About the bursary
The John R. Scarfo Wellness bursary has been made available through an endowment established by Dr. John R. Scarfo for students who have demonstrated financial need and are committed to a healthy lifestyle. Successful applicants will demonstrate a commitment to health as described in the eligibility requirements below.
Dr. Scarfo came from a family with 12 children and would not have been able to receive his MD at UBC without the generosity of Dean Walter Gage. Having been the recipient of the generosity of others, Dr. Scarfo wishes to support UBC students and honour those who had supported him. These bursaries are adjudicated by Enrolment Services.
Eligibility requirements
You must meet all the following requirements to apply:
- You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- You must be considered a full-time student.
- You must meet the terms for awards eligibility set out in UBC’s Regulations Governing University Awards.
- You must demonstrate unmet financial need based on UBC’s Common Assessment Mechanism.
- You must meet the eligibility requirements and submit an application to the UBC Bursary Program by Sept 15, 2025.
- You must prepare a statement (max 150 words) demonstrating your commitment to health and wellness in your daily life. Examples may include, but are not limited to:
- Leading a balanced and healthy lifestyle and communicating a clear vision for what this means.
- Demonstrating one or more of the multiple aspects of healthy living, including social, environmental, mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual.
- Identifying the damaging effects of the use of tobacco or illicit drugs on an individual’s or the general public’s health and wellbeing.
- Providing leadership in wellbeing promotion.
Before you apply
Before you start your application, make sure you complete the following:
- Review the eligibility requirements for the John R. Scarfo Wellness Bursary outlined above.
- Prepare a 150-word (max) Personal Statement explaining your commitment to health and wellness to the selection committee.
- Your Personal Statement should define what health and wellness means to you and how you strive to lead a personally healthy lifestyle or promote healthy living in your community. Health can be related to your social, environmental, emotional, physical, or spiritual wellbeing.
- Your Statement should identify your single most meaningful commitment or contribution to health and wellness which could can include personal commitments, leadership roles, promotion activities, club participations, academic projects and/or research, sports and recreation/active engagement, volunteer and/or work experiences., as well as your goals for the future.
- Your statement should articulate how you work towards integrating your belief system in your own life and the lives of others.
Application timeline
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| Fri, Aug 15, 2025 | Application opens |
| Mon, Sep 15, 2025 | Application closes |
How to apply
Applications are now closed for 2025. Check back mid-August 2026 for updates.
If you have questions
For help with finances, registration, records, and more, please contact an Enrolment Services Advisor.
If you’re a UBC Okanagan student, contact Student Records and Financial Services. For scholarship, award, and bursary inquiries, email srfs.ubco@ubc.ca.