BEGIN YOUR CAREER WITH AN ADVENTURE

PHARMACY  SCHOLARSHIP  PROGRAM

Apply for a Scholarship from Canada’s Pharmacy Leader

SHOPPERS DRUG MART® PHARMACY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR HIGH-DEMAND MARKETS

Our program is not for everyone but it may be for you.

If you are independent, have a keen sense of adventure, and enjoy the friendliness of small-town life, our scholarship program is right up your alley. Chances are, you will be able to walk or bike to work, get away to “the country” in a matter of minutes, and meet people – and have experiences – you will be talking about for years. You will also make lasting friendships. It can be incredibly rewarding professionally too, because you can make such a difference in the lives of patients who live in an area where pharmacists are scarce – and where your education and expertise are desperately needed.

If, on the other hand, you are addicted to city life, think again.

Most of our work placements are in small towns or rural areas.

Apply for a National, Regional or Destination scholarship.

If you are among your year’s best and brightest – and you are the kind of person who embraces new experiences – apply for one of our Scholarship programs and you could receive up to $40,000 to help cover the cost of completing your pharmacy degree at an accredited Canadian university, including tuition fees, books and living expenses. Not every applicant will be accepted and you must commit to working in a high-need area in Canada upon graduation. In most circumstances you commit for a two year period.

Do you need help paying for tuition, books and living expenses but do not want to graduate deeply in debt?

Shoppers Drug Mart has an alternative that just might appeal – but only if you have a sense of adventure.

Shoppers Drug Mart offers scholarships to assist you with the cost of completing your pharmacy degree. We help you pay for school.  You help us by working in a high-need area.

PROGRAM OPTIONS

Opt for the $40,000 program and we will choose where you go – wherever you are needed most in Canada.

Regional Scholarship

Opt for the $20,000 program and you will work in a high-need area in the region of your choice. Look on the map to see the regions you can choose from.

Destination Scholarship

Opt for this program and we will structure a scholarship program designed especially for you – you will work in a high need community but we will discuss with you where that will be in advance of you making any commitment – you will know the region in which you will commit to work and the amount of your Scholarship before you enroll

PROGRAM DETAILS

How These Scholarships Work

You can apply any time during your pharmacy education at an accredited Canadian university. If accepted, you will receive Scholarship payments when you need them... Usually this is in August, however we can be flexible and arrange for payments to be made when you need them the most. Just talk to the Pharmacy Recruitment Specialist in your area and they will help arrange this.

Placements

Each year Shoppers Drug Mart will review our areas of highest need and compile a list. We will ask you to let us know your preferred locations from the choices provided to you, so we can try to match you with your most desirable location. Now this does not mean you will not go to a location that is further down your list, but it does allow us to match more students with locations that suit them.  We will let you know of your location in your final semester. It’s usually in February - March of your final year that you will learn where you will be working, and which licensed  Associate Owner you will be working for.

All Inclusive

Our scholarships are “all inclusive”, meaning that the scholarship includes monies for expenses such as tuition fees, books, and living expenses related to your education, as well as moving expenses. This means it is simpler and easier for you - no more submitting of receipts or tracking of expenses! Also, your scholarship will likely not impose any additional tax burden upon you as you will only be taxed on the amount of scholarship that exceeds your scholarship exemption amount for the year in which you receive the scholarship payment. You will be issued a T4A from Shoppers Drug Mart, however you should be able to claim a “scholarship exemption” for all or a portion of the scholarship. Keep in mind that everyone’s financial circumstances are different and you should always check with a financial advisor to be sure about how the scholarship and any exemption available will impact your financial situation, but most students in this program have not had to pay taxes on the scholarship payments.

We Are Flexible!

Payments when you want and need them.

QUESTIONS

When Do I Have to Apply?

Whenever you want! The programs are flexible enough to allow you to decide at any time during your education that you want to apply for a scholarship.

Do I Have to be Working for Shoppers Drug Mart to Apply?

No, but if you are accepted, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with our store environment by working part-time or during the summer at a Shoppers Drug Mart store. This will give your career a head start!

I’m Already in My 3rd or Final Year -is it Too Late to Apply?

Not at all. We can offer these scholarships at any time up until you graduate. Acceptance will depend on volume of applicants and need at the time you apply.

What Happens if I Don’t Complete My One or Two Years of Work?

You will have to pay us back the full amount plus an additional sum in light of costs incurred to find your replacement, so it is well worth your while to complete the full commitment.