Canadian Nurses Foundation · National
CNSA Disability/Diversability Award
About this award
Get up to $3,000 for your baccalaureate nursing studies if you are a CNSA member with a disability or diversability — apply between December and late January.
You can receive up to $3,000 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 nursing student who identifies as having a disability or diversability and wants to support your path toward becoming a healthcare professional. 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 providing financial support to nurses) program page or call their office to confirm when applications open and close this year. You will hear back via the methods listed on their portal. Winners are chosen based on merit by the CNF awards committee. They award over 135 scholarships per year across all tiers, but they do not publish exactly how many people apply or the specific odds for this award. Ask the CNF how winners are chosen and roughly 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
- Undergraduate — study level
- Studying RPN, LPN, RN — 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.
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 disability as a limitation.
Winners instead frame their experience as a strength that gives them unique empathy and perspective in patient care.
Describe a specific moment where your lived experience helped you connect with someone else.
The biggest mistake is providing a generic character reference.
Winners instead use referees who can speak specifically to their resilience and academic persistence despite challenges.
Ask your professor to highlight your growth and reliability in clinical settings.