Diversity, equity and inclusion scholarships

Each year the CIA and the Actuarial Students’ National Association (ASNA) are pleased to award diversity, equity and inclusion scholarships. Established in 2023, these scholarships highlight the importance of diversity and inclusion in the actuarial profession and in society at large.

Our commitment to fostering the future generation of actuaries, promoting math literacy and ensuring the long-term financial stability of all Canadians is central to these scholarships. 

Our mission

Our mission with these scholarships is threefold:  

• Increase Indigenous representation: We aim to strengthen Indigenous presence in the actuarial profession by offering opportunities and financial support to Indigenous students pursuing actuarial studies.
• Promote diversity and inclusion: We seek to celebrate and reward exceptional efforts made to enhance diversity and inclusion within the actuarial community. This includes supporting underrepresented groups such as:  
  
  • Black, Indigenous and other people of colour,
  • women,
  • people with disabilities, and
  • members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community.
• Support academic excellence: We are committed to assisting students who show outstanding academic achievement in their actuarial studies.  

Scholarship details

The ASNA-CIA DEI scholarships comprise three annual awards for undergraduate students pursuing their ACIA or FCIA designation with the Institute. Applications are welcome from domestic and international students in Canada, in French or English. 

• Indigenous Scholarship
  Designed for Indigenous students pursuing actuarial studies. 

• Inclusive Culture Scholarship
  Awarded to students who have made significant contributions to advancing diversity and inclusion in the actuarial profession.

• Academic Achievement Scholarship
  Dedicated to individuals in their first or second year of an undergraduate program in actuarial science or related studies who have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement.

We are dedicated to celebrating and supporting those who share our vision for a more inclusive society.

ASNA‑CIA DEI scholarship applications

Applications are now open and will be accepted until January 4, 2027. Recipients will be announced at the 2027 ASNA Convention. To be eligible, applicants must be must be full-time students and registered for the convention.

Submissions will be evaluated using a detailed rubric that considers:

• Representation of community
• Demonstration of socio-economic need
• CIA progression
• Coherence of thought
• Originality of thought

We encourage all applicants to review the rubric before applying to understand how their responses will be assessed.

Note: To ensure fairness and authenticity, applicants are strongly discouraged from using AI tools to generate their submissions. Submissions should reflect the applicant’s own experiences, voice and perspective.

Ready to help build a more diverse and inclusive actuarial community? Apply today or share this opportunity with actuarial students who may benefit.

Other scholarships for actuarial students

Some of our partners also offer scholarships for actuarial students:

• The Actuarial Foundation of Canada offers multiple scholarships and bursaries for graduate and undergraduate students, including the Equality of Opportunity Scholarship and the Memorial Actuarial Aboriginal Scholarship.  
• The International Association of Black Actuaries provides scholarships at undergraduate and graduate levels to qualified Black students.
• ScholarshipsCanada, a searchable online database, lists scholarships for disciplines in Canada and beyond.