Most scholarship programs pick one type of student and one type of school. The RBC Next Step Scholarships do the opposite. In January 2026, Royal Bank of Canada launched a three-stream suite that pays for a first-aid certificate, a college diploma, a bachelor’s degree, a trade ticket, a master’s program, or a stackable micro-credential, depending on your age and where you are in your career.
More than $1.5 million is awarded each year to about 640 Canadians. Applications are run by Universities Canada. Two 2026 windows are still open as of early September: Ignite (until 1 October 2026) and Reimagine (until 8 October 2026, or until the first 500 applications arrive). Elevate’s 2026 round is closed; the next intake is expected in fall 2026 for the 2027 year.
Scholarship Summary
- Host Country: Canada
- Host University: Any eligible Canadian provider. That includes accredited colleges, universities, polytechnics, CEGEP technical programs, registered vocational schools, and approved course providers. There is no single host campus.
- Scholarship Type: Undergraduate Scholarships/MSC Scholarships
- Eligible Countries: Canada only. You must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or hold proof of Protected Person or Convention Refugee status from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Asylum claimants are not eligible. International students who do not hold one of those statuses cannot apply.
- Scholarship Benefits: Partial funding. Awards range from up to $1,500 (Ignite) to up to $5,000 (Reimagine) to up to $15,000 per year (Elevate bachelor stream). Funds cover tuition and course fees for approved learning, not equipment, tools, or living stipends.
Why RBC Built Three Scholarships Instead of One
RBC framed the suite as a response to two problems at once: a projected 15 percent disruption in Canada’s labour force over the next decade, and the cost barrier that still keeps many people out of training. The design is simple. Youth who need one marketable skill use Ignite. People entering their first diploma or degree use Elevate. Adults who left school years ago and now need a new credential use Reimagine.
That structure is what makes the program searchable and useful. If you only look at “RBC scholarships” as a single pot of money, you will miss the stream that actually fits you.
See Also:
- Nottingham Trent University International Scholarships 2026: How International Students Can Save Up to 50% on Tuition
- University of Edinburgh India Merit Scholarship 2026/27: Masters Award Indian Students Can Win Without a Separate Application
- Commonwealth Masters and PhD Scholarships 2027/28: The Fully Funded UK Window You Cannot Miss
The Three Streams at a Glance
| Stream | Who it is for | Awards per year | Maximum value | 2026 status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RBC Ignite Scholarship | Ages 16–20 | 500 | Up to $1,500 | Cycle 2 open to 1 Oct 2026 |
| RBC Elevate Scholarship | Ages 17–29, first undergrad/diploma | 40 | Up to $15,000/year (bachelor) | 2026 closed; check fall for 2027 |
| RBC Reimagine Scholarship | Ages 25+, 3+ years out of school | 100 | Up to $5,000 | Cycle 2 open to 8 Oct 2026 |
Across all three streams:
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- You must demonstrate financial need.
- RBC employees and their dependents cannot apply.
- Programs must be offered in Canada (in person, online, or hybrid) by a registered Canadian provider.
- Selection is administered by Universities Canada.
RBC Ignite Scholarship: Pay for the Skill That Gets You Hired
Ignite is the largest stream by number of awards. It is built for teens and young adults who are one short course away from work.
You can apply if you:
- Are 16 to 20 years old at the time you apply
- Are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, Protected Person, or Convention Refugee
- Need financial help to take a course of 12 months or less
- Have a course that is upcoming or already in progress, delivered in Canada
Typical eligible programs include:
- Job-ready certificates: First Aid/CPR, First Responder, food handling, Smart Serve, lifeguarding, Personal Support Worker, Health Care Aide, Early Childhood Assistant
- Skills courses: coding bootcamps, graphic design, project management, public speaking, high school credit upgrading, TESL
- Hands-on trades and vocational training: culinary arts, automotive service, heavy equipment, pre-apprenticeship (plumber, electrician), hair styling, IT
What Ignite will not fund: bachelor’s degrees, diplomas, DEC programs, Coursera/Udemy/LinkedIn Learning, private tutoring, language classes, conferences, the on-the-job portion of an apprenticeship, or tools and equipment.
2026 windows: Cycle 1 ran 27 January to 31 March 2026. Cycle 2 runs 23 June to 1 October 2026 and may close early if all funds are awarded before 1 p.m. on the deadline day.
RBC Elevate Scholarship: The Largest Cheques in the Suite
Elevate is the stream most people mean when they search for an “RBC college scholarship” or “RBC university scholarship.” It funds a first full-time undergraduate credential at a Canadian college, university, or polytechnic.
Award amounts (per year):
- $15,000 CAD for bachelor or applied bachelor studies
- $8,000 CAD for diploma studies
- $2,000 CAD for three-year CEGEP technical training
Up to 40 scholarships are granted. There is no restriction on field of study.
You can apply if you:
- Are 17 to 29 years old
- Have been accepted into, or are already attending, your first full-time undergraduate degree or diploma
- Have at least one year remaining (expected graduation spring 2027 or later)
- Are in a program of at least two years
- Can complete the self-reported financial need assessment on the form
University preparatory programs are not eligible. The 2026 application window (2 February to 26 March 2026, capped at 500 submitted applications) is closed. Watch the Elevate portal in the fall for the 2027 cycle.
RBC Reimagine Scholarship: For Adults Who Need a Second Start
Reimagine is the stream that most generic scholarship lists skip. It is for people 25 and older who have been out of school for at least three years, are working or looking for work (not retired), and need money to reskill.
Value: up to $5,000
Number of awards: 100 per year
Eligible learning includes:
- Formal credentials of 16 weeks to 3 years: diplomas, post-graduate certificates, three-year CEGEP technical programs, and master’s degrees
- Career certifications and trades: CPA, PMP, CFP, TESL, Canadian Securities Course, HVAC, electrician, occupational health and safety
- Stackable micro-credentials of at least 40 instructional hours that lead to a recognized certificate (digital marketing, cybersecurity, data analysis, UX, applied AI, web development)
Not funded: four-year undergraduate degrees, professional degrees, doctoral programs, two-year pre-university DEC programs, standalone single modules, Coursera/Udemy/LinkedIn Learning, or prep years.
2026 windows: Cycle 1 ran 13 April to 4 June 2026. Cycle 2 runs 31 August to 8 October 2026. Each cycle reviews only the first 500 submitted applications. If that cap is hit before 1 p.m. EST on 8 October 2026, the portal closes.
Apply here: RBC Reimagine Scholarship details
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How to Apply Without Wasting the Window
All three streams use the Universities Canada / Scholarship Partners portal. Create an account with an email you check, then complete the form for the correct stream only.
Before you click submit:
- Confirm your age band and immigration status match the stream.
- Have the course or program details ready: provider name, dates, length, and (for Ignite) an HST number if requested.
- Write a clear statement of financial need and how the credential leads to work.
- Apply early. Ignite can close when money runs out. Reimagine can close when 500 applications are in. Waiting until the calendar deadline is a common way to miss the cut.
Start from the official hub so you land on the current cycle: rbc.com/scholarships or the detailed page at rbc.com/dms/enterprise/scholarships.html.
Who Should Not Apply
Save the time if any of the following is true:
- You are an RBC employee or the dependent of an RBC employee.
- You are an international student without Canadian citizenship, permanent residence, or Protected Person / Convention Refugee status.
- You want a PhD, a four-year professional degree (Reimagine), or a Coursera-style self-paced course.
- You need a living stipend or money for tools. These awards pay for approved learning, not rent or equipment.
Indigenous students looking for additional support should also review the Indspire Building Brighter Futures bursaries supported by RBC.
What Makes an Application Competitive
RBC and Universities Canada do not publish a grading rubric, but the published criteria point to three things reviewers will see immediately:
- A specific course or program, not a vague plan to “go back to school.”
- A straight line from that credential to employment or a promotion.
- Documented financial need.
Ignite applications that name a registered Canadian provider and a start date inside the eligible window read as ready. Elevate applications that show a first credential and at least one year remaining read as eligible. Reimagine applications that prove the three-year gap and a program under three years read as in-scope.
Key Dates to Save
- 1 October 2026, 1 p.m.: Ignite Cycle 2 deadline (or earlier if funds are gone)
- 8 October 2026, 1 p.m. EST: Reimagine Cycle 2 deadline (or earlier at 500 applications)
- Fall 2026: Expected opening information for Elevate 2027
If you are 16 to 20 and need a short course, apply to Ignite now. If you are 25 or older and have been out of school for three years, apply to Reimagine now. If you are 17 to 29 and starting or continuing a first diploma or degree, prepare documents for the next Elevate cycle rather than submitting to a closed portal.
The money is real, the rules are public, and two of the three doors are still open. Use the official portals above, match the stream to your age and program, and submit before the cap or the clock, not after.
- Apply here: RBC Ignite Scholarship portal
- Official overview: RBC Next Step Scholarships
- Official announcement: RBC newsroom