CNSA BIPOC Award

What you will need

• ✓ Online application submitted via cnf-fiic.ca/scholarships/
• ✓ Canadian citizenship or permanent residency
• ✓ Current enrollment in a Canadian RN, LPN, or RPN program
• ✓ Enrollment in a CNSA (Canadian Nursing Students' Association) chapter school in good standing
• ✓ Self-identification as a member of the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour) community

About this award

You can receive up to $3,000 for your baccalaureate level studies. This is a scholarship, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you identify as part of the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour) community and are pursuing a career in nursing. Applications open each December and typically close in late January. No specific time zone is posted, so check the Canadian Nurses Foundation (CNF — the national organization providing financial support to nurses) program page at cnf-fiic.ca/scholarships/ to confirm the exact closing date and time for the current cycle. You will hear back through the application portal or email. The CNF awards committee selects winners based on merit. They award over 135 scholarships per year across all their different funding tiers, but they do not publish the exact number of winners for this specific award — ask the CNF how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds.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 a one-time award or if you can apply again each year and what GPA or enrollment status you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

To qualify, you must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. You must identify as part of the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour) community and be currently enrolled in a baccalaureate level nursing program in Canada, such as an RN (Registered Nurse), LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse), or RPN (Registered Practical Nurse) program. Additionally, you must be enrolled in a CNSA (Canadian Nursing Students' Association — the national student body representing nursing students) chapter school and be in good standing with that school.

This is what the award's official page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm on the award's official page before you apply.

• ✓ Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• ✓ Open to undergraduate students
• ✓ Studying nursing

How to apply

1. 1

   Read the award's official page

   Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.

2. 2

   Submit your application

   Save a copy, and submit at least a day before the deadline shown above.

Tips for applying

• StrategySince one single application covers every CNF scholarship you are eligible for, do not treat this as a quick form. Tailor your responses to highlight the specific leadership and achievement markers the CNSA is looking for in BIPOC students.
• RealismWith over 135 awards spread across many different tiers and categories, this is a competitive process. Focus on demonstrating your impact on your peers and community to stand out from other qualified nursing students.

Questions students ask

Similar awards

• Canadian Nurses FoundationDorothy Kergin Fellowship Award$10,000
• Canadian Nurses FoundationCNSA Parent Nursing Award$3,000
• Canadian Nurses FoundationAlice Girard Award$10,000
• Canadian Nurses FoundationSANOFI Vaccines Scholarship in Public or Community Health$5,000
• Canadian Nurses FoundationErin Hogg Northern Nursing Award$3,000
• Canadian Nurses FoundationGinette Lemire Rodger Award$5,000
• Canadian Nurses FoundationSenator Norman Paterson Award$10,000
• Canadian Nurses FoundationNightingale - Po Ting Scholarship$3,000