Are you looking for scholarships to help fund your education? The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) wants to help ease your stress of paying for school!
What is NUPGE?
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is a family of 13 component and 3 affiliate unions. Taken together we are one of the largest unions in Canada. Most of our 450,000 members work to deliver public services of every kind to the citizens of their home provinces. We also have a large and growing number of members who work for private businesses.
NUPGE scholarship opportunities
NUPGE strives to help everyone with their eight diverse scholarships! Each scholarship requires a 750-1000-word essay on a specific essay topic.
$2,500 | Deadline: July 15, 2026
This scholarship is for students planning to enter a field of study in policing, criminal justice, community services, or health care, who are 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).
You must be planning to enter the 1st year of a Canadian public, post-secondary education institution, full-time, in 2026/27.
Essay topic: The importance of your field of study in either policing, criminal justice, community services, or health care in delivering public services to Canadians.
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$2,500 | Deadline: July 15, 2026
This scholarship is for all 2SLGBTQI+ students who are 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 planning to enter the 1st year of a Canadian public, post-secondary education program, full-time, in 2026/27.
Essay topic: The importance of unions in supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.
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$2,500 | Deadline: July 15, 2026
This scholarship is for Black students who are 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 planning to enter the 1st year of a Canadian public, post-secondary education program, full-time, in 2026/27.
Essay topic: Describe the contributions of 2 Black trailblazers (past or contemporary) and how these have inspired you as a person.
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$2,500 | Deadline: July 15, 2026
This scholarship is for all Indigenous students who are 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 planning to enter the 1st year of a Canadian public, post-secondary education program, full-time, in 2026/27.
Confirming your Indigenous identity
You'll be asked to confirm your Indigenous identity when you apply for this scholarship. Please note that scholarship winners will have their names and the name of the scholarship they won published online, but details about status, membership, etc. will not be shared. See the NUPGE page for details.
Essay topic: The importance of public services in enhancing the quality of life of Indigenous students.
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$2,500 | Deadline: July 15, 2026
This scholarship is for all students of colour who are 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 planning to enter the 1st year of a Canadian public, post-secondary education program, full-time, in 2026/27.
Essay topic: The importance of public services in enhancing the quality of life of people of colour.
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$2,500 | Deadline: July 15, 2026
This scholarship is for all students with a disability who are 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 planning to enter the 1st year of a Canadian public, post-secondary education program, full-time, in 2026/27.
Essay topic: The importance of public services in enhancing the quality of life of people with disabilities.
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$2,500 | Deadline: July 15, 2026
This scholarship is for all students who are 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 planning to enter the 1st year of a Canadian public, post-secondary education program, full-time, in 2026/27.
Essay topic: How Tommy Douglas's life contributed to making Canada a more just and equitable nation.
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$2,500 | Deadline: July 15, 2026
These two scholarships are for all those who are under the age of 35 and are members or 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, full-time, in 2026/27.
Essay topic: In what ways are unions still important in the contemporary workplace?
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Essay writing can be intimidating, and you may not know how to start. Check out these tips and tricks for writing a strong scholarship application. Prepare for your studies by applying to these scholarships now!
Apply for a NUPGE scholarship by July 15