Scholarships and Bursaries
HSA members and their families are eligible to apply for a number of educational scholarships and bursaries:
The deadline for 2025 HSA scholarship/bursary applications will be Friday January 10, 2025 at 11:59 pm.
HSA BURSARIES
Twenty $2000 full-time and four $1000 part-time bursaries are available to HSA members or their children (aged 35 or younger).
HSA SCHOLARSHIPS
Ten $2000 scholarships are available to HSA members or their children (aged 35 or younger).
2025 Scholarship application form
HSA BURSARIES FOR INDIGENOUS STUDENTS
HSA provides two $2000 bursaries to Indigenous students from BC who are continuing or proceeding in any HSA-related field.
2025 Indigenous application form
MADDEN MEMORIAL EDUCATION FUND
The Madden Memorial Education Fund was established in 1984 following the death of Joe Madden, who was HSA's Assistant Executive Director from 1974 to 1984. Through the Madden Memorial Education Fund, HSA provides financial assistance to members attending external labour education programs.
MARG BEDDIS CLC WINTER SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP
The Marg Beddis Scholarship was established in 2023 following the death of Marg Beddis, a former board member and long-time HSA activist.
At the local level at her workplaces at Surrey Memorial Hospital and the Jim Pattison Outpatient Centre, where she worked as a dietitian, she was a champion on many Occupational Health and Safety issues. She was a founding member of HSA's Constituency Liaison team, ensuring that decision makers in government understand the issues facing HSA members. She understood that, fundamentally, change and progress is not possible without curiosity, education, and activism. She was a strong proponent of continuing education. This scholarship supports one HSA member each year to participate in OHS or Political Action training at the annual Canadian Labour Congress Pacific Region winter school. Applications for Winter School are advertised in the fall/winter each year, and the recipient of the Marg Beddis Scholarship will be chosen from the applicants - no additional application steps are required.
POLITICAL ACTION FUND
The Political Action Fund (PAF) is a financial assistance resource for members who wish to engage in political activities that support progressive work and campaigns around the province.
This fund can be accessed for a variety of activities, for example:
- attending a workshop offered by a labour council;
- participating in an election training or skills development program; or
- helping on a campaign run by an organization supported by HSA.
This fund helps members engage in political action activities around the province and advances the issues facing our communities and the labour movement. Per-application fund limits are reviewed annually by the Political Action Committee.
For more information about the Political Action Fund and to apply for funds, download the application package here.
Find out more about political action and leadership opportunities here.
NUPGE SCHOLARSHIPS
HSA is an affiliate member of the National Union of Public and General Employees, and that means HSA members and their families are eligible to apply for a number of NUPGE scholarships -- the Brian Fudge Memorial Scholarship ($2500), the Tommy Douglas Scholarship ($2500), the Terry Fox Memorial Scholarship ($2500), the Scholarship for Indigenous Students ($2500), the Scholarship for Students of Colour ($2500), the Young Worker scholarships (2 at $2500), the Scholarship for 2SLGBTQIA+ Students ($2500), and the Scholarship for Black Students ($2500)
The deadline for applications for NUPGE scholarships is Sunday, June 30, 2024 at 5:00 pm EDT.
COLUMBIA INSTITUTE SCHOLARSHIPS
The Columbia Institute is a national charitable organization committed to lifelong learning that benefits all segments of society. It was established by Working Enterprises, a group of companies owned by the labour movement.
BC GOVERNMENT SCHOLARSHIPS AND BURSARIES
- Nurses Education Bursary Program - This program provides up to $1 million in bursary funding, awarded each year to qualified nursing applicants who demonstrate the greatest financial need. Bursary awards range from $500 to $2,000 per recipient. Only one Bursary will be issued to an individual in a 12-month period. You are eligible if you are enrolled in a full-time nursing program of at least 4 months in length at a designated post-secondary institution that leads to a Certificate, Diploma or Degree recognized for practice in B.C.
- British Columbia Loan Forgiveness program - Recent graduates in some professions can have their B.C. student loans forgiven by agreeing to work at publicly funded facilities in British Columbia. In some cases, eligibility also includes working in an underserved area of B.C. If you qualify for the program, the government of B.C. will forgive your outstanding B.C. student loan debt at a rate of 33 1/3% per year.
- More information about BC government bursaries, loans and student aid
STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS
Are you a registered psychiatric nurse working in a rural or remote community? Check out your eligibility for student loan forgiveness.