A common issue college and university students share is paying for tuition fees and other supplementary fees, such as textbooks and transit expenses. In order to aid students in this matter, both UBC Vancouver and Okanagan offer several scholarships, grants, and other financial aid resources. While each of these funding sources outlines basic eligibility requirements students must meet, the variety of financial assistance offered is meant to serve a wide range of students’ backgrounds.
Top Scholarships at UBC Vancouver and Okanagan
Presidential Scholars Awards
Known as one of the most prestigious awards to Canadian citizens or permanent residents, the Presidential Scholars Awards had approximately 1,750 eligible candidates from UBC Okanagan, and 10,000 applicants from UBC Vancouver were evaluated based on academic achievements and leadership experiences. The Presidential Scholars Awards include a one-time award worth approximately CAD$5,000 and renewable awards of CAD$40,000 for students of UBC Okanagan and CAD$80,000 for students of UBC Vancouver. Under the contract, the renewable awards are payable over four years of undergraduate studies.
If you are interested, check out this website for more information!
Schulich Leader Scholarships
The world’s accelerated advancement depends heavily on those who studied STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Both UBC Vancouver and Okanagan offer STEM programs under its Faculty of Engineering, Science, Applied Science, and more! The Schulich Leader Scholarships recognize talented students across Canada who demonstrate potential in reaching new boundaries in the pursuit of science and technology. For engineering students, a CAD$100,000 scholarship is offered for four years, while an CAD$80,000 scholarship is offered for students outside engineering.
If you are interested, check out this website for more information!
Loran Awards
Under the Loran (Long-Range Aid to Navigation) Awards, academic performance is not the only factor in determining the next generation of leaders across Canada, but also personal values of grit, integrity, and personal autonomy. The scholarship offers Canadian students up to $100,000 over four years. Alongside the rigorous selection process, students must present leadership experiences that have greatly created a positive impact on Canada’s community. To understand the extent of the award’s competitiveness, during 2020, only 36 Loran scholars were selected amongst 5,194 applicants.
If you are interested, check out this website for more information!
Musqueam First Nations Scholarship
UBC Vancouver is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Musqueam People, while UBC Okanagan sits on the lands of the Sylix Okanagan People. One of the ways UBC acknowledges its strong relationship with Indigenous groups, such as the Musqueam First Nation, is to offer a community-based scholarship that will raise overall educational awareness on the Indigenous communities and support their undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, and graduate studies. With recipients being selected based on their openness to learn and benefit the greater community, the award is valued at up to $5,500 annually, renewable for up to four years.
If you are interested, check out this website for more information!
Top Financial Aid Resources for Domestic Students
If you are an incoming or current university student facing financial distress, UBC Vancouver and Okanagan campus offer resources for financial aid- either funded by the educational institution of the government of Canada. The main difference between a bursary and a loan is that a bursary is non-repayable, while loans are repayable and subject to interest rates.
UBC Bursary Program
While following the framework provided by StudentAid BC, the UBC Bursary Program is designed to help domestic students pay for education fees and living costs. In order to receive the designated amount of funding, the UBC bursary team is subjected to financial assessments, such as determining family income, for eligible British Columbia students.
If you are interested, check out this website for more information!
Repayable Funding- Student Loans
The Government of Canada offers student loans for undergraduates students completing both winter and summer sessions. Loans are awarded based on the student’s family income and education fees, including textbook costs and living expenses. If a student is concerned over loan applications, do not hesitate to receive financial advice from Student Services.
If you are interested, check out this website for more information!
Non-Repayable Funding- Student Grants
Student grants are also offered for full-time and part-time Canadian students, in which the Government of Canada acquires the right to assess the student’s eligibility for available grants and amount of financial aid. For the 2021 school year, eligible full-time students can receive a maximum of CAD$6,000 of financial aid; on the other hand, part-time students can receive up to CAD$36,000.
If you are interested, check out this website for more information!
