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 practise in eligible remote communities.

  • Rural stream: Provides $125,000 in funding for recipients committing to practise 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 as well as eligible to register with the Family Medicine Residency Program at the University of Alberta or University of Calgary.

In addition, applicants must:

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

  • be willing to sign a Letter of Participation acknowledging a Return of Service Commitment to practise 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.

    To view the Ministerial Order and Letter of Participation, go to:

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

How to Apply

Please ensure you have an official document confirming a matched result into residency or are currently enrolled in a Family Medicine Residency Program at the University of Alberta or the University of Calgary before you submit your application.

Submit the application form and all required supporting documentation to rural-health@gov.ab.ca. 

You will receive an email confirming receipt of the application package within five (5) business days of the date of your submission.

Notice: The application period for 2024-25 and 2025-26 bursary program cohorts will remain open until the funds designated to this bursary program are fully committed. We will update this webpage as information becomes available on the exact application opening and closing dates. 

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.

Contact

If you have further questions, email rural-health@gov.ab.ca.

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: