Heads up: this scholarship was renamed from …. Update your bookmark or shared link to use this URL.

NLN.ON/CNF Nursing Leadership Award

Get up to $10,000 for your graduate nursing leadership studies in Ontario — apply between December and late January.

Reviewed by G Paul · verified April 23, 2026

$10,000

Total value

Dec 1, 2026

Next deadline

Canadian Nurses Foundation

Administered by

What you will need

Online application submitted via cnf-fiic.ca/scholarships/
Proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent residency
Proof of enrollment in a Canadian nursing program (RN, IEN, NP, LPN, or RPN)
Proof of registration as a Nurse in Ontario
Verification of NLN.ON membership for at least one year
Proof of enrollment in a graduate program dedicated to nursing leadership

About this award

Depending on your level of study, you can receive up to $5,000 for a Master's 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 committed to advancing the profession through nursing leadership and sharing your findings with others. Applications open each December and typically close in late January for the following academic year. No specific notification date 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 dates for this cycle. Winners are chosen based on merit by the CNF awards committee. While they award over 135 scholarships per year across all their different funding tiers, they do not publish the specific number of winners for this leadership award — ask the CNF how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds.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 a one-time award or renewable and what you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

To qualify, you must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and be enrolled in a Canadian nursing program such as RN (Registered Nurse), IEN (Internationally Educated Nurse), NP (Nurse Practitioner), LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse), or RPN (Registered Practical Nurse). Specifically for this award, you must be a registered Nurse in Ontario and have been a member of NLN.ON (the Ontario chapter of the National League for Nursing) for at least one year. You must also be enrolled in a graduate program dedicated to nursing leadership and be willing to present your knowledge translation through a presentation at NLN.ON events.

This is what the award's own page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm with the provider before you apply.

Canadian citizen or permanent resident
Open to graduate students
Resident of Ontario
Studying nursing leadership

How to apply

Read the award's own page
Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.
Submit your application
Save a copy, and submit at least a day before the deadline shown above.

More details

Knowledge Translation

Avoid describing your research in purely academic terms.

Instead, explain how your findings actually improve patient care or nursing practice in the real world.

Describe exactly how you will present your findings at NLN.ON events to show you are ready to lead.

Membership

Don't forget to prove their membership duration.

Ensure you provide a document showing you have been a member of NLN.ON for at least one full year before the application deadline.

Strategy

Since one single application covers every CNF scholarship you are eligible for, do not try to tailor your entire profile to just one award.

Share this scholarship

Screenshot this card to share it, or copy the citation. It shows when we checked it and links back here.