Scholarship FAQ

  1. Will the winner be publicized?
  2. How are the essays marked?
  3. Can I apply for a scholarship if I already have post-secondary credits from a university or college?
  4. Can I apply if I am attending or have attended a private high school?
  5. Do private universities or colleges or other private diploma services qualify?
  6. Do universities or colleges outside of Canada qualify?
  7. Do any of the following unions qualify as belonging to NUPGE: CUPE, LIUNA, PSAC, Teamsters, UFCW, or Unifor.?
  8. How do I find out if my parent, grandparent, or legal guardian is a member or retired from one of your Components or affiliated unions?
  9. How do I identify a union official from my parent’s, grandparent’s, or legal guardian’s union?
  10. How do I know if I qualify for the Brian Fudge Memorial Scholarship?
  11. How do I know if I qualify for the Scholarship for Indigenous Students?
  12. How do I know if I qualify for the Scholarship for LGBTQI2S Students?
  13. How do I know if I qualify for the Students of Colour Scholarship?
  14. How do I know if I qualify for the Terry Fox Memorial Scholarship?
  15. How do I know if I qualify for the Young Worker Scholarship?
  16. Are scholarships taxable?

Will the winner be publicized?

The winners will be widely publicized across Canada on the internet through the websites and social media of NUPGE and its affiliates.

How are the essays marked?

All essays are marked by an external party who uses a marking guide for

  • content
  • relevance to the question asked
  • presentation

Can I apply for a scholarship if I already have post-secondary credits from a university or college?

No — you must be entering the first year of post-secondary education.

The only scholarship that is an exception is the Young Worker Scholarship, but you must be under 30 at the time of the scholarship deadline.

Can I apply if I am attending or have attended a private high school?

Yes – provided that the college or university you are entering is public.

Do private universities or colleges or other private diploma services qualify?

No — only attendance at a public university or college qualifies. Winners will be asked to provide proof of enrollment.

Do universities or colleges outside of Canada qualify?

No — the university or college that you are planning on attending must be located in Canada.  Winners will be asked to provide proof of enrollment.

Do any of the following unions qualify as belonging to NUPGE: CUPE, LIUNA, PSAC, Teamsters, UFCW, or Unifor.?

None of the above unions belong to or are affiliated with NUPGE. For a list of NUPGE Components and Components’ affiliates, see the NUPGE.ca components page. Only unions on that list qualify. No application will be considered for any unions not on that list.

You can call the main number of the union they belong to and they will help you.

You can call the main number of the union they belong to and they will help you.

How do I know if I qualify for the Brian Fudge Memorial Scholarship?

Applicants are required to identify their field of study. If they are planning on taking a field of study in police, criminal justice, community services or health care they qualify. 

Some of our applicants have identified applicable studies in the following programs:

  • Personal Support Worker
  • Youth Worker
  • Social Worker
  • Nursing
  • Pre-med
  • Correctional Officer
  • Bio-medical Engineering
  • Biochemistry
  • Criminology
  • Sociology
  • Nutrition Sciences
  • Blood Work Technician
  • X-ray Technician

How do I know if I qualify for the Scholarship for Indigenous Students?

You must self-identify as Indigenous, i.e., First Nations, Inuit, or Métis.

How do I know if I qualify for the Scholarship for LGBTQI2S Students?

You are able to enter our Scholarship for LGBTQI2S Students if you self-identify as a lesbian, as gay, bi-sexual, as a transgender person, queer, intersex, Two Spirit, or other identities not explicitly listed in the abbreviation.

How do I know if I qualify for the Students of Colour Scholarship?

You qualify if you self-identify as a person of colour.

How do I know if I qualify for the Terry Fox Memorial Scholarship?

If you have a disability that has been identified by your school, your doctor, your psychiatrist or psychologist, or social worker, then you will qualify. 

Some of the applicants have identified physical disabilities such as blindness, deafness, and mobility issues. Others have identified learning disabilities such as dyslexia, or mental health issues such as generalized anxiety disorder. 

Applicants will be asked to self-identify as having a disability.

How do I know if I qualify for the Young Worker Scholarship?

This scholarship is for those who are who are under the age of 30 as of the scholarship’s deadline.

They must also be members, children or grandchildren (including foster children or grandchildren), or legal wards of a current or retired member of a Component or a Component’s affiliate of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) and are attending or planning to enter a Canadian public, post-secondary education institution in the coming year.

For more details, contact scholarship@nupge.ca.

Are scholarships taxable?

Yes — all scholarships are taxable as income. Upon receiving one of our scholarships, we will require your Social Insurance Number and an address to mail you a T4A slip. One will also be mailed to the Canada Revenue Agency. You must declare the $2,500.