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Dorothy Kergin Fellowship Award

Get up to $10,000 for your Masters or PhD in nursing — applications open every December for Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

Reviewed by G Paul · verified August 31, 2026

$10,000

Total value

Jan 31, 2026

Deadline

Canadian Nurses Foundation

Administered by

Applications are closed for this cycle

Applications are not open right now (they last closed Jan 31, 2026). Many awards like this one run again each year, so we re-check this page and update it when the next cycle opens. Last verified Aug 31, 2026.

● Still open

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What you will need

Complete the single online application at cnf-fiic.ca/scholarships/
Proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent residency
Proof of enrollment in a Canadian nursing program (RN, IEN, NP, LPN, or RPN)
Verification of enrollment at the Masters or PhD level

About this award

Depending on your level of study, you can receive up to $5,000 if you are in a Masters or Nurse Practitioner program, or up to $10,000 if you are in a Doctoral or PhD program. This is a scholarship, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you are a dedicated nursing student pursuing advanced graduate degrees to improve patient care and healthcare leadership. No specific closing date is posted publicly for the current cycle, but applications generally open each December and close in late January for the following academic year. Before you start, check the Canadian Nurses Foundation (CNF — the national organization that supports nursing education) program page at cnf-fiic.ca/scholarships/ to confirm the exact dates for this year. Winners are chosen based on merit by the CNF awards committee. While they award over 135 scholarships per year across all their different funding tiers, they do not publish the exact number of winners for this specific fellowship — ask the CNF how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds.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 renewable and what you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. You must be currently enrolled in a Canadian nursing program such as RN (Registered Nurse), IEN (Internationally Educated Nurse), NP (Nurse Practitioner), LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse), or RPN (Registered Practical Nurse). Specifically for this award, you must be a nursing student at the Masters or PhD level.

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

Canadian citizen or permanent resident
Open to graduate students
Studying nursing

How to apply

Read the award's own page
Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.
This round closed on January 31, 2026
Check the award's own page for the next round before you prepare anything.

More details

Academic Merit

Avoid providing a basic list of grades.

Instead, highlight how your advanced research or clinical practice solves a real-world healthcare problem.

Describe the specific impact your PhD or Masters work will have on the nursing profession.

Support

Avoid using a generic reference letter.

Provide letters from supervisors who can speak to your leadership potential and academic rigor.

Ensure your referee mentions your specific contributions to the nursing field.

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