The Alexander Rutherford Scholarship is named after Alexander Rutherford, who served both as Alberta’s first premier and minister of education. He was well-known for his ardent advocacy of public education, especially the University of Alberta, and for his prodigious activity in civic affairs.

The scholarship honors the academic excellence of senior high school students and affords them a maximum of $2500 cash prize that motivates them to seek post-secondary education.

Once your high school grades are official and you are enrolled in full-time post-secondary coursework, submit your application.

Note: Varying standards will apply to high school transcript requirements and you may only apply once.

Eligibility

You must fulfill each requirement listed below to be eligible for the Alexander Rutherford Scholarship:

1. be a citizen of Canada, a permanent resident of Canada, or a protected individual as defined by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act of Canada (Visa students are not eligible).

2. Be a resident of Alberta. The following requirements must be met to be considered an Alberta resident:

• before the candidate started a program of study, at least one parent or legal guardian had to have maintained permanent residency in Canada for at least 12 continuous months.

• the applicant has a continuous place of residence in Alberta for at least a year before beginning a program of study;

• if the applicant or the applicant’s parent(s) or legal guardian did not reside in Alberta for the entirety of that grade, the applicant is not eligible to earn a scholarship concerning/related to that grade.

3. Must have graduated high school on or after September 30, 1980.
4. be enrolled full-time in an apprenticeship program or designated undergraduate post-secondary program that is at least one semester long.

How To Apply

When your high school transcripts are official and you are a full-time post-secondary student, submit your application online. Alberta Student Aid will mail you a check within a month after your post-secondary institution confirms your enrolment or attendance in your undergraduate or apprenticeship program.

Visit Alberta Student Aid for more information on how to submit an application.

How Selection is Made

When students enroll in post-secondary institutions and achieve an average of 80% in five specified topics in Grades 10, 11, and 12, they are given these scholarships. Each grade is evaluated separately. Grades 10, 11, or 12 as determined by:

• Alberta Residents: Courses and grades on a certified Alberta high school transcript.

• Completed High School Outside of Alberta: Courses or grades on official high school transcript from another province.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. As an Alberta Resident that will pursue my post-secondary education elsewhere in the world,can I still apply for the Alexander Rutherford Scholarship?

Yes. You can enroll in a post-secondary institution anywhere in the world as long as it meets the eligibility requirements.

2. When will I discover whether I’ve been awarded a Rutherford Scholarship?

Your application will have been processed once your official high school transcript grades are available (around mid-August), and you will be informed in writing of the outcome of your assessment. Prior to disbursing your award, Alberta Student Aid must verify that you are enrolled full-time in a post-secondary institution.

3. Can I get the Rutherford Scholarship if I’m taking International Baccalaureate (IB) classes?

Yes. For Grades 10, 11, and 12, IB courses may be taken as required or elective courses.

4. Can the Rutherford Scholarship assessment consider courses taken to upgrade or prepare students for college?

The only courses that are approved are those that are upgraded and listed on an official Alberta Transcript of High School Achievement. Exam results from the General Education Development (GED) are not accepted.