New Bursary for Skilled Trades Students at NSCC

April 15, 2024

As part of the Province’s plan to grow the skilled trades workforce, a new bursary will support 320 students starting training in Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) construction programs in September.

Students with financial need can apply for the $5,000 Growing Nova Scotia’s Skilled Trades Workforce Bursary to help pay for tuition and living costs while training in high-demand construction trades programs at NSCC campuses across Nova Scotia.

“It’s about removing barriers. The skilled trades are for everyone, and we know we need more skilled trades professionals to build our houses, hospitals and schools. We’ve been listening to Nova Scotians and know that some need extra financial assistance to attend NSCC and this new bursary will encourage more students to complete their studies in the trades and help them to launch their careers,” said Jill Balser, Minister of Labour, Skills and Immigration. “It will also create a great opportunity for equity-deserving groups who traditionally face barriers to employment.”

To be eligible, students must:

• be enrolled full-time in the first year of one of the 19 construction programs at NSCC
• demonstrate financial need.

While preference will be given to equity-deserving students, any student with financial need can apply. Students who receive the bursary this year will be able to apply for renewal in their second year.

Applications are open until July 18. NSCC students can apply through the college awards portal.

The $3.2-million investment for the new bursary is part of the $100 million announced in October to recruit, retain and train more people in skilled trades. The government is accelerating growth in the skilled trades and modernizing the apprenticeship and trades qualification system to meet the needs of a growing province.

The goal is to add up to 5,000 more new apprentices to the system in the next three years, increase the number of journeypersons and trades qualifiers taking on apprentices by 1,000 a year, and increase the retention to certification rate of apprentices from 43 per cent to 60 per cent – one of the highest in the country – within five years.

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