Reinstatement of New Grad Bursary

Hundreds of members, new grads and students shared their dissatisfaction after BC government cancels $500 bursary for new graduates.

On Sept. 30, 2025, the provincial government discontinued a $500 bursary designed to offset the costs nurse graduates pay for their licensing exams when entering the profession. The bursary was introduced in 2023 as part of the BC government’s Health and Human Resource Strategy, which aimed to help fill health workforce gaps by supporting newly graduated registered nurses, registered psychiatric nurses, and licensed practical nurses as they transition into full practice.

A strong health human resources strategy must include ways to encourage new nursing grads to stay and practise in BC. BCNU has been consistently advocating for innovative solutions that will support the successful implementation of minimum nurse-to-patient ratios -- the single-most important policy solution available to address the staffing crisis in this province. Investments that recognize and respect our nurses at all stages of their career are critical.

After BCNU invited members and students to send an electronic letter to their MLA expressing their concern and asking the government to reinstate the bursary, more than 1,100 answered the call. The letters were also sent directly to Minister of Health Josie Osborne and Anna Kindy, MLA for North Island and the official opposition’s health critic.

BCNU continues to pressure the government to reinstate the bursary.