Everything You Need to Know About the Alexander Rutherford Scholarship

The Alexander Rutherford Scholarship was created to honor the memory of the first premier of Alberta, Alexander Rutherford, who died in 1917 while in office.

Since its creation, it has been awarded every year to one graduate student in any field of study at the University of Alberta who is entering their third year.

Because it’s highly competitive and only available to a small number of students, you’ll want to make sure that you meet all the criteria before applying!

Here’s everything you need to know about the Alexander Rutherford Scholarship, including how to apply for it and what you can use it for.

The History of Rutherford College

The Alexander Rutherford Scholarship was established in 1964 by an Act of the Legislature.

The intent was to create an institution of higher learning that would recognize and provide assistance to students interested in entering a career related to agriculture or horticulture.

Known as Rutgers since 1971, it is named after the premier farmer and politician, Alexander Latta Rutherford.

The school itself is located on Pochuck Creek Road in Fredon Township and has satellite campuses at Rutgers University-Newark Campus, Warren County Technical School in Washington Township, and West Morris Mendham High School.

What is the Alexander Rutherford Scholarship?

The Alexander Rutherford Scholarship is a $30,000 scholarship that covers tuition, books, and residence fees for a program of study at an approved college or university in Alberta.

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It is available to current high school students who will be enrolled in an undergraduate degree program or certification program at one of these post-secondary institutions for their first semester.

Scholarships are awarded based on academic merit (the average of your marks in each subject), extracurricular activities, employment, and community involvement.

Students must be able to demonstrate financial need as well.

For more information about eligibility requirements, visit Alberta Students Aid page on Alexander Rutherford Scholarship page.

How much does it pay?

The grant pays tuition and mandatory fees in full, leaving you with an estimated $1,500 in personal expenses each year.

The scholarship is renewable each year as long as you maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 and are enrolled full-time (or on an approved part-time basis).

Who can apply?

Students who are currently enrolled in a post-secondary institution in Alberta and have at least one year of studies remaining may apply.

Students who are planning on enrolling in full-time studies at an accredited post-secondary institution in Alberta can also apply.

Unfortunately, applicants from outside of the province are not eligible for consideration at this time.

Is there an age limit?

Yes! To be eligible for an Alexander Rutherford scholarship, you must be a Canadian citizen or have permanent resident status.

The scholarship is also only open to Canadian high school graduates (or full-time college students).

Most importantly, you need to fulfill one of these two criteria:

1) you’re graduating from a Manitoba high school with outstanding grades (80%+ average), and

2) your parents make less than $50,000 a year. Is there a GPA requirement? Yes!

To be considered for an Alexander Rutherford scholarship, your overall GPA should be at least 80%. The exact minimum varies by program.

Where is it available?

The Alexander Rutherford Scholarship is a grant that is available for students in Newfoundland and Labrador who want to pursue post-secondary education.

It’s worth $1,500 per semester, or up to $3,000 total over two semesters.

However, there are some important rules you need to know before applying.

First of all, it’s only available if you live in Newfoundland and Labrador; sorry folks from other provinces!

It can be used for any level of post-secondary program (no Bachelor’s degrees), but it’s not retroactive—meaning you have one year after graduating high school to apply for funding for your first year of university. In addition, you must meet certain criteria.

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For example, you must have been a resident of Newfoundland and Labrador for at least three years prior to receiving funding. 

Application dates and deadlines

The Alexander Rutherford Scholarship is awarded on an annual basis. Applications are due May 1st and November 1st.

The application deadline for current high school students is May 1st, and applications for all other applicants are due November 1st.

Applications received after these dates will not be considered, but late applications may be submitted if space is available.

Each scholarship can only be applied to one institution unless you have already been accepted into a second program at another university.

Who should I contact if I have more questions?

To learn more about scholarships or financial aid, contact a student financial advisor.

If you have any questions about eligibility, please feel free to contact the organizers directly at (780) 492-3888 or email them at finaid@ualberta.ca.

The Financial Aid and Awards Office looks forward to assisting you!