The Rutherford Scholarship 2026 is one of the prestigious awards in Canada, offered by the Government of Alberta, also known as the Alexander Rutherford Scholarship. The Alexander Scholar Award is partially funded and offer financial support to high school students in Alberta to pursue post-secondary education, and also acknowledges their academic accomplishments.
Alexander Scholar Award is offered to pursue Undergraduate, Diploma, & Apprenticeship Programs. This scholarship helps students with tuition fees to pursue their studies and encourages them to excel in academics during high school. In addition, the scholarship is flexible, and you have applied only once. As a result, students can apply to almost any full-time program at an eligible post-secondary institution.
Details About Rutherford Scholarship 2026 Canada
- Host Country: Alberta, Canada
- Host institute: Government of Alberta (Alberta Student Aid)
- Degree level: Undergraduate, Diploma, & Apprenticeship Programs
- Coverage: Partially Funded (up to CAD $2,500)
- Eligibility: Alberta high school graduates
- Duration: One-time award (cannot be received more than once)
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Available Courses
The Alberta Student Aid offers a wide variety of post-secondary programs at recognized institutions in Alberta and across Canada. These include:
Undergraduate Degrees
- Arts & Humanities
- Business & Management
- Computer Science & Information Technology
- Engineering & Technology
- Education
- Health Sciences & Nursing
- Law & Social Sciences
- Natural Sciences & Mathematics
Diploma Programs
- Technical Studies
- Vocational Training
- Health & Community Services
Apprenticeship Programs
- Trades (e.g., Electrician, Carpenter, Mechanic, Welder)
- Specialized vocational courses
Eligibility Requirements
The eligibility criteria for the Alexander Rutherford Scholarship 2026 are;
- To be eligible for the Alberta award, applicants must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person.
- To be eligible, applicants must be Alberta residents (i.e., the student or parent/guardian must have resided in Alberta for a minimum of 12 consecutive months before high school).
- Students only receive this scholarship once. Visa students are not eligible.
- Students must have graduated from high school in Alberta by September 30, 1980, at the latest.
- Applicants must be enrolled full-time (at least one semester) in an approved post-secondary program.
Academic excellence:
- Scholarship is awarded based on Grade 10, 11, and 12 courses.
- Students must gain at least:
- 75% – 79.9% average: $1,500 CAD
- 80% or above average: $2,500 CAD
Financial Coverage of Rutherford Scholarship
- Provides the recipients with up to $2,500 CAD.
- Reduce the living expenses and tuition fees of recipients.
- This scholarship applies to technical institutes, colleges, and universities in Alberta and Canada.
- This scholarship is an appreciation of excellent high school performance.
- During high school, students were motivated to maintain higher grades.
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Application deadline
Applications are open year-round, usually starting in early summer. Apply after completing high school and enrolling in a post-secondary program. Additionally, funds are typically disbursed around October.
Application Process
The application process for the Alexander Scholar Award is online. Here are the steps to follow;
- Make sure you meet the eligibility requirements for the scholarship.
- Must be enrolled in an approved Canadian institution as a full-time student.
- Visit the Alberta Student Aid website, create your account, or log in to your account. Then, fill out the application form.
- There is no need to upload transcripts because Alberta Student Aid automatically verifies high school marks.
- Your institution must confirm your full-time enrollment.
- A check is sent to you directly after verification, usually within a month.