IBD Scholarship

Application Information

2025 AbbVie IBD Scholarship Application

Crohn’s and Colitis Canada will award fifteen (15) students a one-time scholarship of $5,000 CAD through the AbbVie IBD Scholarship Program. Scholarships are available to students of any age, living with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, who are enrolled in a Canadian post-secondary educational institution for the 2025 fall semester.

Eligibility requirements

Applicants of any age are encouraged to apply and must be:

• A citizen or permanent resident of Canada

• Diagnosed with Crohn’s or colitis by a health care professional

• Enrolled in or awaiting acceptance from a Canadian university, college, or trade school seeking a diploma, associate, undergraduate, or graduate degree for the upcoming fall semester

• A student who demonstrates academic aspiration and strives to sustain an optimal level of wellness, balancing their personal health and academic goals

Important dates

• Applications open on March 27, 2025 
• Applications are due by June 9, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. (local time) 

How to apply

To apply, you’ll need to submit the following: 

1. A completed online application

2. Proof of Diagnosis form, signed by your health care provider

3. A signed and dated Applicant Consent form

4. Two (2) letters of personal recommendation from a teacher, guidance counsellor, school official, coach, mentor, health care provider, professional colleague or employer

5. A 500-word essay (1 page max.) outlining how you maintain wellness and strive to for academic success, and inspire others through your personal goals and community involvement
   
   Questions to address:

   • Why do you strive for academic success?

   • How do you maintain an optimal level of wellness?

   • What are your personal and academic goals?

   • How do you inspire others through community and school involvement?

   • How would you benefit from the scholarship financially and psychologically?

We recommend gathering all the necessary information before starting the application process, as you must submit your application in one sitting. You cannot save your progress or return later once you start.

Selection process & scholarship disbursement

Scholarship recipients will be selected by an independent committee of leading gastroenterologists, community partners and patient representatives from across Canada. Selection is based on:

• Two (2) letters of personal recommendation 

• 500-word essay demonstrating how the applicant maintains wellness and inspires others. See a sample scoring sheet and criteria definitions  

Recipients will be notified in the summer/fall of 2025 via phone. Once enrolment is verified for the fall 2025 semester, the scholarship will be deposited directly into their student account to cover tuition and education expenses, including required materials and on-site residency.