Alumni Professional Development Grants

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Our last cycle of grant applications will be accepted until March 27. After that, we will be changing the format of the program. Stay tuned for details.

Alumni Professional Development Grants help University of Alberta alumni achieve their career growth goals by removing financial barriers to high-quality, meaningful career education and personal growth opportunities offered by the UAlberta and its partners.

This grant provides funding for alumni to participate in courses and activities that will help them:

  • Develop leadership skills
  • Explore career opportunities
  • Learn about professional practices in different cultures and contexts
  • Establish and expand professional networks
  • Reflect critically on their career interests and aspirations
  • Develop new skills including, but not limited to:
    • Career Management skills: skills needed to navigate the workplace
    • Discipline-specific skills: skills specific to certain occupational fields
    • Generic skills: using technology, written and verbal communication, leadership
    • Self-management skills: goal-setting, time-management, self-assessment, reflexivity

Who can apply:
Any alumnus of the University of Alberta.

What's covered?
Up to $500 maximum of the registration fee for any individual course, event or activity offered by the University of Alberta or its affiliates. No grants will be given above $500. No individual may receive more than $1000 in a single fiscal year (April 1 - March 31).

Eligible activities:
The registration fee for any individual course or activity that contributes to your professional development or career growth goals, offered by the University of Alberta or its partners, that is not for academic credit. This may include, but is not limited to, courses, events or activities offered by:

If you are unsure if your course is eligible, please contact us at alumcar@ualberta.ca

Ineligible activities:

  • Any course/activity for which you will receive academic credit
  • Any course/activity where you will be paid for your participation
  • Any course/activity that is not offered at the University of Alberta
  • Programs or certificates, unless otherwise specified (please apply for individual courses only) 
  • The cost of travel to attend the course/activity
  • Courses that have already begun, transpired or been paid for prior to notification date (see below for further details). Grants will not be awarded retroactively or for reimbursement. Applicants are encouraged to apply early. 

Selection Criteria:
Applications are assessed by a sub-committee of Alumni Council based on the following criteria (the scoring rubric is attached to the grant application, please tailor your application appropriately):

  • The clarity of the explanation of the applicant's professional development/career growth goals
  • The value of the course/activity in helping the applicant achieve their career goals
  • Quality of application package (clear, concise writing, thoughtful and reflexive professional development/career growth goals, reasonable expectations regarding outcomes of the course/activity)
  • Financial need

Application Deadlines (2023 - 2024 calendar year):
All grant applicants will be notified if they were selected to receive the grant or not via email two weeks after the deadline (see below chart for specific dates). 

You must apply early to allow for adequate time for administration and processing of the grants for successful applicants. 

PD Grant Table on Application Deadline, Notification Date and Course cut off
If your course begins in... The deadline to submit your application is... Notification date Status
August 2023 June 28, 2023 July 12, 2023 Applications Closed
September 2023 July 26, 2023 August 9, 2023 Applications Closed
October 2023 August 30, 2023 September 13, 2023 Applications Closed
November 2023 September 27, 2023 October 11, 2023 Applications Closed
December 2023 October 25, 2023 November 8, 2023 Applications Closed
January 2024 November 29, 2023 December 13, 2023 Applications Closed
February 2024 December 27, 2023 January 10, 2024 Applications Closed
March 2024 January 31, 2024 February 14, 2024 Applications Closed
April 2024 February 28, 2024 March 13, 2024 Applications Closed
May 2024 March 27, 2024 April 10, 2024 Accepting Applications

 

If your application is not successful, feedback may be provided upon request. 

This is a program with a defined budget. This website will be updated and no further applications will be accepted once the budget has been fully allocated.

Payment Details:
If your application is successful, your grant funding will be paid directly to the course/activity provider. Grants will not be awarded retroactively or for reimbursement. Please apply early, to ensure there is time to notify you that your application has been selected and to process payment before your course begins. 

Questions? Contact:
alumcar@ualberta.ca