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Senator Norman Paterson Award

Get up to $10,000 for your PhD in nursing — apply online between December and late January.

Reviewed by G Paul · verified August 31, 2026

$10,000

Total value

Jan 31, 2026

Deadline

Canadian Nurses Foundation

Administered by

Applications are closed for this cycle

Applications are not open right now (they last closed Jan 31, 2026). Many awards like this one run again each year, so we re-check this page and update it when the next cycle opens. Last verified Aug 31, 2026.

● Still open

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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)
Verification of PhD-level study in nursing

About this award

You can receive up to $10,000 for your studies. As a scholarship, this money is yours to keep and you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you are a dedicated nursing student pursuing a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) and want to advance the profession through high-level research. Applications open each December and close in late January for the following academic year. No specific time zone is posted, so check the Canadian Nurses Foundation (CNF — the national organization supporting nursing education) website for the exact closing hour. You will hear back through the application portal or via email. Winners are chosen based on merit by the CNF awards committee. They give out over 135 scholarships per year across all their different funding tiers, so competition depends on the number of PhD applicants each cycle. 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. You must be currently enrolled in a Canadian nursing program (such as RN, IEN, NP, LPN, or RPN) and specifically be a nursing student at the PhD level.

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
Studying nursing

How to apply

Read the award's own page
Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.
This round closed on January 31, 2026
Check the award's own page for the next round before you prepare anything.

More details

Research Statement

Avoid writing a generic summary of your interests.

Instead, provide a precise, merit-based argument for why your specific PhD research improves nursing practice.

Detail exactly how your work fills a gap in current healthcare knowledge.

Support

Many students simply list their supervisors.

Instead, secure letters that explain your unique contribution to the lab or clinic.

Ask your referee to highlight your independence as a researcher.

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