Canadian Nurses Foundation · National
Sawer Sisters Nursing Award
About this award
Get up to $10,000 for your nursing studies in palliative care—apply online starting each December.
The amount you receive depends on your level of study: baccalaureate level students can get up to $3,000, masters and nurse practitioner students up to $5,000, and doctoral or PhD students up to $10,000. This is a scholarship, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you are a nurse or nursing student dedicated to improving palliative care (specialized medical care for people with serious illnesses). Applications open each December for the following academic year and usually close in late January. No specific date is posted publicly for the current cycle, so check the Canadian Nurses Foundation (CNF — the national organization supporting nursing education) program page or call their office to confirm when applications open and close this year. You will hear back through the application portal or email. The CNF awards committee selects winners based on merit. They give out over 135 scholarships per year across all tiers, but they don't publish exactly how many people apply, so ask the CNF how winners are chosen to better 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, Graduate, Doctoral — study level
- Resident of NS — provincial eligibility
- Studying Palliative Care, 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 listing your courses without explaining why you chose palliative care.
Winners instead share a personal story about a patient or experience that drove them to this specialty.
Describe the specific impact you want to have on end-of-life care in your community.
Many students just provide a basic academic reference.
Winners secure a letter from a clinical instructor or supervisor who has seen them work with palliative patients.
Ask your mentor to highlight your empathy and technical skill in a hospice or palliative setting.