Scholarship Opportunity

RBC Elevate Scholarship 2026

The RBC Elevate Scholarship provides financial assistance to young Canadians pursuing their first post-secondary qualification. Eligible recipients can receive up to CAD $15,000 per year, depending on whether they are studying for a bachelor’s degree, diploma or CEGEP technical qualification.

Accessing the scholarship involves more than submitting an online form. Applicants must demonstrate financial need, provide a strong personal statement, arrange a recommendation and monitor their Scholarship Partners Canada account. Successful recipients must then submit proof of registration, maintain full-time enrolment and satisfy annual renewal conditions.

Current update: Applications for the 2026 RBC Elevate Scholarship closed on March 26, 2026. Students interested in a future competition should monitor the official RBC scholarship page for the next opening date.

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RBC Elevate Scholarship Overview

Scholarship detail	Information
Country	Canada
Funding organisation	Royal Bank of Canada
Administrator	Scholarship Partners Canada, a division of Universities Canada
Eligible institutions	Recognized Canadian universities, colleges and CEGEPs
Eligible programs	First bachelor’s, applied bachelor’s, diploma and eligible CEGEP technical programs
Fields of study	All eligible disciplines
Funding type	Partially funded
Maximum award	Up to CAD $15,000 per year
Number of awards	Up to 40 annually
Age requirement	17–29 at the time of application
Study mode	Full-time
Application limit	First 500 completed applications
2026 deadline	March 26, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. ET
Current status	Closed
Official information	RBC Next Step Scholarships

What Is the RBC Elevate Scholarship?

The RBC Elevate Scholarship is one of the RBC Next Step Scholarships created to help Canadians access education and develop skills needed for employment.

It is intended for people aged 17–29 who require financial assistance to begin or continue an eligible full-time post-secondary program in Canada. The scholarship is administered by Scholarship Partners Canada on behalf of RBC.

The program places considerable emphasis on financial need. Selection may also consider educational goals, career plans, community involvement, motivation and the overall quality of the application.

What Does the RBC Elevate Scholarship Cover?

The value depends on the recipient’s qualification:

Qualification	Scholarship value
First bachelor’s or applied bachelor’s degree	CAD $15,000 per year
Diploma or eligible certificate	CAD $8,000 per year
Three-year CEGEP technical program	CAD $2,000 per year

Funding may be renewed for up to four consecutive years or until the recipient completes the first eligible degree or diploma, whichever occurs first.

This scholarship is best classified as partially funded. It can make a significant contribution toward educational expenses, but it does not guarantee payment of full tuition, accommodation, transportation and every personal expense.

Who Can Access the RBC Elevate Scholarship?

An applicant must generally:

Be between 17 and 29 years old at the application date.
Demonstrate financial need.
Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident or hold recognized Protected Person or Convention Refugee status.
Be accepted into or enrolled in a recognized Canadian post-secondary institution.
Study full-time during the relevant academic year.
Be pursuing a first bachelor’s degree, applied bachelor’s degree, diploma or eligible CEGEP technical diploma.
Enrol in a program lasting at least two years.
Have at least one year remaining in the program at the time of application.
Study at an institution located in Canada.
Not be an RBC employee or the dependent of an RBC employee.
Not be an active recipient of specified RBC Future Launch scholarships.

Applicants may study in any eligible academic discipline. Selection is not restricted to business, banking, finance or technology programs.

Who Is Not Eligible?

The scholarship does not normally cover:

Master’s degrees
Doctoral programs
Second bachelor’s degrees
University preparatory programs
Programs shorter than two years
Qualifications offered by institutions outside Canada
Applicants with only temporary international-student status
RBC employees and their dependants

Applicants should not confuse the RBC Elevate Scholarship with the RBC Ignite or RBC Reimagine scholarships. These programs serve different age groups and types of training.

Can International Students Apply?

A student holding only a Canadian study permit is not eligible for the RBC Elevate Scholarship.

Applicants must be:

Canadian citizens;
Canadian permanent residents;
Protected Persons; or
Convention Refugees with acceptable Canadian documentation.

Therefore, a person born outside Canada may qualify after obtaining one of the accepted Canadian statuses. Refugee claimants whose claims have not been approved are not eligible.

Permanent residents and eligible protected persons must also satisfy the age, financial need, institution and full-time study requirements.

Language-Test Requirements

The scholarship does not impose a separate IELTS, TOEFL, CELPIP or French-language test.

However, applicants must satisfy the admission and language requirements of their chosen Canadian institution. A university or college may require an English or French test based on the applicant’s previous education and intended program.

A language-test result may be needed for admission, but it is not normally a separate RBC Elevate Scholarship document.

How to Access and Manage the RBC Elevate Scholarship: Application, Payments and Renewal Guide

Step 1: Monitor the official scholarship page

Visit the RBC Next Step Scholarships page and look for the Elevate section.

Do not rely entirely on old social-media posts or copied deadlines. Scholarship dates, amounts and portal links may change between competitions.

Step 2: Confirm that the competition is open

The 2026 competition accepted applications until March 26, 2026, or until the first 500 completed applications were received.

This application cap makes early preparation important. The portal can close before the published deadline if it reaches the maximum number of applications.

Step 3: Open the application portal

Applications are handled through Scholarship Partners Canada. Follow the application link from the official RBC page instead of entering sensitive information on an unverified scholarship website.

Create an account with an email address you check regularly. Use accurate personal information and keep your login details secure.

Step 4: Complete the eligibility questions

The portal may ask about:

Age
Citizenship or immigration status
Institution
Qualification
Program duration
Expected graduation date
Full-time enrolment
Financial circumstances

Answer accurately. Inconsistent information can delay the review or make the application ineligible.

Step 5: Complete the financial-need assessment

Applicants must provide information about personal and household finances, including income, expenses and education-related costs.

Explain your situation honestly. Financial need is a central part of the competition, so incomplete or unrealistic figures may weaken the application.

Step 6: Add your activities and experience

Applicants may be asked to list recent:

Volunteer work
Community activities
Employment
Extracurricular involvement
Leadership responsibilities
School or training activities

Focus on activities that show responsibility, commitment, perseverance or contribution to other people.

Step 7: Write the personal statement

The statement should explain your educational direction, community involvement and why financial assistance would make a meaningful difference.

A strong response should answer four questions:

What are you studying?
Why did you choose this program?
What do you hope to do after graduation?
How will the scholarship help you continue your education?

Use specific examples. Avoid copying a generic scholarship essay or repeating your résumé without explanation.

Step 8: Obtain the recommendation form

A teacher, supervisor, mentor or another suitable person familiar with your commitment may complete the official recommendation form.

The recommendation should:

Use the required program form.
Be completed by an appropriate referee.
Contain accurate contact details.
Be dated within the permitted period.
Be uploaded before the application deadline.

Ask early so the referee has enough time to prepare a useful recommendation.

Step 9: Review and submit the application

Before submitting, confirm that:

Your name and contact details are correct.
Your eligibility information is consistent.
Financial figures are complete.
Written responses answer the questions.
The official recommendation form is attached.
Every required section is marked complete.

Save a copy of the application confirmation where possible.

RBC Elevate Scholarship Document Requirements

The initial application may require:

Personal and contact information
Citizenship or immigration-status information
Details of the Canadian institution and program
Financial-need information
Personal and household income and expenses
Educational and career goals
Activities and experience history
Personal statement
Official recommendation form

Shortlisted or successful candidates may subsequently need:

Proof of admission or current registration
Proof of full-time enrolment
Social Insurance Number
Canadian bank-account information
Direct-deposit form or void cheque
Additional identity or status documentation
Any documents requested through the scholarship portal

Only provide sensitive documents through an authenticated portal or another method officially identified by Scholarship Partners Canada.

What Happens After Submission?

After applications are reviewed, leading candidates may be invited to complete a recorded video interview.

The interview normally involves timed responses to predetermined questions. Candidates need a computer with a webcam, microphone and reliable internet connection.

Applicants should check:

Their inbox
Spam or junk folders
Scholarship portal notifications
The email address used in the application

Failure to respond to a request by its deadline could affect the application.

How to Prepare for the Video Interview

Shortlisted candidates should be ready to discuss:

Educational and career goals
Motivation for choosing their program
Community involvement
Challenges they have managed
How financial assistance will support their education
Skills and experiences relevant to their future plans

Before beginning, test the camera, microphone and internet connection. Choose a quiet location and read each question carefully. Responses should be clear and supported by genuine examples.

How Successful Recipients Access Their Award

Successful candidates receive instructions through email and their Scholarship Partners Canada account.

Recipients may be required to:

Accept the scholarship online.
Confirm their institution and program.
Submit proof of full-time registration.
Provide their Social Insurance Number.
Submit Canadian banking information.
Complete any outstanding verification requirements.

Scholarship confirmation does not necessarily mean the payment will arrive immediately. Document review and payment processing can take several weeks.

How RBC Elevate Scholarship Payments Work

The scholarship may be divided into two portions:

One portion sent directly to the recipient’s institution.
Another portion paid through electronic funds transfer.

Electronic payments require a Canadian bank account registered in the recipient’s name.

Students should still pay required tuition by their institution’s deadline. They should not assume the scholarship payment will arrive before fees become due. If the institution later receives scholarship funds, any credit or refund will be processed under the institution’s policies.

How to Manage the Scholarship Portal

Recipients should use their portal account to:

Review messages and decisions
Accept the award
Upload requested documents
Monitor document-verification status
Update contact information
Read payment notifications
Receive renewal instructions
Contact scholarship support

Use a personal email address that will remain active throughout the award period. A school email account may expire after graduation or a change of institution.

How to Renew the RBC Elevate Scholarship

Renewal is not automatic simply because the original award was renewable.

Recipients normally need to:

Remain in the program for which the scholarship was awarded.
Continue attending an eligible Canadian institution.
Maintain full-time enrolment.
Remain in good academic standing.
Provide updated proof of registration.
Complete renewal requirements before the stated deadline.
Report relevant changes to the scholarship administrator.

Students should save their registration documents and watch for renewal messages before each new academic year.

Changing Your Institution or Program

A recipient should not assume that funding will automatically follow them to a different institution or program.

Before making a change, contact Scholarship Partners Canada and provide:

The reason for the change
New institution and program details
Program duration
Expected graduation date
Confirmation that the new institution is eligible

Wait for written approval where required. An unreported change may affect future payments or renewal eligibility.

Deferring the Scholarship

A deferral of up to one academic year may be considered in unusual circumstances when a recipient also defers their studies.

Approval is not automatic. Contact the administrator before postponing enrolment and submit any requested evidence. Do not simply miss registration and expect the award to remain available.

Maintaining Good Academic Standing

The recipient’s institution determines what qualifies as good academic standing. This may involve:

Meeting minimum grade requirements
Making satisfactory progress
Avoiding academic suspension
Completing an appropriate full-time course load

If personal circumstances affect your studies, contact both your institution and the scholarship administrator early. Ask what documentation and reporting steps are required.

Common Application Mistakes

Avoid these problems:

Applying after the 500-application limit is reached
Entering inconsistent financial information
Selecting an ineligible graduate program
Applying for a second undergraduate degree
Using an institution outside Canada
Uploading an unofficial or outdated recommendation form
Giving vague answers about career goals
Missing the video-interview invitation
Failing to submit proof of registration
Changing programs without reporting it
Ignoring annual renewal messages

Application Deadline

The application deadline for RBC Elevate Scholarship 2026 is March 26, 2026.

Scholarship CLOSED: the verified application deadline has passed. Applicants should check the official source for a future application cycle.

Deadline verification: Check the official scholarship source for the latest country-, program-, university- or round-specific deadline.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the RBC Elevate Scholarship fully funded?

No. It is classified as partially funded. The maximum amount is substantial, but full tuition and living costs are not guaranteed.

How much can a recipient receive?

Eligible bachelor’s students may receive CAD $15,000 annually. Diploma students may receive CAD $8,000, while eligible CEGEP technical students may receive CAD $2,000 per year.

Is the award renewable?

Yes, it may be renewed for up to four consecutive years or until the first eligible qualification is completed. Annual conditions apply.

Can high-school students apply?

A high-school student aged at least 17 may apply if they meet the competition’s other requirements and plan to begin an eligible full-time post-secondary program.

Can master’s or PhD students apply?

No. Graduate-level study is excluded.

Can temporary international students apply?

No. Applicants need Canadian citizenship, permanent residence, Protected Person status or Convention Refugee status.

Can students study online?

An online program may qualify if it is offered by an eligible Canadian post-secondary institution and meets all other requirements.

Is there an application fee?

The legitimate scholarship application should not require applicants to purchase the award or pay a fee to receive it.

When will applications reopen?

The next competition date had not been confirmed on the referenced official page at the time of writing. Monitor the RBC website for updated dates.

Final Advice

The RBC Elevate Scholarship can provide valuable multi-year support, but applicants should prepare before the portal opens. Gather financial information, outline your activities, contact a referee and draft your personal statement in advance.

If selected, manage the award carefully. Check the scholarship portal, submit registration documents promptly, maintain full-time study and obtain approval before changing or deferring your program.

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