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 your skills in 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 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 chosen based on merit by the CNF awards committee. They give out over 135 scholarships per year across all tiers, but they do not publish exactly how many people apply, so ask the CNF how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds.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 one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.

Can you get it?

• ✓ Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident — citizenship requirement
• ✓ Undergraduate, Graduate — study level
• ✓ Resident of NS — provincial eligibility
• ✓ Studying Palliative Care, nursing — 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.

More details