15 Obscure Scholarships Often Left Unclaimed 2024

Can scholarships go unclaimed? I’m sure that’s the question on your mind. This article on scholarships often left unclaimed will give answers to your questions.

The truth is that there are thousands, if not millions, of fully funded scholarships and partially funded scholarships available, and approximately 70% of them go unclaimed each year.

These scholarships are for students like you and it doesn’t matter who you are or your personality.

Regardless of economic status and family background, students everywhere can take advantage of these various opportunities.

Table of Contents

Are There Scholarships Nobody Applies For?

Yes! There are Scholarships that nobody applies for and this is because they have extremely rigorous selection requirements that only apply to a small number of candidates.

So many students will not be able to meet their constraints and requirements leaving them unclaimed.

Facts About Unclaimed Scholarships

The following are the facts you should know about unclaimed scholarships.

The scholarships are not awarded to anyone.
Most scholarships go unclaimed because no one applies.
Some legit scholarships, on the other hand, go unclaimed because their value is low or they aren’t fully funded.
Furthermore, most scholarship application processes might be difficult to complete.
Because they are unpopular, the majority of these scholarships go unnoticed by students.
Finally, each year, scholarships go unclaimed because the scholarship’s requirements are so stringent that it doesn’t attract applicants.

How to Find Unclaimed Scholarships

There are various ways to find unclaimed scholarships and our website has a couple of those. We have blog posts on scholarships for people with glasses and another on scholarships from beauty schools that go unclaimed every year because many people do not know of their existence and this is an opportunity for you to apply and claim them.

Another way to find unclaimed scholarships is by conducting a simple Google search. Just plug in the word scholarship, together with some of the qualities you think you might be able to get funding for, such as academic achievement, leadership experience, ethnic background, or athletic ability.

You can also try a search for scholarships designated for your particular university, major, or hometown. Another way is by searching for scholarships through a free scholarship search engine. While doing this, you need to beware of sites that request a fee for their services.

We also have guides to other articles that you can claim such as DAAD scholarships as well as BEA scholarships that you can apply for and win scholarships that can cover your entire tuition.

Obscure Scholarships Often Left Unclaimed

Raven Bursaries
Toronto Regional Real Estate Board’s (TREBB) Past President’s Scholarship
Check Your (Re)flex Scholarship Awards Contest
Canadian College and University Fair – $3,500 Prize Draw
Electrical Industry Scholarships
TELUS Innovation Scholarship
De Beers Group Scholarships for Canadian Women
Manulife Life Lessons Scholarship
Ages Foundation Research Fellowship and Bursaries
Beaverbrook Scholars Award
Marcella Linehan Scholarship
Jean Murray-Moray Sinclair Theatre Scholarship Program
MTA Edward M Evanochko Transportation Scholarship
Laura Ulluriaq Gauthier Scholarship
Laurier Scholars Program

1. Raven Bursaries

The Raven Bursaries is one of the obscure scholarships often left unclaimed although a bursary is still directed at offsetting your university bills.

The award is valued at $2,000 and provided by the University of Northern British Columbia and is only tenable there too.

It is a non-renewable award available to students coming into the university for the first time who has demonstrated excellent academic performance and financial need.

The eligibility requirements are:

Applicant must be newly enrolled in the university for a certificate, diploma, or bachelor program in any field of study.
Open to international and domestic students
Must be coming to study at the University of Northern British Columbia

2. Toronto Regional Real Estate Board’s (TREBB) Past President’s Scholarship

TREBB launched a scholarship program in 2007 and is still running to date, but very few people know about it making it one of the obscure scholarships often left unclaimed

Annually, TREBB grants $15,000 to four graduating Grade 12 students pursuing postsecondary education.

The board also provides two $5,000 first-place and two $2,500 second-place scholarships.

Winning this scholarship is actually simple but the 1,500 minimum-word essays may be a daunting task and could be a reason it is left unclaimed.

Aside from the essay – which is usually on any topic selected by the board – another criterion is that students must show outstanding academic performance, leadership abilities, and community participation.

Application is open to permanent residents and citizens of Canada.

3. Check Your (Re)flex Scholarship Awards Contest

This is one of the obscure scholarships often left unclaimed and it is provided by the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC).

You’d have to play a video game to win this scholarship, it has just three levels that are designed to test your reflexes – it’s probably difficult that’s why it is an unclaimed scholarship.

Three scholarships are available – $1,500, $1,000, and $500 – you must be 18 years old and above and enrolled in a Canadian college or university to be eligible.

It is open to both international and domestic students at all programs and levels of study, from high school diplomas to doctorates.

4. Canadian College and University Fair – $3,500 Prize Draw

The Canadian College and University Fair are offering you free tuition for a semester.

You can claim it right now in four easy steps.

Sign up for the Canadian college and university fair and attend
Request for information from at least one of the exhibitors at the fair.
Check out the booths and take in a few webinars and finally,
Ask questions about the programs that interest you.

By completing all of the above you will qualify to win $3,500 which you can apply towards your post-secondary education tuition.

The scholarship is open to international and domestic students in any full-time or part-time program in all levels and fields of study.

5. Electrical Industry Scholarships

This scholarship value is over $130,000, provided by the Electro-Federation Canada (EFC) and Its Members, and remains one of the obscure scholarships often left unclaimed.

The $130,000 covers up to 52 different scholarships and you can apply for a maximum of three.

This is your chance to claim it!

Applicant must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who has completed their first year in an accredited post-secondary institution and has maintained a minimum of 75% average.

Each of the 52 scholarships has specific criteria.

6. TELUS Innovation Scholarship

This is another of the obscure scholarships often left unclaimed provided by the University of Northern British Columbia but donated by TELUS to shape and influence access to learning for Northern British Columbia residents.

The value is $3,000 open to full-time students who demonstrate strong academic excellence and are residents of Northern British Columbia.

You also have to be pursuing a bachelor’s degree in any field of study.

7. De Beers Group Scholarships for Canadian Women

Surprised there are obscure scholarships often left unclaimed for women?

This is a scholarship donated by the United Nations (UN) Women (HeForShe Initiative) designed to promote the inclusion of women, especially from indigenous communities, into higher education.

There are four or more awards available each valued at $2,400.

To claim this scholarship, applicants must meet the following requirements:

Must be a domestic student, that is, a permanent resident or citizen of Canada
Only females must apply
Must be entering their first year of an undergraduate program at an accredited post-secondary institution in Canada.
Must be entering a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) or STEM-related course.

8. Manulife Life Lessons Scholarship

This is a $10,000 scholarship provided by Manulife to support students who want to pursue post-secondary education but have lost their parents or guardian and are left with little to no life insurance.

Students who are in this circumstance can, in no way, support themselves to achieve their career goals and that is where Manulife comes in.

With this scholarship, the student will finally be able to complete their higher education a little easier.

To apply for this scholarship, you may either be newly admitted or already enrolled in a higher institution like a college, university, or vocational school.

You must also be between the ages of 17 and 24 years old at the time of application.

Submit a 500-word essay or a 3-minute video about how losing your parent or guardian has affected you financially and emotionally.

9. Ages Foundation Research Fellowship and Bursaries

The donor for this scholarship is the Ages Foundation Fund and provided by the rare Charitable Research Reserve, designed to assist students who want to pursue higher education.

$15,000 will be distributed annually through this application process and awards will be given out in the following amounts:

One $5,000 award
One $5,000 BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color)
Five $1,000 bursaries depending on the total number of outstanding applications received.

To be eligible, applicants must be enrolled as graduate students in a Canadian or international institution and must research a rare Charitable Research Reserve property with an environmental focus or component.

10. Beaverbrook Scholars Award

The Beaverbrook Scholars Award is one of the obscure scholarships often left unclaimed and it is established by former Beaverbrook Scholars and tenable only at the University of New Brunswick.

The scholarship is awarded to three students who demonstrate excellent academic performance, financial need, and community involvement.

The scholarship value is $50,000 for each student which covers four years of undergraduate study.

Aside from the eligibility above, applicants must be residents of New Brunswick and must have graduated from a high school in New Brunswick to pursue any bachelor program at the University of New Brunswick.

11. Marcella Linehan Scholarship

I bet you do not know there are scholarships for those in the Nursing field, do you?

This award is part of this list because not many people know it exists making it one of the obscure scholarships often left unclaimed.

The Marcella Linehan Scholarship is an award provided annually to a registered nurse completing a Master of Nursing or a Doctorate of Nursing Program.

The scholarship value is $2,000 for those enrolled in the full-time nursing program and $1,000 for half-time students.

To be eligible for the scholarship, you must be enrolled in a nursing graduate program at an accredited Canadian university, must have achieved a minimum overall average of 70% in their previous nursing program, and also show an above-average level of interest/industry in a particular area of nursing.

12. Jean Murray-Moray Sinclair Theatre Scholarship Program

This scholarship is specially designed for students who are enrolled in or intend to pursue a career in theatre. That’s all the requirements you’ll need to apply for and win this scholarship.

13. MTA Edward M Evanochko Transportation Scholarship

Annually, MTA (Manitoba Trucking Association) provides a $10,000 scholarship which is offered in two categories: academic awards and apprentice awards.

To apply for this scholarship you must be in the Manitoba province and want to study in an accredited post-secondary institution in the transportation field.

14. Laura Ulluriaq Gauthier Scholarship

This is a $5,000 value scholarship provided by the Qulliq Energy Corporation (QEC) intended for students enrolled in an accredited post-secondary institution.

You must also be a resident of Nunavut to be eligible for the scholarship, it applies to all areas of study.

15. Laurier Scholars Program

This is a newly established scholarship offered by Wilfrid Laurier University, and not many people know about it and you are in luck for having found it.

The scholarship value is $7,500 per year for up to four years and an experiential learning award of $10,000 totaling $40,000.

It is awarded to seven selected students, each receiving the $40,000 reward but you have to maintain academic excellence to keep renewing the scholarship.

Winners are selected based on their academic achievement and presenting a personal statement, a list of activities and/or accomplishments, and a reference letter.

Conclusion

So, these are the available obscure scholarships often left unclaimed.

You can apply for as many of these scholarships as you want to increase your chances of getting at least one or two of them which will play a huge role in offsetting your tuition fees.

Also, read the instructions carefully and do not confuse them with one another.

Obscure Scholarships Often Left Unclaimed – FAQs

How much money in scholarships goes unclaimed?

According to Forbes, an estimated amount of $100 Million in Scholarship money goes unclaimed every year.

15 Obscure Scholarships Often Left Unclaimed