NUPGE Scholarships (for OPSEU/SEFPO and other component families)
National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE)
- Amount
- $2,5009 scholarships of $2,500 each for students entering first year, plus two $2,500 Young Worker Scholarships that are not limited to first year (the 2026 notice gives the age limit as under 30, the FAQ as under 35). You can win only one NUPGE scholarship per year.
- Deadline
- Date not confirmedLast cycle's deadline was July 15, 2026. Check the official page for this year's date. The last notice was posted in mid June.
Always confirm the details there before applying.
Not fully confirmed. Some details on this page could not be confirmed on the official site, or official pages disagree. Blank fields mean we could not confirm them. Check the official page before relying on anything here.
About this award
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) runs an essay contest each year for children and grandchildren of members and retirees of its component unions, which include OPSEU/SEFPO in Ontario. Each award is $2,500, and the main awards are for students entering their first year at a Canadian public college or university. Several awards are reserved for Black, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQIA+, racialized or disabled students, or for students entering policing, community services or health care.
Who can apply
- Child or grandchild (including step, foster or legal ward) of a current or retired member of a NUPGE component union or affiliate; OPSEU/SEFPO is the Ontario component
- Planning to enter first year at a public college or university in Canada with no earlier post-secondary credits (the 2026 notice says full-time; the FAQ says full-time or part-time)
- Some awards have extra criteria: Black, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQIA+, student of colour, disability, or entering policing, criminal justice, community services or health care
- CUPE, LiUNA, PSAC, Teamsters, UFCW, teachers' unions and Unifor do not qualify
What to submit
- Online application
- Essay of 750 to 1,000 words on the set topic
- Agreement to publicity conditions
Quick facts
Words you'll see- Type
- Scholarship
- Category
- Employer or union
- Program
- University and College
- When to apply
- Grade 12
- Where it applies
- National, Canada
- Other requirements
- Child or grandchild, including step, foster or legal ward, of a member or retiree of a NUPGE Component union or affiliate (such as OPSEU/SEFPO in Ontario)
- The gap between what school costs and what your family is expected to pay. Bursaries and grants often use it.
- No
- Paid again in later years of your program, as long as you keep meeting its rules, such as a minimum average.
- No, one-time
- Application cycle
- 2025-26
Sources
Last checked against the official site on Oct 2, 2026.
- https://nupge.ca/scholarships/(opens in a new tab)
- https://nupge.ca/2026/nupge-scholarships-2026-2027/(opens in a new tab)
What the official pages say
"offers 9 scholarships of $2,500 each"
https://nupge.ca/2026/nupge-scholarships-2026-2027/(opens in a new tab)"Each scholarship has the same award amount of $2,500."
https://nupge.ca/scholarship-faq/(opens in a new tab)"Entrants must be the children/grandchildren or foster children/grandchildren of members or retirees of the National Union's Component unions"
https://nupge.ca/2026/nupge-scholarships-2026-2027/(opens in a new tab)"Canadian public post-secondary educational institution on a full-time basis in 2026-2027"
https://nupge.ca/2026/nupge-scholarships-2026-2027/(opens in a new tab)"You must be planning to enter the 1st year of a public, post-secondary education institution, full-time or part-time"
https://nupge.ca/scholarship-faq/(opens in a new tab)"OPSEU/SEFPO 416-443-8888"
https://nupge.ca/scholarship-faq/(opens in a new tab)"The deadline for applications and essays is July 15, 2026"
https://nupge.ca/2026/nupge-scholarships-2026-2027/(opens in a new tab)"The 2026 Scholarships are now closed."
https://nupge.ca/scholarships/(opens in a new tab)"Each year, the 425,000 member National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) offers 9 scholarships of $2,500 each"
https://nupge.ca/2026/nupge-scholarships-2026-2027/(opens in a new tab)
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