Lethbridge College believes that education is a fundamental right for all and has created the Lethbridge College Humanitarian Program to provide financial assistance to international students on valid study permits whose ability to access financial supports have been negatively affected due to unexpected events in their home country.
Through this program, Lethbridge College will select up to ten international students each academic year to receive the domestic tuition rate for their upcoming and subsequent semesters to a maximum of two years. Of those, up to two students will also be supported by local philanthropist Steve Meszaros, who has generously offered to provide financial supports to cover the student’s tuition plus the cost of textbooks for a maximum of two-years.
Students are responsible for other costs such as textbooks and supplies (including technology if required by their program).
Application to this program does not guarantee funding and preference will be given to those students who demonstrate the greatest financial need and those who are here on government sponsorship.
| Intake | OPEN date | Closing date |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2023 | August 14, 2023 | September 5, 2023 |
| Winter 2024 | November 23, 2023 | December 15, 2023 |
| Spring/Summer 2024 | March 1, 2024 | April 17, 2024 |
Applications that are received after the deadline and applications that are missing documentation and/or information will not be considered.
- Students must have applied to and been accepted into an academic program at Lethbridge College
- Students must have ONE of the following*:
- A copy of the IRB or IRCC document that confirms that the applicant has a pending Refugee claim or Permanent Residency under Humanitarian and Compassionate Status claim
- A copy of IRCC document that confirms submission of their application for Protected Person status OR
- Proof that they qualified under special measures by the Government of Canada (such as the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel- CUAET)
- Continuing students must be in good academic standing (minimum of 1.5 GPA)
- Students must also submit a one-page (500 word) essay which answers the following questions:
- What is your home country?
- What are your education and career plans and/or goals?
- How does your Lethbridge College program fit in with these plans and goals? Have your plans and goals changed?
- What is your current financial situation? What kind of financial supports do you have? (i.e. part-time job, sponsor. Family support)
- What barriers have you met and how have you worked to overcome them?
- How would this program support you in your studies at Lethbridge College?
*Applications that have not been submitted will not be considered.
Students must also meet the following eligibility requirements for continued participation in the program:
- Be enrolled in full-time studies
- Meet the conditions of their study permit
- Maintain good academic standing (1.5 GPA) in all semesters
- Recipients who do not retain good academic standing risk being removed from the program
A student will stop receiving the award for one of the following reasons:
- At the conclusion of the period outlined in the funding award letter
- If a student is academically disqualified from their program
- On the date on which the recipient withdraws from their academic program and/or Lethbridge College
- If a recipient changes their program without permission of the Registrar/Student Award and Financial Aid office
- If incorrect, false, or misleading information is provided or relevant information is withheld. This includes circumstances where the false information is unrelated to the assessment in awarding the funding.
Applications for Spring 2024 are now closed. Applications for Fall 2024 will open in July/August.