The Alexander Rutherford Scholarship is funded by the Government of Alberta and is administered by Alberta Student Aid offering Up to $ 2,500 to recognize and reward academic achievement of senior high school students and encourage them to pursue post-secondary studies.
This Rutherford scholarship is named in honour of Alexander Rutherford, who had the distinction of being Alberta’s first Premier and Minister of Education. He was known for his strong support of public education, particularly the University of Alberta, and his active involvement in community affairs. This scholarship recognizes and rewards senior high school students’ academic achievement and encourages them to pursue post-secondary studies.
Over the years, they have become one of the most well-known and sought-after scholarships in the province, benefiting thousands of students annually. Alberta’s government offers scholarships and awards to encourage and reward the excellence of Albertans in post-secondary study.
Overview of Alexander Rutherford Scholarship:
- Level of Study: Undergraduate
- Location: Canada
- Eligible: Applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada and residents of Alberta at the time of application.
- Scholarship type: Government funded
- Scholarship value: Up to $2,500
- Application Status: Opens in early August for the online application
Scholarship Value:
The Alexander Rutherford Scholarship offers Up to $2,500 to recognize and reward academic achievement of senior high school students and encourage them to pursue post-secondary studies.
Eligibility for Alexander Rutherford Scholarship
Apply once your official high school transcript marks are available and when you are currently enrolled in full-time post-secondary studies. Requirements for high school transcript marks will vary.
To receive this scholarship, you must also meet all of these eligibility criteria:
- be a Canadian Citizen, a Permanent Resident of Canada or Protected Person under
Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, (Visa students are not eligible). - be an Alberta resident, and to be considered an Alberta resident the following conditions must apply:
- one parent or legal guardian must have maintained permanent residence in Canada for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to the applicant commencing a program of study;
- applicant has maintained permanent residence in Alberta at least 12-months prior to commencing a program of study;
- applicant is not eligible to receive a scholarship with respect to any grade unless the applicant or the applicant’s parent(s)/legal guardian were a resident in Alberta throughout the whole of that grade.
- 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.
Note: Graduate level studies and Professional programs (e.g. medicine, veterinary medicine, optometry, etc.) are not eligible for this scholarship.
You may only be awarded the Alexander Rutherford scholarship once.
Selection
A student must have a minimum combined average based on five designated courses in at least one grade as calculated from:
- For Alberta Residents
Courses/marks on an official Alberta Transcript of High School Achievement - High School Completed Outside Alberta
Courses/marks on an official high school transcript attained in another province
Students will automatically be considered for the following awards when they apply for the Alexander Rutherford Scholarship. There is no separate application required for these awards.
- Rutherford Scholar Award
- Dr. Ernest and Minnie Mehl Scholarship
- Mildred Rowe Weston Memorial Scholarship
Apply online when your official high school marks are available, and when you are enrolled in full-time post-secondary studies.
How to Apply:
Submitting Your Application for the Alexander Rutherford Scholarship
Apply Online:
All students must have a verified account to access the Alberta Student Aid system. For help creating your account, go to How to Apply and check out the step-by-step instructions and videos.
Have access to your account information:
Student Aid recommends you use your personal email address, rather than your school email address, to create and verify your Alberta Student Aid account.
- Providing Parent/Guardian Access to Your Secure Account
Your parent(s)/guardian may want to assist with aspects of your student aid/scholastic awards. To grant access to application information in your secure account, complete a Consent to Disclose form or assign a Power of Attorney. The forms are available in the Applications and Forms section.
Apply for the Alexander Rutherford Scholarship:
The 2024-25 Alexander Rutherford Scholarship application begins in early August for the online application. Students who had a work in progress application and did not submit it must reapply when the new application is available in early August.
Apply once your official high school transcript marks are available and when you are enrolled in full-time post-secondary studies. Requirements for high school transcript marks will vary.
- Step 1: Student Aid recommends you apply when:
You will attend full-time post-secondary studies between August 1, 2023 and July 31, 2024.
Note: You must be currently enrolled in full-time undergraduate studies to be eligible to receive this scholarship.
Your official high school transcripts are available.
You have completed any high school upgrading credit courses you are taking – because you can only apply once, and you will want to submit your highest marks.
Note: Your high school upgrading credit courses must appear on an official Alberta High School Transcript of Achievement.
AND You have completed high school on or after September 30, 1980.
(High school transcript mark requirements will vary. See details below)
- Step 2: Login to your Alberta Student Aid account and choose the Alexander Rutherford High School Achievement Scholarship in the Apply section.
Information you need to complete your application:
Personal Information
- Social Insurance Number (SIN)
Your SIN will be validated with the Government of Canada before your application is reviewed
- Alberta Student Number (ASN)
Your ASN can be found on your Alberta Transcript of High School Achievement
If you do not have an ASN, you can request one:
Request/Lookup ASN
School Information
- Post-secondary school you are going to attend
- Start date
- High school you attended
Receiving Your Rutherford Scholarship:
You will be notified in writing of the results of your assessment once Student Aid confirms your grades/marks on your final official high school transcript. If you are eligible, Student Aid will send a request to your post-secondary school, asking them to confirm your current enrolment:
- Apply before start of post-secondary studies
A Confirmation of Enrolment request is sent to your school by the end of your first month of study. - Apply during/after post-secondary studies
A Confirmation of Enrolment request is sent to your school one month after your application is approved.
Once your school receives the request for Confirmation of Enrolment, they have 30 days to respond.
If the confirmation is not received within 30 days, Student Aid will send you a Confirmation of Enrolment form. You will take the form directly to your school for them to complete. The form sent to you must be completed and submitted to Student Aid within 30 days from the date you receive it.
Student Aid will mail a cheque to you approximately 1 month after your school confirms your enrolment.
For more information on Alexander Rutherford Scholarship, visit Alberta Student Aid HERE