Fondation Desjardins bursaries

The Fondation Desjardins is dedicated to providing financial support to young people throughout Quebec and members of caisses populaires in Ontario¹ regions who are starting or pursuing university studies, a professional training or labour market access program.

The Fondation also supports business development, job creation and social commitment. Find out more about Fondation Desjardins.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a Fondation Desjardins bursary, applicants must be Canadian citizens or have permanent resident status and meet the following basic requirements:

• have a primary residence in Quebec
• have a primary residence in Ontario and be a member of a caisse populaire in Ontario

For Fondation university bursaries, applicants must be registered as full-time university students upon receiving their bursary, i.e. at the fall and winter sessions following their application.

To collect their bursary winners must be a member of a Desjardins caisse, or agree to become one.

Important dates

Registration period	Program
December 15 to March 1	Bachelor's degree bursaries Master's degree bursaries Doctorate degree bursaries
December 15 to April 1	Research grants (graduate students) Bursaries for employees of Desjardins Group Dorimène Bursaries Special bursaries: Actuarial sciences, finance and health
April 15 to June 15	Prix Reconnaissance Jeunes dirigeants Desjardins
September 10 to November 10	Bursaries for 18 to 30 year-olds

Ontario bursaries

Bursaries for Ontario members only	Members of a caisse populaire in Ontario are eligible for research grants, career management bursaries and specific bursaries.

Quebec bursaries

Bursaries to pursue a university education

Bachelor's degree bursaries	150 academic scholarships of $1,250 each. Awarded based on the financial needs, scholarly and social commitment and academic performance of applicants.
Master's and doctorate degree bursaries	12 master's bursaries of $7,500 8 doctoral bursaries of $10,000.
Research grants	To provide financial aid of $25,000 or $15,000 (depending on the case) spread over 2 years or $10,000 for 1 year to students already enrolled at the postgraduate level and whose research projects deal with the environment and society or cooperation. They are awarded based on the student's academic excellence.
Joint scholarships and bursaries with other organizations	2 achievement awards for young researchers of $5,000 each; 1 at the master's level and 1 at the doctoral level. The $5,000 Desjardins Emeritas award is given to the top Quebec student completing an MBA.

Career management bursaries

Special bursaries: Actuarial science, finance and health	2 bachelor's in actuarial science bursaries of $5,000. 3 bursaries: 1 of $10,000 bursary in mental health and 2 $5,000 bursaries in finance.
Dorimène Bursaries	Exclusively for women: 3 Back to School baccalaureate bursaries of $2,500 2 Executive Women master's bursaries of $3,500 (offered exclusively to Desjardins Group's female employees and managers).
Bursaries for employees of Desjardins Group	Fondation Desjardins awards training bursaries to employees of Desjardins Group: 3 $2,500 bursaries for students at the bachelor's level 2 $3,500 bursaries for students at the master's or doctoral level in a recognized university.

Other

Bursaries for 18-30 year-olds	This program is for young people ages 18 to 30 who wish to: take technical, professional, art or refresher courses take non-university courses acquire equipment carry out a personal project, particularly with a view to acquiring new skills; acquire international experience that provides benefits to Canada.
Prizes and other forms of financial aid	Achievement award for Secondary V students: the Fondation awards $1,000 grants to young researchers.
Prix Reconnaissance Jeunes dirigeants Desjardins	This prize is exclusively for Desjardins caisse elected officers under age 35 and: young intern officers elected officers

Since the inception of Fondation Desjardins, some 8,700 students have received more than $10 million in bursaries. See the 2008 recipients (PDF, 156 KB) and 2009 recipients (in French only, PDF, 172 KB).

	By mail	Fondation Desjardins C.P. 7, succursale Desjardins, Montréal (Québec) H5B 1B2
	By phone	Montreal area: 514-281-7170 Elsewhere in Canada: 1-800-443-8611
	By e-mail	Fill out the form

1 Member of the Fédération des caisses Desjardins.