News

The Canadian Medical Association Foundation has introduced a bursary for medical students and residents experiencing extraneous or unanticipated expenses resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The bursary was first announced in April 2020 and is designed to provide immediate relief for unexpected financial needs such as the inability to meet essential living expenses due specifically to COVID-19.

“We appreciate this vital support from the CMA Foundation, which will help ease the financial burden for our students and residents,” says Dr. David Anderson, Dean of Medicine. “These are extraordinary times and the bursary will allow students and residents to focus on their studies and their educational goals.”

While it is not intended to be a source of long-term funding or to replace lost income or to support discretionary expenses, students at Dalhousie Medical School will now have access to short-term assistance to support anyone who may be experiencing financial hardship as a direct result of COVID-19.

This funding is intended to provide support for learners facing challenges such as job loss, access to housing, food, tuition, mental health services, transportation, and more, in the context of COVID-19. The CMA Foundation wants to ensure that the basic needs of medical learners are covered, so they can focus on their studies and overall wellbeing.

“Our hope is that these funds can provide relief for students as they prepare for the upcoming school year in our new normal,” says Allison Seymour, CMAF President. “Understanding that medical learners need support more than ever, the intent of this funding is to help alleviate some of their financial stress.”

Quick Facts

CMA Foundation Bursary

The CMA Foundation has introduced a bursary for medical students and residents with Terms of Reference requiring the learners to demonstrate extraneous or unanticipated expenses resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The bursary is designed to provide immediate relief for unexpected financial needs such as the inability to meet essential living expenses due specifically to COVID-19. It is not intended to be a source of long-term funding or to replace lost income or to support discretionary expenses.

Eligible Expenses

• Housing/Accommodations – Will have to be assessed individually and must demonstrate need beyond reasonable rent requirements e.g. self-isolation, quarantine accommodations due to COVID-19.
• Childcare
• Transportation – Alternative Accommodation/Transportation related to return to clinical clerkship
• Utilities – Increased educational costs such as access to internet, increased data plan etc. due to being unable to participate in mandatory virtual curriculum programming.
• Wellness – Mental Health services (e.g. wellness counselling, resilience/burnout counselling, fitness app subscriptions, etc.).
• Other: Job loss of family members who offered direct support to the student, resulting in a loss of support funding to the student. Other new unanticipated needs directly related to COVID-19.

The Bursary is not designed to provide relief for the following ineligible expenses:

• Directly replacing lost income (learners requesting direct income loss support should apply for government assistance, as applicable)
• Missed loan payments (or payments in arrears)
• Discretionary expenses
• Other non-essential personal expenses unrelated to COVID-19

Update: The Canadian Medical Association Foundation is introducing a second round of a bursaries for medical students and residents experiencing extraneous or unanticipated expenses resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Apply for short-term assistance.