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Bursaries and scholarships

AUPE has bursary money available for members to apply for as well as annual scholarship opportunities.

Bursary opportunities

AUPE maintains a Members' Education Assistance Fund, which is the responsibility of the Education Sub-Committee of the Members’ Benefits Committee.

Part-time bursaries (based on financial need)

To be considered, you must be:

  • attending part-time studies as defined by the Alberta institution.
  • an AUPE member with two consecutive years’ service at the date of application.
  • 25 years of age and older.
  • taking a degree, diploma, or certificate program from an accredited Alberta Educational Institution only.
  • past member who enrolls part-time in an educational institution within the first twelve (12) months of job elimination through layoff or abolishment.

How to apply: The part-time student application form for bursaries is now available. Completed applications are due by the second Thursday of July. Download the application form here.

Full-time bursaries

Bursary Type I (based on financial need)

To be considered, you must be:

  • attending full-time studies as defined by the institution.
  • members of AUPE with two (2) consecutive years service at the application deadline date and/or their spouse, and/or their financial dependents; and/or dependents of retired or deceased members for a period of one year.
  • must be under 25 years of age at the time of the application deadline date.
  • past members who enroll full-time within the first year of job elimination

AUPE Local donations will be distributed as per the Type 1 Bursary guidelines.

How to apply: The full-time student application form for bursaries is now available. Download the application form here.

Scholarship opportunities

Two (2) Brent Gawne Memorial Scholarships, $2,500

One $2,500 scholarship is awarded to a high school student and another $2,500 scholarship is awarded to a post-secondary student.

To be considered, you must be:

  • attending full-time studies as defined by the institution.
  • a member of AUPE with two (2) consecutive years’ service at the time of application deadline date, and or their spouse or financial dependents; and or  dependents of retired or deceased members for a period of one year.
  • must be under 25 years of age  at the time of the application deadline date.
  • past members who enroll full-time within the first year of job elimination.

How to apply: Submit a minimum 2,000 word essay on the topic chosen by the Executive Committee and printed in the Education Assistance Program application form (available May 2020). The essay must be in formal essay format (i.e. title page, footnotes, double-spaced, etc.). Attach a computer printout reflecting the essay word count. The essay must be on a separate paper attached to the completed Education Assistance Program application form. Essays will be judged by independent adjudicator(s). Please attach confirmation identifying full-time study, including class schedule.

Essay topic 2020

Public Service Cutbacks and Privatization
Early in its administration, the current Government of Alberta made it clear that it intends to reduce the size and function of the public service substantially through a program of cutbacks and privatization. The Government has begun to carry through with this commitment, in spite of the unanticipated demands placed on it by the current Covid-19 pandemic.

In a well-constructed essay of at least 2,000 words, provide what you believe should be the response of public sector unions such as the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees to the challenge the Government's program poses. In it, make a case for or against a robust public sector, as well as for the role you believe the Union should play in a situation such as this. Take a clear position on each question, and back it up, as much as possible, with evidence of solid research and concrete information, i.e., actual developments to date in Alberta, historical experiences in similar situations, etc.

2019 Brent Gawne Memorial Scholarship winners

We are pleased to announce the winners of the 2019 Brent Gawne Memorial Scholarships:

High School Winner: The Implications of the 2019 General Election on Labour Laws and Workers’ Rights in Alberta by Lauren Stadel   Download the essay

Post-Secondary Winner: Comparisons in Albertan Labour Policy: The New Democrats and the United Conservatives by Richard Routier  Download the essay

Institution-based bursaries

AUPE and Alberta Advanced Education established endowment funds jointly in 1986/87. The funds are administered by the educational institutions on behalf of AUPE. Application forms are available at the educational institutions. Request the AUPE Bursary Application form. Completed applications must be returned to the institution, and deadlines vary by institution. Please confirm the deadline date when requesting an application.

AUPE members can apply for additional institutional bursaries as follows (Please note that the following list has nothing to do with Full-Time and Part-Time AUPE Bursary Applications)

Eligible Institutions

Universities

Technical Institutes

  • NAIT – 780-471-6248
  • SAIT – 1-877-284-7248

Colleges