A healthcare scholarship has been aimed solely towards nurses this year.

The Dr Barbara Ball Public Health Scholarship will accept submissions between now and the end of April.

The Government’s scholarship committee updated the bursary’s criteria to focus on nursing to bolster the island’s nursing workforce.

Only one in four nurses at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital are Bermudian and there is a global shortage of nurses.

Kim Wilson, the Minister of Health, said: “The Dr Barbara Ball Public Health Scholarship continues to play a vital role in strengthening Bermuda’s healthcare workforce.

“It eases some of the financial burden for young people pursuing nursing degrees, helping them enter a demanding yet deeply rewarding profession.

“By supporting those who choose a career of service to our community, we are investing in the long‑term resilience and quality of Bermuda’s public health system.”

The scholarship is awarded annually to Bermudians who need financial assistance in their pursuit of a career in public health.

It was named after Barbara Bertha Ball, the first Bermudian-born woman to practise medicine in the country.

Eligible applicants must live in Bermuda, hold Bermudian or PRC status with permission to reside and seek employment and be accepted into an approved nursing programme at an accredited institution.

Applicants must also hold a minimum GPA of 3.0, or an equivalent UK score of 2:2 or an International Baccalaureate score of 30.

Those who are interested in applying can do so through the Bermuda Scholarships website, or visit the Government’s website for further information.