All About Healthcare Scholarships in Canada

As seen in Statistics Canada's data on undergraduate tuition fees by field of study, the highest tuition fees in current dollars include the ones for dentistry (24,838), medicine (15,558), and pharmacy (12,566). From this, we can say that, despite being lucrative careers with high median salaries, healthcare-related programs may be considered Canada's most costly degree programs.

In this article, we discuss ways on how to study within a healthcare-related program in Canada at a lower to no cost, which may be done by applying to available scholarships, bursaries, and award opportunities.

Can You Study Health Care for Free in Canada?

Canada doesn't offer a free college education for its students. However, it's becoming an increasingly popular destination for international students who want to further their education, because the tuition fees are comparably lower than other top universities in other parts of the world.

Moreover, while you can't find free post-secondary institutions in Canada, there's still a wide range of scholarship and financial aid opportunities for students to study healthcare-related programs without paying tuition directly. This enables the students to study healthcare at less than the original cost or even with no cost at all.

Scholarships, Bursaries, and Awards Available for Health Care Majors in Canada

Students who study healthcare-related programs can find scholarships, bursaries, and awards from different organizations that can help them cover the costs of their education, which include tuition fees, textbooks, and even daily living. Such opportunities may be the ones offered by Canadian universities, Canadian foundations, or external organizations that may fund the studies of international students in Canada.

Scholarships Offered by Canadian Universities

Canadian universities offer scholarships and financial aid for healthcare majors in Canada for several reasons. These include the will to support the cause for more accessible higher education and the possibility of attracting and retaining top talents in certain fields by rewarding them for their hard work. These, in turn, can help build the prestige of the university by giving it a positive reputation.

Here are some of the scholarships offered by Canadian universities to students who wish to major in health care:

• Dr. Grant Gall Leader in Health Sciences (BHSc) Scholarship: This entry scholarship is offered to talented students wanting to take the Bachelor of Health Sciences degree program at the Cumming School of Medicine of the University of Calgary. Eligible students can receive a renewable scholarship worth $15,000 and be assured of admission to the MD program upon completion of their degree. Check out this link for more information about this entry scholarship.
• William Vernon Hull Scholarship: This merit-based award is offered to top students pursuing a Bachelor of Health Sciences program in the School of Health Studies of Western University. Here, one top student can receive $500. You may check out this link for other scholarships the Western University School of Health Studies offers.

Available Scholarships, Bursaries, and Awards Offered by Canadian Foundations

Through monetary grants provided by donors or partner institutions or through the allotment of their own investment portfolios, Canadian foundations can provide scholarships and financial aid to healthcare students. This is in response to their mission, vision, and core values of contributing to the welfare of society through the development of skilled healthcare professionals who can address the needs of communities and improve healthcare outcomes.

Here are some of the scholarships, bursaries, and awards that Canadian foundations offer to healthcare students:

• Canadian Nurses Foundation Scholarship Program: The Canadian Nurses Foundation offers several scholarship grants to incentivize outstanding Canadian citizens or permanent residents who are studying nursing and to promote nursing as a good healthcare career in Canada. They provide scholarships and awards from the baccalaureate level up to the doctorate level, with grants ranging from $750 to $20,000. You may access this link for more information about their scholarship program.
• Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance Youth Advocate Scholarship: In this scholarship, ten youth students (Grade 11 to 12) with a genuine interest in promoting the awareness of women's cardiovascular health will each be awarded $500  and other benefits. Check out this link for more information about this award.
• Delta Hospital Auxiliary Society Bursary: Through this bursary, Delta residents within or planning to go into the field of healthcare may be awarded $1,500 at the discretion of the bursary committee. You may check this document for more information about this bursary's requirements and eligibility criteria.
• Saint John Regional Hospital Auxiliary Awards: Valued at $1,000 per student, this award, conferred to deserving students with volunteer experience, is given in honour of Dr. Deborah Mitton and two auxilians, Peggy Bulmer and Teresa Casey. You may access this document for more information about the requirements, eligibility criteria, and the scholarship application form.

Available Scholarships for International Students

Several other internal and external organizations also offer scholarships for international students who want to study healthcare-related programs in Canada. These are done for many reasons, including the need to fill the workplace shortage in Canada, build international relations, and exchange knowledge and skills to help establish a globally competitive healthcare workforce.

Here are some scholarships from internal and external organizations for international students who want to study healthcare:

• Study in Canada Scholarships: This scholarship provides post-secondary students from selected countries in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa the opportunity to study or conduct research in Canada through a short-term exchange student program.
• Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship: This scholarship provides full-time doctoral students with a fund of $50,000 per year within three years (non-renewable) based on academic excellence, research potential, and leadership.

Connect with Fellow Healthcare Students in Canada with Caring Support

While Canada doesn't provide free college education, their universities offer healthcare programs at a considerably lower cost than other top universities worldwide. Many organizations also offer several opportunities for both domestic and international students to fund their post-secondary education, may it be through scholarships, financial aid, or bursaries.

At Caring Support, we're committed to helping contribute to the development of a dynamic and competitive healthcare workforce in Canada. We pride ourselves in creating an innovative platform which acts as a tool to establish meaningful connections and professional relations with other healthcare professionals, post-secondary institutions, and healthcare organizations. Create your account now for free and start enriching your healthcare career with us.

‍