United Nurses of Alberta Nursing Student Scholarships

What you will need

• ✓ Online application form submitted via the United Nurses of Alberta website
• ✓ A short essay answering: “How do you think UNA impacts working conditions and patient care?”
• ✓ Proof of current full-time registration or program completion (required within two weeks of notification)
• ✓ For Indigenous Nursing Student Scholarship applicants: self-identification as First Nations, Metis or Inuit

About this award

You can receive a $1,500 scholarship. There are up to 15 nursing scholarships of $1,500 each year, plus one award of $1,500 sponsored by the CFNU (the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions — the national organization representing nurses and nursing students). As these are scholarships, the money is yours to keep and you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you are in your first year of an approved Registered Nurse or Registered Psychiatric Nurse program in Alberta and you are related to a UNA member or associate member in good standing. Two more $1,500 awards funded by the CFNU are for Indigenous nursing students in any year and for final-year students who plan to work in rural Alberta. You must submit your application through the online form on the United Nurses of Alberta website no later than 4:30 p.m. on October 15. You will be notified of the final decision by email. The UNA (United Nurses of Alberta — the union for nurses in Alberta) Membership Committee reviews essays anonymously based on content, structure, and quality. After this review, winners are selected by a random draw. Ask United Nurses of Alberta 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 United Nurses of Alberta whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

To qualify for the UNA nursing scholarships, you must be in your first year of nursing studies in an approved Registered Nurse (RN) or Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN) track program in Alberta and be related to a UNA member or associate member in good standing. These awards are not intended for postgraduate studies. For the Indigenous Nursing Student Scholarship, you must self-identify as First Nations, Metis, or Inuit and be enrolled in any year of an approved RN or RPN nursing program in Alberta. For the Kathleen Connors Rural and Remote Nursing Student Scholarship, you must be in the final year of an approved RN or RPN nursing program in Alberta and intend to practise in rural Alberta.

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.

• ✓ Open to undergraduate students
• ✓ Studying Registered Nurse or Registered Psychiatric Nurse

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

   Write your essay

   Be specific about what you did and what changed because of it. Proofread it twice.

3. 3

   This round closed on October 15, 2026

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

Tips for applying

• EssayAvoid writing in a way that identifies you personally. Instead, focus on the content and structure of your argument since essays are reviewed anonymously. Ensure your main point is clear in the first paragraph.
• StrategyAvoid ignoring the specific requirements for the specialized awards. Instead, highlight your connection to rural practice or your Indigenous identity if you are applying for those specific streams.
• RealismAvoid counting on a win, because the final selection is done by a random draw. Instead, treat this as a bonus opportunity while focusing on your primary financial aid plan.

Questions students ask

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