Ted James Scholarship Award

What you will need

• ✓ Canadian citizenship or permanent residency
• ✓ Enrollment in a Canadian nursing program
• ✓ Registration with the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Alberta
• ✓ Enrollment in a post-diploma baccalaureate or master's program in psychiatric nursing
• ✓ Completed online application via cnf-fiic.ca/scholarships/

About this award

Depending on your program, you can receive up to $3,000 for a baccalaureate level or up to $5,000 for a masters level award. 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 mental health nurse advancing your education to better serve patients in psychiatric care. Applications open each December and typically close in late January. No specific time zone is posted publicly — before you start your application, check the Canadian Nurses Foundation (CNF — the national organization that supports nursing education) program page or call their office to confirm the exact closing date this year. You will hear back through the application portal or email. Winners are chosen based on merit by the CNF awards committee. They award over 135 scholarships per year across all their different funding tiers, so while there are many spots, the process is competitive. 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 payment or renewable and what you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

To qualify, you must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident enrolled in a Canadian nursing program. Specifically for this award, you must be registered with the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Alberta and enrolled in a post-diploma program leading to a baccalaureate or master's degree in psychiatric nursing. You also need a minimum of two years of experience in mental health nursing.

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 or undergraduate students
• ✓ Resident of Alberta
• ✓ Studying psychiatric 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

   Submit your application

   Save a copy, and submit at least a day before the deadline shown above.

Tips for applying

• ExperienceAvoid simply listing your job title. Instead, describe the specific impact you had on patient outcomes in mental health settings. Detail exactly how your two years of experience prepared you for advanced study.
• StrategyAvoid treating this as a separate application. Since one single online form covers every CNF scholarship you qualify for, ensure your profile is exhaustive so the committee can match you to multiple tiers.
• RealismAvoid assuming the award is guaranteed because you meet the minimums. With over 135 awards shared across many different nursing specialties, you need to clearly articulate why your specific career path in psychiatric nursing deserves funding.

Questions students ask

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