Canadian Nurses Foundation · National
Dr. Helen K. Mussallem Fellowship Award
About this award
Get up to $5,000 for your Masters level nursing studies — apply between December and late January.
You can receive up to $5,000 for this award. This is a scholarship, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you are advancing your nursing career through a graduate degree and want to reduce your financial burden while studying. Applications open each December for the following academic year and typically close in late January. No specific notification date is posted publicly — before you start the application, check Canadian Nurses Foundation's program page or call their office to confirm when applications open and close this year. The CNF (Canadian Nurses Foundation — the national organization supporting nursing education) awards committee selects winners based on merit. They give out over 135 scholarships per year across all tiers, but they do not publish the exact number of winners for this specific fellowship — ask them how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask 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 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.
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 providing only a transcript without context.
Winners instead highlight specific achievements or clinical rotations that prove their merit.
List your top three academic wins in your application.
The biggest mistake is using a generic reference letter.
Winners instead provide letters from supervisors who can speak to their leadership in a clinical setting.
Ask your referee to use specific examples of your patient care.