Government of Alberta — Alberta Heritage Scholarship Fund · Provincial
Alexander Rutherford Scholarship for High School Achievement (Alberta)
About this award
Alberta's flagship high school achievement scholarship for senior students pursuing post-secondary studies. TIERED amount per grade earned: Grade 10 $300-$400 + Grade 11 $500-$800 + Grade 12 $700-$1,300, for a maximum combined $2,500 for post-2008 graduates. Funded through the Alberta Heritage Scholarship Fund.
The Alexander Rutherford Scholarship for High School Achievement is the Province of Alberta's flagship merit-based scholarship for senior high school graduates pursuing post-secondary studies. Named for Alberta's first Premier, the scholarship is funded statutorily through the Alberta Heritage Scholarship Fund (governed by the Heritage Scholarship Act) and administered through Alberta Student Aid. The award is TIERED — students earn portions for grades earned in each of Grade 10, Grade 11, and Grade 12 separately, with the amounts increasing as grades increase: Grade 10 $300-$400, Grade 11 $500-$800, Grade 12 $700-$1,300. The maximum combined amount for post-2008 high school graduates is $2,500 — students who earn the maximum at all three grade levels receive the full $2,500 by the time they begin post-secondary. (Different, typically lower, tier amounts apply for pre-2008 graduates per the Operational Policy Manual.) Important note: a '$3,500' figure circulates in third-party sources but is not verified by the Alberta Student Aid Operational Policy Manual; the $2,500 combined cap is the policy-manual confirmed figure for post-2008 graduates. Application is through Alberta Student Aid; if you're applying for Alberta Student Aid for your post-secondary studies, the Rutherford scholarship is part of the same portal and account.
Can you get it?
- Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident or Protected Person — citizenship requirement
- All, Undergraduate, College, Trades — study level
- Resident of AB — provincial eligibility
How to apply
Review eligibility and gather your documents~1 hour
Read the official award page end-to-end. Confirm you meet every requirement before you start.
Request your official transcript1–2 weeks
Order through your school registrar — allow 1–2 weeks.
Submit by No deadline~1 hour
Double-check every field, save a copy, and submit at least 24 hours early.
More details
Apply through Alberta Student Aid (studentaid.alberta.ca) — the Rutherford scholarship uses the same portal as your post-secondary funding application.
Check the Operational Policy Manual for the specific qualifying-grade thresholds for the active cycle; these adjust over time.
Even if your Grade 12 average isn't the highest tier, you may still earn the Grade 10 and Grade 11 portions — apply rather than self-disqualifying.
The $2,500 combined maximum stacks with other Alberta Student Aid scholarships and grants.
Don't be fooled by the '$3,500' figure circulating in third-party sources — the Operational Policy Manual cap is $2,500 for post-2008 graduates.