Educational Assistance

Our Union works hard to ensure members have access to quality education throughout their careers. This means access to funding and programming that helps members achieve career goals. This assistance is delivered through scholarships, bursaries and the educational assistance fund.

NBNU Scholarships and Bursaries

The following scholarships are offered on an annual basis.

Three (3) $1,000 scholarships are awarded annually to students enrolled in the first year of a nursing program (BScN or LPN Program). Applicants must be a relative of a current or former NBNU member.

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On a provincial basis, NBNU is offering one (1) $1,000 scholarship to a full-time second-year student studying in the Baccalaureate in Nursing program (BScN) and one (1) $1,000 scholarship to a full-time second-year student studying in the Licensed Practical Nurse program (LPN program) at either a Francophone or Anglophone college or university program.

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Each year, NBNU offers three (3) $1,000 scholarships to the children of NBNU members enrolled in a non-nursing community college or university program.

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One (1) $1,000 scholarship will be awarded by the Canadian Federation of Nurses’ Union (CFNU) to a recipient selected by NBNU. Recipients must be enrolled in the first year of a nursing program (BScN or LPN Program) and must be a relative of a current or former NBNU member.

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CFNU is offering a $1,000 scholarship to assist indigenous students in accredited nursing programs (BScN or LPN program) in each Canadian province.

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NBNU offers, on a provincial basis, one (1) $1,000 scholarship in memory of one of our long-standing members, John MacDonald. An appointed subcommittee of the NBNU Board of Directors selects the successful recipient.

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NBNU also grants a total of ten (10) $800 bursaries each year. Bursaries are awarded to nursing students in a BScN program at one of five (5) teaching institutions (U de M – Edmundston and Moncton campuses; and UNB – Moncton, Fredericton, and Saint John campuses). The student body of each site will select the most deserving student from their group to receive the bursary.  Bursaries are also available to be awarded to new graduates from the LPN Program at any Community College in New Brunswick (CCNB) 

NBFL Scholarships and Bursaries

NBNU members and their children are also eligible for scholarships and bursaries as an affiliate of the New Brunswick Federation of Labour (NBFL) and the Canadian Labour Congress.

  • James A. Whitebone Memorial
  • Tim McCarthy Environment
  • NBFL Solidarity Bursaries
  • J. Harold Stafford Humanitarian Award
  • Dermot Kingston Lifelong Learning Award
  • Owen MacLennan Trade Unionist of the Year

Learn more about the awards and how to apply on the New Brunswick Federation of Labour’s website.

Student nurse filling out a scholarship application

Education Assistance Fund

NBNU has negotiated an Educational Assistance Fund within the collective agreements of our members. The fund is designed to assist nurses who are furthering their education through university courses, conferences, workshops and other programs.

One fund is negotiated with the Treasury Board for the Nurses in Part III and Nurse Managers & Supervisors. The other fund is negotiated with the NB Association of Nursing Homes for nurses in the nursing home bargaining unit.

The Nurses Part III and Nurse Manager & Supervisors Education Assistance Committee disburse $500,000 each fiscal year. Nurses requesting financial assistance through this fund must first apply and list the courses being applied for. The courses must fall within the government fiscal year of April 1 to March 31. Deadlines to submit applications for the Educational Assistance Fund are February 28, May 28, August 28 and November 28.

The Nursing Home Educational Assistance committee disburses funds three times a year. Nurses requesting financial assistance through this fund must apply and must be submitted to NBNU by February 15, June 15 or October 15 of each year. The courses must fall within the calendar year in which the applicant is applying, and applications must be submitted within a year of course commencement.

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