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Health Care and Social Services Bursary

Official Guidelines Updated: March 2026

Key Facts:

The Yukon Health Care and Social Services Bursary supports Yukon students pursuing education in health care, social services, nursing, or medicine at any Canadian post-secondary institution. Awards range from $2,500 to $7,500 depending on the stream and program. The intent is for recipients to return to work in Yukon in their field after graduation. Annual application intake is in June. Decisions are final — there is no appeal process.

The Yukon Health Care and Social Services Bursary is a territorial bursary that supports Yukon residents who are pursuing post-secondary education in health care and social services fields. The intent of the program is to help grow the Yukon’s healthcare and social services workforce by encouraging students to study in these fields and return to work in the territory after graduation — in roles such as doctors, nurses, social workers, allied health professionals, and other positions that can be difficult to fill in Yukon.

The number of students supported varies year to year based on available funding and eligible applications. Students must re-apply each year. Students approved for multi-year funding under prior Yukon health care related bursaries will continue receiving funding as long as they meet requirements in their award letter.

Award Amounts by Stream (2025)

Stream Number of Awards Award Amount
Health care or social services 4 new students Up to $5,000 (based on program of study)
Nursing Maximum 6 new students $2,500 to $5,000 (based on program of study)
Medicine — medical school Maximum 4 new students (combined with residency stream) $5,000
Medicine — medical residency Maximum 4 new students (combined with medical school stream) $7,500

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible, you must:

  • Be accepted, enrolled, or registered in a post-secondary education program in Canada that would award a diploma, degree, or certificate in an eligible health care or social services field.
  • Be a Yukon resident for at least 2 consecutive years in the past 5 years before applying.
  • Not be eligible for student financial assistance from another province, territory, or country outside Yukon.
  • Be willing to sign a Declaration of Commitment to Yukon Service.

Important — Commitment to Yukon:

Applicants must sign a Declaration of Commitment to Yukon Service. The intent of this bursary is for recipients to return to Yukon to work in health care or social services after graduation. This is a commitment, not a legally binding repayment agreement — but it is a condition of the award. Check your award letter for the specific terms of your funding.

Application Process

The annual intake is in June (June 1–30 for 2025). Apply by submitting a letter and supporting documents to the Yukon Health and Social Services bursary team. Your letter should describe your area of study, how your program fits into Yukon’s health care or social services needs, and your interest in or commitment to returning to work in the Yukon.

Successful applicants are notified in writing and must provide their Social Insurance Number (SIN) to receive payment. You may reapply in any subsequent year. A priority list is maintained for unsuccessful applicants who meet the requirements — if a successful candidate does not accept or becomes ineligible, the next candidate on the priority list is offered the bursary. This priority list is valid only for the current academic year.

Decisions are final. There is no appeal process.

For questions, contact the bursary team at hssbursaries@yukon.ca.

Other Financial Aid Options

The Health Care and Social Services Bursary can be combined with the Yukon Grant or the Student Training Allowance. Students pursuing a baccalaureate nursing program specifically should also see the separate Yukon Nursing Education Bursary, which is administered by a different committee and has its own award structure.

Ready to find a program? Explore eligible schools today.

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Provincial Funding

Looking for student aid options offered by your local province? Choose your province of residence below to check out provincial funding options such as grants, loans, scholarships, and bursaries.
*All student funding, whether made available privately or through various government branches, is only approved to those who qualify, by the original source of funding. There are many criteria that each candidate must meet to be approved. Schools can only inform you of what may be available.