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The Rutherford Scholarship is a prestigious award that recognizes and rewards the academic achievement of senior high school students in Alberta, Canada. It is named after Alexander Rutherford, who was the first Premier and Minister of Education of Alberta. He was known for his strong support of public education, particularly the University of Alberta, and his active involvement in community affairs.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the Rutherford Scholarship, you must meet the following criteria:
- Be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a protected person under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Visa students are not eligible.
- Be an Alberta resident, and have one parent or legal guardian who has maintained permanent residence in Canada for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to the start of your post-secondary studies. You must also have maintained permanent residence in Alberta for at least 12 months prior to the start of your post-secondary studies.
- Have completed high school on or after September 30, 1980.
- Be enrolled in a full course load in a designated undergraduate post-secondary or an apprenticeship program of at least one semester in length. Graduate-level studies and professional programs (e.g. medicine, veterinary medicine, optometry, etc.) are not eligible for this scholarship.
- Have a minimum combined average based on five designated courses in at least one grade: Grade 10, 11, or 12. The courses and marks must appear on your official Alberta Transcript of High School Achievement or on your official high school transcript if you completed high school outside Alberta. The courses and marks required for each grade are listed below.
Financial Coverage
The Rutherford Scholarship offers up to $2,500 to eligible students, depending on their grades and the number of years they apply for. The scholarship amount for each grade is as follows:
- Grade 10: $300
- Grade 11: $500
- Grade 12: $700
You can apply for the scholarship for each grade separately or for all three grades at once. The maximum amount you can receive is $2,500. You may only be awarded the Rutherford Scholarship once.
Requirement
To receive the Rutherford Scholarship, you must have a minimum combined average based on five designated courses in at least one grade. The courses and marks required for each grade are as follows:
- Grade 10: 75.0% or higher in English Language Arts 10-1 or 10-2, and four other subjects from the list of options.
- Grade 11: 75.0% or higher in English Language Arts 20-1 or 20-2, and four other subjects from the list of options.
- Grade 12: 75.0% or higher in English Language Arts 30-1 or 30-2, and four other subjects from the list of options.
The list of options for each grade includes courses such as Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, French Language Arts, and many others.
Document Requirement
To apply for the Rutherford Scholarship, you will need the following documents:
- Your official high school transcript marks, either from your Alberta Transcript of High School Achievement or from your high school transcript if you completed high school outside Alberta. You can request your transcript from your high school or from Alberta Education.
- Your proof of enrollment in a full course load in a designated post-secondary or apprenticeship program. You can obtain this from your post-secondary institution or from the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board.
Application Procedure
How to Apply
To apply for the Rutherford Scholarship, you can visit the official website of the scholarship and follow the instructions provided. You can also contact the Alberta Student Aid office by phone, email, or mail if you have any questions or concerns about the scholarship.
Deadline
The deadline to apply for the Rutherford Scholarship is May 1 of your graduating year if you are applying for Grade 12, or May 1 of the year after you complete Grade 10 or 11 if you are applying for those grades. You can apply for the scholarship anytime after your official high school transcript marks are available and when you are enrolled in full-time post-secondary studies.
