Oncology Nursing Society Foundation Doctoral Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by Oncology Nursing Society Foundation
Overview
Doctoral scholarships are funded by the Oncology Nursing Foundation, the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation, and the Ann Olson Scholarship Fund to support registered nurses pursuing doctoral-level oncology education. The program supports both research (PhD) and clinical (DNP) doctoral degrees and aims to advance oncology nursing practice and scholarship. Eligible applicants must demonstrate a commitment to oncology care and professional growth within the cancer care community.
Description: Scholarships provide financial support for registered nurses committed to oncology nursing who are pursuing a PhD or DNP at an accredited institution.
- Funded by multiple oncology-focused organizations.
- Supports both PhD and DNP pathways in oncology nursing.
- Intended for nurses committed to advancing cancer care.
Eligibility & Selection Criteria
Applicants must be registered nurses who are currently enrolled in, accepted to, or have applied to a PhD or DNP nursing program for the 2027–2028 academic year beginning fall 2027. Candidates must be in good academic standing and demonstrate a clear commitment to oncology nursing. A reference from a current work supervisor or academic advisor on organizational letterhead is required, and awardees must agree to participate in a post-graduation survey.
Eligibility: Must be an RN; enrolled/accepted/applied to an accredited PhD or DNP program for 2027–2028; in good academic standing; provide a signed letter of reference; demonstrate commitment to oncology; agree to post-graduation follow-up.
- RN licensure and program enrollment status are required.
- Signed recommendation on organizational letterhead is mandatory.
- Post-graduation reporting is a condition of the award.
Award Details
Each doctoral scholarship is awarded at $7,500 to support eligible educational expenses. Funds may only be used for tuition, mandatory fees, required books, supplies, lab fees, and equipment directly related to approved coursework for the 2027–2028 academic year. Travel-related expenses and dissertation costs are not allowable, and any unused funds must be returned to the Oncology Nursing Foundation. An individual may receive this award only once.
Award Value: $7,500 per recipient.
- Funds limited to tuition, fees, required materials, and course-related equipment.
- Travel and dissertation expenses are excluded.
- Award is one-time only per individual.
Application Requirements & Timeline
Applications require a $5.00 non-refundable processing fee submitted before application submission, and applicants must enter the order number from the payment confirmation in the Application Fee Payment Code field. Required materials include the signed letter of recommendation and documentation of professional, membership, and volunteer experience. All applications must be submitted through the designated application platform; late submissions will not be accepted. Questions must be submitted to the Foundation prior to 4:30 pm Eastern Time on the application due date to receive a response before the deadline.
Application Timeline: Applicants must be applying to or enrolled in the 2027–2028 academic year (starting fall 2027); adhere to platform deadlines and the Foundation’s inquiry cutoff time for responses.
- $5 application processing fee is required and must be recorded in the application.
- Submit all materials through the official application platform—no late entries accepted.
- Send any questions before the stated cutoff time on the due date for a timely response.
Review & Scoring
Reviewers evaluate applications on clarity and responsiveness to essay prompts, alignment with the Foundation’s mission and diversity, equity, and inclusion statements, and overall writing quality. Applications are assessed for professional reflection on the applicant’s role in oncology, documented contributions to the cancer care community, and the presence of specific, measurable, actionable, and realistic goals for advancing oncology nursing. Strong grammar, punctuation, conciseness, and well-constructed essays improve competitiveness.
Scoring: Factors include essay quality and relevance, writing mechanics, professional growth and contributions, and clearly defined goals related to oncology nursing advancement.
- Essays must directly address prompts and mission/DEI elements.
- Clear, measurable goals strengthen scoring.
- High-quality writing and presentation are essential.
Tips & Considerations
Begin the application well before the deadline to allow time for a competitive submission and to collect required supporting materials such as recommender contact details. Use available tools and peer review to polish essays and ensure accurate spelling, punctuation, and grammar. Provide detailed, concise responses and leverage the allowed word count to fully address questions. Following these steps will improve the overall strength and competitiveness of your application.
Application Advice: Start early, gather recommendation and documentation information in advance, proofread thoroughly, and use editing tools to refine essay responses.
- Plan ahead—applications take time to complete well.
- Collect recommender names and contact details before starting.
- Use editing tools and peer review to improve writing quality.
Contact & Questions
Direct application questions to the Foundation at [email protected]. Submit inquiries before the stated cutoff on the application due date to allow the Foundation time to respond prior to the deadline. All program communications and submissions are managed through the Foundation’s application platform, and applicants should follow platform instructions carefully.
Contact: For questions, email [email protected].
- Use the Foundation email for application questions.
- Submit questions before the application-day cutoff for a timely reply.
- Follow the application platform instructions for all submissions.