Awards: scholarships and bursaries

Award types

UBC and the University's donors provide a range of financial support to reward your academic and extracurricular achievements and meet your financial needs.

  • Scholarships 
    Scholarships are merit-based awards primarily based on academic achievement. Other merits such as community involvement or athletic achievements may also be considered.
  • Hybrid awards
    Hybrid awards are given based on a combination of academic and/or other achievement and financial need.
  • Bursaries
    Bursaries are assessed based on unmet financial need. Bursaries and student awards based solely on financial need are not shown on a student's transcript.
  • Fellowships
    Fellowships are given at the start of the academic year to a graduate student primarily based on academic achievement, research ability or research potential.
  • Medals
    Medals are non-monetary awards given at the end of an academic year to a graduating student, based primarily on academic achievement.
  • Prizes
    Prizes are given to a student at the end of the academic session to recognize performance in a particular course, research performance, or publication record.

Read the Academic Calendar for how UBC defines different types of awards.

Automatic consideration awards

Certain awards do not require an application. As a UBC student, you are automatically considered for the following awards:

Award Description

Student Housing Supplement Grant

Eligible students can receive additional financial support for their first-year residence experience.

Trek Excellence Scholarship

Granted to the top continuing domestic students ranked in the top 5% of their year.

Faculty recommended awards

Merit-based awards are presented based on strong academic performance and community leadership. Some faculties might require an application, so it is highly recommended to check-in with your faculty student services.

Apply for an award

The following awards are by application only. Make sure you meet the award requirements and submit your application by the deadline.

General awards

Any UBC student who meets the eligibility requirements is invited to apply to these awards.

Award

Description

UBC Bursary Program

Designed to support students with unmet financial need

Affiliation Bursaries

Based on financial need and for students connected to a specific club or group

Affiliation scholarships

Based on merit such as academic achievement, community involvement, or leadership, for students in a specific club or group

John R. Scarfo Wellness Bursary

Available for students who demonstrate a financial need and a commitment to a healthy lifestyle

Premier Undergraduate and Wesbrook Scholarship

Awarded to senior students with outstanding academics, leadership, and community involvement

Rhodes Scholarship

11 Canadians are selected each year to join a class of 84 Scholars at the University of Oxford

McCall MacBain Scholarship

Leadership-drive scholarship open to graduate students in a master’s program at McGill University

3M National Student Fellowship

Honours 10 full-time diploma and undergraduate students at Canadian post-secondary institutions demonstrating outstanding leadership

UBC Vancouver Technology Bursary

One-time, needs-based bursary to support the costs of basic technology required for academic purposes

Awards for specific student groups

These awards are available for specific groups of students who meet additional requirements.

Award Description
Awards for Indigenous students Non-repayable scholarships and bursaries for First Nations, Métis, or Inuit students
Beau Dick Memorial award for Indigenous students $20,000 award for students from Kwakwakaʼwakw First Nation or other First Nations
Musqueam First Nation Scholarship Renewable scholarship valued up to $5,500 annually for Musqueam students
Women in part-time studies Available to women studying on a part-time basis
Students participating in Go Global Available to UBC students in Go Global International Learning Programs
Students with disabilities Need- and merit-based awards for students with disabilities
International student awards For outstanding international undergraduate students at the UBC Vancouver campus
Graduate student awards Merit-based awards for students in graduate programs
Funding for former youth in care Tuition waivers or funds for former youth in care
Funding for Canadian Veterans Financial help for individuals planning to return to school after a career in the military

UBC Award Search

Use the UBC Award Search tool to find UBC scholarships, bursaries, prizes, and awards, along with award criterias, descriptions, and more.

Use the tool

External awards

Organizations and groups outside of UBC also offer external awards for post-secondary students.

Additional resources

If you have questions