Low-income nursing students will see their education become a bit more affordable thanks to an $8.5-million additional investment into the New Beginnings Bursary.
Up to 1,700 students will be eligible for the one-time, non-repayable $5,000 bursary. Recipients will automatically be selected from student loan applicants who meet program and financial eligibility criteria.
“The New Beginnings Bursary provides assistance to those who are interested in joining the health care workforce, but may not be able to afford the additional training,” said Health Minister Jason Copping.
“Health care needs continue to grow in our province and we need more local professionals familiar with the challenges in their area. By increasing education opportunities for Albertans, we improve the chances of retaining home-grown talent.”
The New Beginnings Bursary was created in 2022 to increase access to post-secondary education for those who might not be able to attend due to financial constraints. The government anticipates that by the end of 2023-24 academic year, a total of 3,400 low-income students will have benefitted from the bursary.
“Being able to access high-quality and affordable education was very important to me when I decided to become a nurse. This new funding through the New Beginnings Bursary will help so many more nurses access the training they need to go on to have successful careers in the healthcare sector, and ensure Albertans have access to the care they need,” said Nancy Tran, a nursing student at Mount Royal University.
The funding is part of Alberta’s Healthcare Action Plan, aimed at addressing high demand for nurses and healthcare professionals in the province. Alberta’s government created nearly 2,500 new seats in health-related programs last year. Other initiatives include expanded training for internationally educated nurses and funding micro-credential programs in health care fields.
Red Deer-North constituents with questions, concerns or feedback on helping low-income nursing students can reach out to the local Constituency Office via the contact form.
View the original press release on the Government of Alberta website.