Dorothy Kergin Fellowship Award

What you will need

• ✓ Complete the single online application at cnf-fiic.ca/scholarships/
• ✓ Canadian citizenship or permanent residency
• ✓ Enrollment in a Canadian nursing program (RN, IEN, NP, LPN, or RPN)
• ✓ 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 While they award over 135 scholarships per year across all their different funding tiers, they do not publish the exact number of winners for this specific fellowship — ask the CNF how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds.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 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 graduate 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

   This round closed on January 31, 2026

   Check the award's official page for the next round before you prepare anything.

Tips for applying

• Academic MeritAvoid 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.
• StrategyAvoid treating this as a separate application from other CNF awards. Since a single online application covers every scholarship you qualify for, spend your time perfecting one comprehensive profile rather than trying to find multiple forms.
• RealismAvoid assuming the full $10,000 is guaranteed. Because these are merit-based and distributed across over 135 awards in various tiers, treat this as a helpful supplement to your funding plan rather than your primary source of tuition.

Questions students ask

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