Alberta's Minister of Advanced Education Demetrios Nicolaides announcing additional funding for the New Beginnings Bursary program, February 8, 2023. (Photo: Government of Alberta)

By Justin Goulet/LethbridgeNewsNOW

Province expanding New Beginnings Bursary program to help nursing students

Feb 8, 2023 | 10:50 AM

CALGARY – The Government of Alberta has announced more details of a bursary program aimed at assisting students who are facing financial challenges.

The New Beginnings Bursary program was initially announced in June 2022.

On Feb. 8, Advanced Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides announced an additional $8.5 million investment into the program. That funding will be used to expand the program with a focus on nursing students.

Up to 1,700 nursing students are now eligible for a one-time, non-repayable $5,000 bursary. The province noted that recipients in nursing programs will be automatically selected from student loan applicants who meet program and financial eligibility requirements.

Nicolaides said the bursaries have been fully allocated and recipients are currently in the process of being contacted by Alberta Student Aid.

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He stated that the provincial government wants “to ensure every student can gain the knowledge and skills they need to build successful careers at home and secure Alberta’s future.”

The province said this latest funding, focused on nursing students, is one way the government is addressing issues concerning the healthcare system in Alberta. In 2022, the government helped create roughly 2,500 new seats in health-related programs across the province.

Health Minister Jason Copping stated, “Health care needs continue to grow in our province and we need more local professionals familiar with the challenges in their area.”

Copping added, “By increasing education opportunities for Albertans, we improve the chances of retaining home-grown talent.”

By the end of the 2023-2024 academic year, the province said 3,400 low-income students will have benefitted from the New Beginnings Bursary program. The total investment into the program is $17 million.

More information about the bursary is available at the Government of Alberta website.