Canadian Nurses Foundation · National
Chapman HRNA Harm Reduction Award
About this award
Get up to $10,000 for your PhD in nursing if you have experience in harm reduction — apply between December and late January.
You can receive up to $10,000 for your studies. This is a scholarship, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you are a nurse with a background in harm reduction who is pursuing a doctoral degree. Applications open each December for the following academic year and typically close in late January. No specific time zone is posted publicly — before you start the application, check the Canadian Nurses Foundation (CNF — the national organization supporting nursing education) program page or call their office to confirm when applications open and close this year. You will hear back via the methods specified on their portal. The CNF awards committee selects winners based on merit. They award over 135 scholarships per year across all tiers, but they do not publish the exact number of winners for this specific award — ask the CNF how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask the Canadian Nurses Foundation during your application how the money will reach you — some awards pay students directly, others apply funds to tuition. Confirm this so you can plan your cash flow. Renewal conditions aren't listed — if you're counting on this for multiple years, confirm with the Canadian Nurses Foundation whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.
Can you get it?
- Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident — citizenship requirement
- Graduate — study level
- Studying nursing — field of study
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.
Draft and revise your essays~10 hours
Use the STAR framework. Be specific, show impact, proofread twice.
Submit by No deadline~1 hour
Double-check every field, save a copy, and submit at least 24 hours early.
More details
The biggest mistake is listing your job duties without mentioning harm reduction outcomes.
Winners instead use specific examples of how their work reduced patient risk or improved community health.
Detail exactly how your clinical experience matches the goal of this award.
The biggest mistake is providing a generic reference.
Winners instead secure letters from supervisors who can vouch for their specific expertise in harm reduction.
Ask your referee to highlight your leadership in this specialized field.