This pilot project is established by the Minister of Health to provide support for family medicine residents at the University of Alberta or the University of Calgary, who commit to practise in rural or remote communities of Alberta after completing their residency. 

Value

The bursary offers two funding streams:

  • Remote stream: Provides $200,000 in funding for recipients committing to practice in eligible remote communities.

  • Rural stream: Provides $125,000 in funding for recipients committing to practice in eligible rural communities, or in any combination of rural and remote communities.

Bursary recipients can choose to commit to and stay in a single community, move between communities or practise as locums in communities eligible under their bursary stream.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • Registered full-time in a Family Medicine Residency Program at the University of Alberta or University of Calgary, regardless of their year of study, including those graduating in June 2025; or

  • If not yet registered, be in their final year of an undergraduate medical program and matched and eligible to register with the Family Medicine Residency Program at the University of Alberta or University of Calgary.

  • Have not already entered into or committed to another post-residency return of service commitment; and 

  • Are willing to sign a Letter of Participation acknowledging a Return of Service Commitment to practice in eligible rural or remote communities and provide a minimum of 15,210 patient visits within sixty (60) months of the day immediately following the day on which the Family Medicine Residency Program is completed.

Note: Family medicine residents who completed their undergraduate medical education in other provinces or internationally are eligible for this bursary.

How to Apply

Applications will open in January 2025. Please check back for updates.

Selection Process

Applications will be assessed based on eligibility criteria and information submitted as part of the application package. Due to limited funding, eligibility does not guarantee your selection for a bursary.

Other Resources
Many other scholarships and awards are offered by other organizations – and you are encouraged to visit Alberta’s university and college websites to research the awards that they offer. For a listing of Alberta’s public post-secondary institutions, visit:

Contact

For questions or more information, email: rural-health@gov.ab.ca.