Applications for the 2026 awards are now closed.
The Rural Healthcare Student Awards provide a one-time contribution of $5,000 to assist with a student’s tuition, accommodation, living, and/or professional development expenses. The awards are available to a maximum of four (4) medical and six (6) healthcare students per year.
Medical student eligibility:
- To be eligible, a student must be a current resident of Alberta and be enrolled as a full-time, first- or second-year medical student at the University of Calgary or the University of Alberta.
- Preference will be given to applicants who have lived in a rural Alberta community for a minimum of five (5) consecutive years and have a demonstrated commitment to or interest in rural practice. For the purposes of this award, a rural Alberta community is defined as a community located outside the Census Metropolitan Area boundaries of Calgary or Edmonton with a population of fewer than 15,000 people.
- Additionally, preference is given to members of a student Rural Medicine Interest Group at the University of Alberta or the University of Calgary (where degree is being undertaken).
- Up to two Awards per Alberta medical school will be granted.
NEW for 2026
Healthcare student eligibility:
- To be eligible, a student must be an Alberta resident or a permanent resident of Canada living in Alberta.
- Be enrolled as a first- or second-year student in a full-time program in Alberta leading to registration with a regulated, patient-facing healthcare-related discipline (eg. nursing, midwifery, dentistry, pharmacy, physiotherapy, paramedicine, medical laboratory technology).
- Programs must be a minimum of two years in length.
- Preference will be given to applicants who have lived in a rural Alberta community for a minimum of five (5) consecutive years and have a demonstrated commitment to or interest in rural practice. For the purposes of this award, a rural Alberta community is defined as a community located outside the Census Metropolitan Area boundaries of Calgary or Edmonton with a population of fewer than 15,000 people.
- Up to six Awards will be granted to healthcare students.
Questions?
Email Emily Johnson for more information on the RhPAP Rural Healthcare Student Awards.