NLN.ON/CNF Nursing Leadership Award

About this award

Get up to $10,000 for your graduate nursing leadership studies — apply online starting each December.

Depending on your level of study, you can receive up to $5,000 for a Masters degree or up to $10,000 for 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 registered nurse in Ontario who is passionate about leading others in the healthcare field. Applications open each December for the following academic year and usually close in late January. No specific notification date is posted publicly — before you start the application, check the Canadian Nurses Foundation (CNF — the national organization providing financial support to nurses) program page or call their office to confirm when applications open and close this year. Winners are selected by the CNF awards committee based on merit. They award over 135 scholarships per year across all tiers, but selection criteria aren't published — ask CNF how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask CNF 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 CNF 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
• ✓ Resident of ON — provincial eligibility
• ✓ Studying nursing leadership — field of study

How to apply

1. 1

   Review eligibility and gather your documents~1 hour

   Read the official award page end-to-end. Confirm you meet every requirement before you start.

2. 2

   Submit by December 1, 2026~1 hour

   Double-check every field, save a copy, and submit at least 24 hours early.

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