Nursing students looking scholarship offers in Canada can now rejoice.
It is common knowledge that professional courses cost an arm and a leg. But medical courses seem to take the front row. There’s the cost of tuition, accommodation, textbooks, and administrative fees amongst others.
Apart from the normal tuition, nursing students often find that they may need to spend additional funds on specialized equipment, additional training, and clinical placements.
This financial commitment can be overwhelming, and even discouraging if you have limited resources. But don’t be discouraged because there are various scholarship opportunities available for nursing students in Canada.
To make your search easier, we have compiled a list of 7 of the best scholarship opportunities for Nursing Students in Canada. Let’s take a look at them.
Best Scholarship Opportunities for Nursing Students in Canada
As soon as you begin your admission search, it’s important to start your scholarship search right away. Here are a few that should be on your list.
1. Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship Program
The Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship Program is a funding opportunity for international students pursuing undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto.
Although this scholarship is not exclusive to nursing, this scholarship is worth mentioning due to the University of Toronto’s renowned Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing.
So, if you want to study nursing but meet the criteria of outstanding academic performance and considerable community service, you can go ahead and apply.
You’ll be happy to learn that the scholarship covers tuition, books, incidental fees, and full residence support for four years. This is definitely a scholarship program you should apply to.
Also Read: 10 Best Universities in the UK for Medicine & Surgery
2. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
If you are aspiring to pursue graduate studies in nursing, the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships are a golden opportunity for you.
These scholarships are awarded to doctoral students who demonstrate leadership skills, academic excellence, and a high standard of scholarly achievement.
Successful applicants receive $50,000 per year for three years during their doctoral studies.
The only downside is that you will have to be nominated for the scholarship by the university you are applying to.
But this is a task you can achieve if you apply to your school early enough when the nominations are ongoing.
3. Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program
The Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program is an initiative by the Ontario provincial government to support graduate students in various fields.
Thankfully, nursing is in the health sciences, which is one of the focus disciplines that are eligible for this scholarship.
This program provides financial assistance to students pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree. The scholarship value ranges from $5,000 to $15,000 per year, and the duration varies based on the level of study.
One of the perks of the Ontario Graduate Scholarship is that the scholarship is open to Canadian citizens and international students with a valid study permit.
4. Global Citizen Scholarship
If you are an exceptional leader who has exhibited some form of leadership qualities, this scholarship might be for you.
The Global Citizen Scholarship offers international students the chance to ease their financial burden through a $10,000 scholarship award.
While not exclusive to nursing, this scholarship is open to undergraduate students from various disciplines, including nursing.
If your application is successful, you can receive the funds and use it for tuition and residence fees. But the criteria is that the school you applied to must be a partner of MPOWER, the sponsors of the Global Citizen Scholarship.
5. Canadian Nurses Foundation Scholarships
The Canadian Nurses Foundation is a frontline organization for nurses in Canada. In order to promote nursing education and give back to society, they provide a variety of scholarships for nursing students across Canada.
The scholarships range from bachelor’s degree level to Ph.D level. As for the criteria, this is a merit-based scholarship that is awarded based on academic performance.
And the scholarship awards range from $750 – $20,000. Note that the CNF scholarships are specifically for nursing students at any level of study, so no matter what stage you are in your nursing education, you can go ahead and apply.
The only caveat is that the scholarship award is only for Canadian citizens and for immigrants who have achieved permanent citizen status. So, you might want to consider if you meet this eligibility criteria before applying.
6. F.A. Davis Nursing Undergraduate Scholarship
F.A. Davis Nursing Undergraduate Scholarship is awarded to nursing students who have showcased excellence in their studies. The scholarship awards the sum of $1,000 to three students annually, so it is quite competitive.
To be eligible for this scholarship, you must be currently enrolled for a degree in Bachelor of Nursing Science and other related courses.
Another criteria is that you must have a good academic performance; up to an overall GPA of 3.0 or a higher grade.
Also, you must already be a student in Canada studying as a citizen, permanent resident or a student visa holder.
If you meet all the eligibility requirements, you can go ahead and apply as soon as you can.
7. Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing Award
The University of Toronto’s Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing awards are scholarships designed for nursing students.
If you are a student with outstanding academic achievements, leadership qualities, and a commitment to the nursing profession, this scholarship might be for you.
Successful applicants receive financial aid of varying amounts to alleviate the cost of their undergraduate nursing education.
One of the best advantages of these awards is that the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing has so many awards with different eligibility criteria. So, you may be lucky to find one that fits your unique situation.
Some of the awards in this faculty include the Alice Gentili Memorial Scholarship, Baljinder Dhotar Scholarship, Bernice Gerhart Nursing Scholarship and the Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA) Scholarship amongst others.
The only downside is that you must be a student or aspiring student of the University of Toronto to be able to apply for these scholarships at Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing.
Also Read: 10 Best Universities in Canada for Nursing Students
Finance Your Nursing Education with Ease
Pursuing a career in nursing requires dedication, passion, and a considerable financial investment.
However, with these scholarship opportunities, you can receive the support you need to pursue your dreams without the added stress of financial limitations.
Take the time to explore each scholarship, understand its eligibility criteria, and apply to those that align with your academic and career goals.
Who knows, you may land yourself a scholarship that covers your tuition and other fees. But you won’t know if you don’t try, so go ahead and start applying today.
