University of British Columbia Scholarships: Types, Benefits, Eligibility, and Application Process

Acknowledging the potential and achievements of its new and continuing students, University of British Columbia offers more than CAD 200 million annually through UBC scholarships, awards, bursaries, loans, and grants. As per the university’s enrollment stats, 1 of every 5 bachelor program students (20% of UBC student headcount) and 1 of every 2 master program students (53% of UBC student headcount) have benefited from the University of British Columbia scholarships to study in Canada.

As per UBC scholarships financial assistance reports, all the University of British Columbia scholarships for bachelors, masters, and doctoral students are categorized under three types:

• UBC Academic merit-based scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic scores and constitute up to 25-30% of total offered funding.
• UBC Need-based awards comprise 65-70% of total funding and are based solely on the financial needs of the student.
• UBC Hybrid scholarships are awarded based on a combination of merit (academics, leadership skills, etc.) and student’s financial requirements. These make up to 10% of the UBC funding.

Apart from this, the University of British Columbia also offers work-study programs, which annually contribute up to 2-3% of the total available funds. Majority of international scholarships are offered to students at the time of their admission to University of British Columbia. Benefits and eligibility criteria for the various University of British Columbia Scholarships vary as per the student’s level of study- bachelors, masters, and doctoral.

University of British Columbia Scholarships for Bachelor Programs

International bachelor's scholarships at the University of British Columbia are designed in such a manner that students from all socioeconomic backgrounds will benefit from it. All bachelor scholarships awarded along with the confirmation of admission to chosen UBC bachelor's program.

UBC scholarships for international students pursuing bachelor’s programs are mentioned in the table below. No separate application form is required to apply for these scholarships.

The University of British Columbia scholarships tabulated above is offered as awards which must be used towards tuition fee payment. However, the university also offers two full-ride scholarships to incoming undergraduate students. Both are hybrid UBC scholarships (offered on the basis of merit and financial need) and are applicable for all bachelor programs:

Karen McKellin International Leader of Tomorrow Award

• Eligibility:
  • Fulfill university’s English language standard by achieving IELTS score: 6.5 or TOEFL score: 90.
  • Demonstrate financial requirements.
  • Consistent academic grades in High school
• Application Process:
  • Complete an Online application form
  • Choose two undergraduate degree programs.

The application package for Karen McKellin International Leader of Tomorrow Award must be submitted before December 1.

Donald A Wehrung International Student Award

• Eligibility:
  • Recently completed high school
  • Belong to a war-torn, politically unstable, or economically disadvantaged region.
• Application Process
  • Complete online scholarship form
  • Submit required documents

For Donald A. Wehrung International Student Award, students are asked to submit two essays on the following topic:

• Albert Einstein said “ A table, a chair, a bowl of fruit and a violin; what else does a man need to be happy?” Tell us what you need to be happy? (in 500 words)
• Tell us about any experience or idea that you have had that shows your creativity and intellectual curiosity. (in 300 words)

Application package for this UBC scholarship must also be submitted before December 1.

Students must note that recipients of these University of British Columbia scholarships are ineligible for the other entrance-based bachelor's scholarships.

University of British Columbia Scholarships for Masters and Doctoral Programs

University of British Columbia scholarships for international students enrolled in UBC masters and doctoral programs are comparatively less. However, number of scholarships offered at the graduate level is higher.

Also, the majority of the scholarships offered to graduate students are available for both masters and doctoral programs. Some of UBC scholarships designed for international graduate students are given below:

In 2019, the CoGS declared that GPA will not be a sole indicator of academic excellence. Therefore, increasing funding opportunities for students making satisfactory progress in their graduate studies.

Apart from these general merit-based scholarships, there are several scholarships offered by graduate departments. Some of the University of British Columbia Scholarships for graduate students are listed below:

No scholarship application is required for these program-specific UBC scholarships.

Other Funding Opportunities for UBC Graduate Students

University of British Columbia Scholarships is not the sole funding source available for students enrolled in various UBC doctoral courses and master's programs. There are other opportunities offered by the university to students.

• Research-based masters and doctoral students are likely to receive a stipend from their thesis supervisor at UBC.
• Doctoral students may be offered teaching assistant positions. With this, they will not only be able to support themselves but also gain relevant experience.
• Various on and off-campus work-study opportunities are designed for students.

Aside from this, international students can also opt for various external and government-funded scholarships to pursue higher education in Canada.

With all the University of British Columbia Scholarships and other funding opportunities, international students can easily pursue their chosen bachelor's, masters or doctoral programs.