holder deposit
• Health and Dental fee
• U-Pass

Providence University College offers 1 Tuition Waiver to an eligible student at a time. There is no time limit on how long you can remain on your waiver, but you must renew your Waiver each year. More details coming soon!

 2025 Tuition Waiver Application – Red River College Polytechnic

RRC Polytech offers 20 Tuition Waivers each year, with a quota of awards allotted for students from each CFS authority as well as both current and former youth in care. There is no time limit on how long you can remain on your waiver, but you must renew your Waiver each year.

• Can complete minimum 18 credits over the fall, winter and summer semesters
• Mandatory meeting with an academic advisor
• Student ID card fee
• Health and Dental fee
• $400 place holder deposit – if this is a barrier contact Futures Forward staff

Does not include:

• Application fee
• Technology fee
• Copyright fee
• Locker fee
• Parking fee
• U-Pass
• Student fitness fee
• Student Services fee

2025 Tuition Waiver Application – UCN 

UCN offers five Tuition Waivers each year and has no time limit on how long you can remain on your waiver, but you must renew your waiver each year. The waiver is available for six years total or maximum 120 credits.

• Full tuition per calendar year
• Can complete minimum 18 credits over the fall and winter semesters
• Optional meeting with an academic advisor
• Student ID card fee
• Application fee
• Technology fee
• Student Services fee
• Copyright fee
• No place holder deposit

Does not include:

• Parking fee
• Health and Dental fee
• U-Pass

2025 Tuition Waiver Application – Université de Saint-Boniface

USB sponsors 5 Tuition Waiver students at a time. The length of the Waiver depends on the length of your program and maxes out at 120 credits. You must apply to renew your Waiver each year.

A 2-year program will need to be completed in 3 years;

A 3-year program will need to be completed in 5 years;

A 4-year program will need to be completed in 6 years.

• Full tuition per calendar year
• Can complete minimum of 18 credits over the fall, winter, and summer semesters
• Optional meeting with an academic advisor
• Technology Fee
• Student Services fee
• Health and Dental fee

Does not include:

• Application fee
• Copyright fee
• Parking fee
• Student ID card fee
• U-Pass

2025 Tuition Waiver Application – University of Manitoba

UM offers ten Tuition Waivers per year. The tuition waiver must be renewed each year and is available for four years total.

• $5,000 for tuition per calendar year
• Can complete minimum 18 credits over the fall and winter semesters
• Student fitness fee
• Student ID card fee
• Student Services fee
• No deposit
• Health and Dental fee
• U-Pass

Does not include:

• Application fee
• Locker fee
• Parking fee

 2025 Tuition Waiver Application – University of Winnipeg

UW offers 30 Tuition Waivers in total, which means the yearly availability will change each year. On average, 3-7 spots open each year. You must renew your Waiver each year and must complete your program within six years.

• 54 academic credits per year
• Can complete minimum 18 credits over the fall, winter and summer semesters
• Student fitness fee
• Student Services fee
• Mandatory meeting with an academic advisor
• No place holder deposit

Does not include:

• Application fee
• Student ID card fee
• Copyright fee
• Locker fee
• Parking fee
• Health and Dental fee
• U-Pass

This information will be shared with you by the Student Support Case Manager.

Here is a to-do list that needs to be done before classes start:

1. Wait for a letter from your college or university informing you that you received a tuition waiver. This will come by email or mail. Check your junk folder often.
2. Contact the Student Support Case Manager (SSCM) and sign up to get money for rent, books, supplies, transportation, and other benefits.  Tell them you have received a letter from the school saying you received a tuition waiver.
3. Collect important documents for your appointment with the SSCM. If you can’t find all of these you will get help in your appointment to find them.
   • • Budget (income and expenses)
     • Letter of acceptance to the post-secondary school program you applied for
     • Course registration/ class schedule
     • Tuition, books and supplies information
     • Direct Deposit information
     • Tuition-waiver acceptance letter
4. Attend an appointment with the SSCM. At this appointment, you will discuss Workforce Training and Employment (WTE), provide your documents and provided forms to sign. WTE is a government program that provides you with financial support while on your tuition waiver. Once your application is complete you will receive an email from a CDC for your first appointment.
5. Make an appointment and meet with Student Services if you are going to the following schools:
   • • Assiniboine Community College
     • Manitoba Institute for Trades and Technology
     • University of Winnipeg
     • Red River College Polytechnic
     • Canadian Mennonite University
     • Booth University College
     • Brandon University
6. Make an appointment and meet with an Academic Advisor if you are going to the following schools:
   • • Assiniboine Community College
     • Booth University College
     • Brandon University
     • Canadian Mennonite University
     • Manitoba Institute for Trades and Technology
     • Red River College Polytechnic
     • University of Winnipeg
7. Meet with the Career Development Counsellor (CDC). Soon after you complete your application for WTE, you will receive an email with the name, contact information and appointment time with your CDC.

• • In this meeting, you will be asked to complete a participant agreement. This will have to be signed in order to receive payments. Don’t have a printer? Ask for it to be mailed to you. In this agreement, you will discuss your needs like books, supplies, transportation, and childcare. 
• You can complete steps 4, 5 and 6 at the same time or at your own pace.

Missing any of these steps could result in your waiver being cancelled. 

Some of the supports you are entitled to when you are receiving a tuition waiver and WTE funding including: 

• • • Living costs such as rent, groceries, and bills.
    • Textbooks and Supplies. You will be asked to provide a books and supplies list. 
    • Bus pass or mileage. If you can bus to school, the program will cover that cost. They will also provide a very small mileage allowance for folks who can only drive to school
    • Mandatory Health Plans. You will be asked to pay this first and get reimbursed.
    • Internet is available to those who require online classes
    • Childcare is available for students with children needing after-school or daycare so they can attend classes.
    • Tutoring could be reimbursed if approved by your CDC

Other things to know about the WTE program for tuition waiver students:

• • • This money is taxable income unless you are receiving an AYA (opens in new window).
    • You will have to find a second source of income, as the WTE payments will not cover all your expenses. For a single person, you will receive approximately $835 per month, after taxes. 
    • When school ends, you are entitled to four weeks to look for employment. This includes summer break.
    • If you take a minimum of 1 course over the summer related to your program you can continue receiving this support.
    • If you are not in school the expectation is that you will look for work unless your school break is  4 weeks or less. 
    • If you are on EI or EIA you will be asked to provide your worker’s information. If you are eligible for EI, you will be provided the option to activate your EI (which is often more money). However, should you quit school you will not be eligible to reapply for EI. 
    • You can receive this money and Band funding and not have money deducted from WTE. 

School has started, now what?

1. If anything changes, you need to let the SSCM know. This includes circumstances like dropping classes, catching a long illness, failing tests or papers, or a change in your family structure (eg. having a child). All these things can impact your waiver, including additional support. 
2. Check in with your CDC after your midterms and at the end of each semester. 
3. Check in with your academic advisor if you are struggling. The resources that schools offer might surprise you. 

The Workforce, Training and Development program (opens in a new window) assists people who need training to find employment by providing financial help while attending training (opens in a new window) 12 to 52 weeks/2 years in high-demand occupations (opens in a new window). This program will not pay for tuition.

Eligibility

• • Have a current or previous Employment Insurance (EI) claim or
  • Employed individuals who need more skills for better employment or
  • Receiving Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) benefits in Manitoba or
  • You are unemployed or about to lose your job.

Apply

Contact your local Manitoba Jobs and Skills Development Centre (opens in a new window) (MSJD) to make an appointment.
In Winnipeg: 204-945-0575

Toll-Free (outside Winnipeg): 1-866-332-5077

Email: mjsd@gov.mb.ca

Manitoba Student Aid (MSA) provides money for post-secondary studies through loans, bursaries, and grants. In order to receive the bursaries and grants you have to apply for a loan. 

Apply

1) Create an account (opens in new window). You will need your social insurance number to create an account. 

2) Submit the application in the online portal. This process can take up to two weeks to be approved. You can still log in and check your application status. 

3)  Review your assessment. Keep checking your email until you receive one from MSA to check your account. When you enter your account after this email, check the following tabs: My Award information, my required information, and my assessment details. 

4) Submit all the required documents:

• • Program name
  • Program start and end date
  • Program course load (contact your school if you don’t know what it is)
  • Educational institution or campus name
  • Registrar’s email address and costs of your program (in Canadian funds) if attending and out-of-province school
  • All post-secondary studies you have taken
  • Total income you made last year as found on line 15000 of last year’s income tax return
  • Any scholarships, bursaries, and other funding you will receive. This includes a tuition-waiver
  • Your direct deposit information for your bank account

The scholarship program draws on funds from the Winnipeg Foundation Gilroy/Acheson account, which has been designated for use by children in care. Formerly a scholarship for WCFS, the Keith Cooper Scholarship Fund is now available to all four Child and Family Services Authorities and Peguis Child and Family Services. The scholarship committee includes representatives from each of the CFS Authorities, VOICES: Manitoba’s Youth in Care Network, Peguis Child and Family Services, and Futures Forward.

Several scholarships of $1,000 are awarded annually.

There are no age restrictions to apply. Scholarship recipients are also able to re-apply for the scholarship each year of study in order to complete a university degree, diploma, technical or vocational program.

To be eligible applicants must:

• Be currently or formerly in the care of agencies or regional offices delivering child welfare services under the four Manitoba CFS Authorities, Peguis Child and Family Services, or the child welfare agencies that preceded them.
• Be pursuing their first post-secondary degree, diploma or certificate program.
• Have applied to, been accepted to, or currently enrolled in a certificate, diploma, or degree program at a recognized post-secondary institution for the2025-2026 academic year.

 
The Panel will then award scholarship(s) based upon:

• • Financial need, including the availability of other financial resources.
  • Grades, academic achievement and participation in extra-curricular activities to date.
  • Having an available support system.
  • Submitting the application on or before Monday, July 14, at 9:00 am.

Scholarship recipients will be announced by mid-August 2025.
Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted.

INSTRUCTIONS
Please complete the attached application package. Your completed package should include:

• Pages 3 – 8 of this application
• A copy of your latest school transcript*
• One current letter of reference**
• Letter of Acceptance (for new students)
• Current or upcoming class schedule (for returning students)

*Unofficial academic transcripts and class schedules from your student account are acceptable.
**A current letter of reference may include a general letter of reference obtained for the purpose
of applying for any academic scholarship, grant or bursary for the 2025-26 academic year.

Applicants should complete the entire application and return it to the:

Southern First Nations Network of Care
Attention: Keith Cooper Scholarship Selection Committee
Email: Sarah.Flattery@southernnetwork.org
Phone: 204-783-9190 (Ask for Sarah Flattery)

Only emailed submissions are accepted. Please include ‘Keith Cooper Scholarship Application’ in the subject line. Send your application, along with all attachments, as one complete email. Clear photographs of the required attachments will be accepted if you do not have access to a scanner.

If you need help completing the form please contact:

Jade Richardson
Post-Secondary Education Advisor
Futures Forward
Email: jrichardson@yesmb.ca
Phone: 204-987-8661 ext. 672

All completed application packages must be received by
Monday, July 14, 2025 at 9:00 am.
Incomplete or late packages will not be accepted.

KEITH COOPER SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION (PDF)