Apply for funding to study early childhood education

The Early Childhood Education Bursary supports people who live or have lived in Yukon to study early childhood education.

Each year, a minimum of 3 new full-time students receive the bursary.

  • Bursaries will be awarded for $2,000 per term for up to 4 terms for a maximum of $8,000.
  • 1 of the 3 bursaries will be reserved for a resident of a Yukon community outside of Whitehorse.
  • This funding will be available to other applicants if the community bursary is not used.

Each year, part-time students receive the bursary for up to 2 courses per year from April 1 to March 1.

  • Bursaries will be awarded for $500 per course for a maximum of $1,000.
  • Bursaries are available on a 1st-come, 1st-served basis.
  • Courses can be taken at the same time or in succession.

Learn more about the early childhood education bursaries.

Who can apply for this funding?

  • A Canadian citizen or permanent resident who lives or lived in Yukon.
  • Yukon students enrolled in a Canadian early childhood education program.
  • Students who received the Yukon Grant.
  • Students not eligible for student financial assistance from a jurisdiction outside Yukon.
  • Yukon students already studying can apply for the remaining period in their education.
  • Students entering early learning and child-care studies without any training.
  • Students working towards their diploma in early childhood studies while working in the profession.
  • Students holding a diploma in early childhood studies, who wish to pursue further education.

Can sponsors apply?

First Nations governments or other organizations can apply if they:

  • are paying for or have paid for a student's course or course materials; and
  • do not need the student to pay back the costs.

Sponsors applying for funding are subject to the same rules and requirements as individual students. They must gather and submit the required information from the sponsored students. The only difference is that the sponsor application form has space for applications for up to 4 students. The form must be signed by a person authorized to sign contracts or transfer payment agreements.

Application deadline

Full-time students

Application deadline is June 30 at 5 p.m. If this date falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline moves to 5 p.m. on the next business day.

Part-time students

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. From April 1 through till March 31, until funds are no longer available.

Before you apply

Your application is made up of several supporting documents.

Full-time required documentation

  • Proof of Canadian citizenship or landed immigrant status maintained throughout the period of the bursary.
  • Proof of Yukon residency for 3 consecutive years of the past 5 years.
  • If applicable, a letter from the Government of Yukon indicating receipt of the Yukon Grant.
  • A letter of acceptance or proof of enrolment in a college or university early childhood education program that includes tuition fees and contact information.
  • A letter of conditional acceptance if final acceptance has not been received.
  • A current résumé of personal, employment, education and volunteer experience, and information about your ties to your community.
  • A personal statement.
  • 2 references.

Your personal statement should include:

  • why you wish to pursue early childhood education studies;
  • information about the program you've been accepted into and why you chose that specific program;
  • how your studies will benefit you and your community;
  • what you feel you bring to the field;
  • what you intend to do after you complete your studies; and
  • where you intend to seek employment.

Prepare your references

Ask 2 references to review the request for a reference document to find out how to write a reference. This reference speaks to your suitability to work in early childhood education environments. Your reference must submit these documents.

In person: Education Building (entrance to parking on Hospital Road), 1000 Lewes Boulevard in Whitehorse. We’re open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Email: earlylearning@yukon.ca
Mail:
Government of Yukon
Early Learning and Child Care (E-23) 
PO Box 2703 
Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6

Part-time required documentation

  • Proof of  1 month Yukon residency.
  • A letter of acceptance or proof of enrolment in a college or university early childhood education courses that includes tuition fees and contact information.
  • Receipt for tuition and fees.

Yukon University funding

If you're taking courses at Yukon University, apply for financial support through the university, then apply for the Early Childhood Education Bursary.

You must indicate on your Early Childhood Education Bursary application form any funding you'll receive from Yukon University to support your studies. If you do not declare university funding on your application, you will have to repay any funding from the bursary that you've received. And, you will not be able to apply for more funding under this program.

How to apply for this funding?

Apply for the Early Childhood Education Bursary. 

  1. Gather your written personal statement and required documentation.
  2. Complete the application form.
  3. Submit your application:
    In person: Education Building (entrance to parking on Hospital Road), 1000 Lewes Boulevard in Whitehorse. We’re open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
    Email: earlylearning@yukon.ca
    Mail:
    Government of Yukon
    Early Learning and Child Care (E-23) 
    PO Box 2703 
    ​Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6
  4. A committee evaluates all applications for bursaries.

Read the early childhood education full-time application instructions.

Read the early childhood education part-time application instructions.

What happens if you receive a bursary?

All applicants will be notified in writing whether their application has been approved.

You can use bursary funds as you like, except you cannot use the funds to challenge an exam or a course. You don't need to provide receipts to show how the funds were spent.

Conditions for bursaries

Recipients of both full-time and part-time bursaries have to follow specific conditions. This ensure that funds are used to help students go through their studies. Read the conditions for the bursary.

Conditions for bursaries for full-time students

  • Submit proof of enrolment in at least 5 early childhood education courses for each term.
  • Submit proof of enrolment by last the workday of the month in which courses start.
  • Notify us in advance if you plan to change schools. We will confirm the new institution is approved and accredited.
  • After you complete each term, you must submit an official school transcript to show the successful completion. We will release funding for your following term once we receive your transcript.

What happens if you reduce your course load?

You risk losing the rest of your funding for full-time studies if you reduce your course load to less than 5 courses per term.

If you do reduce your course load to part-time, you will have to repay the difference between a full-time and a part-time bursary.

For example:

  • if you were taking 6 courses you'd be eligible for a $2,000 bursary;
  • if you reduced your course load to 4 courses, you'd be eligible for a $1,000 bursary; so
  • you would have to pay back $1,000.

You can choose to pay back the amount owing separately, or have the amount deducted from future bursary amounts.

What if you want to return to full time studies?

If you want to go back to studying full-time and get the full-time bursary, you have to write a letter that:

  • details the reason for reducing your course load in the previous term; and
  • describes your intention and ability to complete full-time studies in the next term.

The bursary committee will review your submission to see if subsequent full-time funding should be approved.

What happens if you stop studying?

If you received a 4-term bursary award and you stop studying at any point during a term, or after a term is finished, you'll have to:

  • pay back a portion of the bursary already received; and
  • you will not be eligible for funding in subsequent terms.

Conditions for bursaries for part-time students

After you complete each term, you must submit an official school transcript to show your successful completion. We'll release funding for your following term once we receive your transcript.