Undergraduate student awards

Affiliation Scholarships

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Scholarship

Faculty-recommended Awards

Rick and Yasmin Thorpe and Friends Transfer Scholarship

The Finch Family Undergraduate Award

UBC Okanagan Students’ Union Service Award

Other awards

Affiliation scholarships

In addition to academic merit, affiliation scholarships usually require a connection to a specific club, trade union, company, geographic region or demographic group.

Eligibility

Each scholarship has different requirements. Award descriptions are listed on the application.

To be eligible, you must:

  • Have registered in at least 24 percentage-graded credits in the prior Winter Session
  • Be registered in at least 24 percentage-graded credits in the upcoming Winter Session
  • Have an average of at least 75% (with no failed or incomplete courses)
  • Meet the terms for awards eligibility set out in UBC Okanagan Campus Minimum Scholarship Course Load Requirement.

Exceptions

Courses in pass/fail or Credit/D/Fail format are considered.

Students from Non-UBC Post-secondary Institutions

If you are attending non-UBC post-secondary institution, read the award descriptions carefully to determine your eligibility. You must provide an official transcript showing the academic records for your previous academic year, as well as proof of registration for the upcoming academic year with your application.

Application

Online application form can be found at Vancouver & Okanagan Affiliation Scholarships.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor scholarship

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) Scholarship is awarded to continuing domestic undergraduate students entering second, third, or fourth year at UBC’s Okanagan campus. The scholarship is based on academic achievement in the previous year and is awarded as follows:  

  • The top 10% of continuing domestic students will receive an award valued at up to $1,000 
  • The top 20% of continuing domestic Indigenous students will receive an award valued at up to $1,000* 

*Due to the overlapping eligibility outlined above, students may meet both sets of criteria for the DVC Scholarship. Students can only receive one DVC Scholarship in each winter session. 

Eligibility and award adjudication criteria 

  • Students are eligible for the award in the upcoming winter session if they were registered in at least 24 percentage-graded credits in the previous winter session.
    • Students registered with the Disability Resource Centre (DRC) and taking an approved reduced credit load will be considered. 
  • Students must also be registered in the upcoming winter session to be eligible. 
  • Courses in pass/fail or Credit/D/Fail format are not taken into account. 
  • Students with a failed course in their previous winter session are not eligible. 
  • Audited, wait-listed, and summer session courses are not taken into account. 
  • Students in the Faculty of Education are not eligible for this scholarship, but continue to be eligible for faculty-recommended awards. 
  • Unclassified and qualifying programs are not eligible for these awards. 

Award appeals will be accepted until October 31 of each winter session.

Application 

  • You do not need to apply for this award. All eligible continuing students are automatically considered for the DVC Scholarship. 
  • You will be notified by email of your eligibility. 
  • The award will be applied directly to your tuition and fees account. If your tuition fees are fully paid at the time of the award offer, the funds will be transferred to your bank account.
  • Full award and installment details will be available through Workday Student once you accept your award. 

What if I’m on an exchange? 

  • Students on an exchange who earned a DVC Scholarship in the previous academic session will receive their scholarship during their exchange year. Students on a year-long exchange are considered to be full-time for both terms. 
  • To be considered for a DVC Scholarship when you return from your exchange, you must submit your transcripts to Student Services by September 30. You will not automatically be considered for this award during your exchange year. 

What if I’m in co-op? 

  • Students in the Co-op Program who earned a DVC Scholarship in the previous academic session will receive their scholarship in their next non-co-op term. 

Faculty-recommended awards

Thanks to the generosity of external donors and UBC faculties, UBC is able to offer many awards to undergraduate students after their first year of study. These may be awarded in the form of scholarships, prizes, fellowships, and other awards.

Individual faculties are responsible for recommending their students for these awards. They base their recommendations on a range of factors, such as academic achievement, leadership, UBC involvement, and participation on varsity athletic teams.

Types of awards

Scholarships

Scholarships are awarded at the beginning of the academic year for academic achievement. They are based on grades and achievements from the previous Winter Session but can also include non-academic factors such as leadership, UBC or faculty involvement, and other criteria.

Prizes

Prizes are awarded at the end of the academic year for academic achievement. Criteria for many prizes can include achievement in a particular course or program, leadership, participation, or work on a project. Prizes may be financial awards, books, or medals.

Academic awards

Academic awards are given out either at the beginning or end of the academic year and are based on academic achievement.

Non-academic or service awards

Non-academic or service awards recognize achievement or participation in athletics, leadership, UBC or community involvement, and other rewarding pursuits. They do not appear on transcripts.

Application

The majority of awards do not require an application and students are automatically considered for any scholarships, awards, or prizes for which they are eligible.

Some faculties do require applications. Contact your faculty’s scholarship representative or check your faculty website to find out more.

How will I know if I have been offered an award?

If you are offered an award, we will email you with information on how to accept your offer. We will also update your Student Service Centre (SSC) account, under Finances > Awards & Financial Assistance.

Rick and Yasmin Thorpe and Friends  Scholarship

The Rick and Yasmin Thorpe and Friends Scholarship assists undergraduate students who are graduates of Summerland Secondary School, Penticton Secondary School, Princess Margaret Secondary School, or Penticton Christian School who are registered in full-time studies at UBC Okanagan in any one of the following programs: Management, Engineering, English, Creative Writing, Nursing, or Science. The scholarship provides continuing undergraduate students, who are strong academically, a one-year, non-renewable scholarship of $1,250.

Eligibility

  • You are a strong academic student
  • You are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
  • Graduate of an eligible secondary school
  • Registered in full-time studies at UBC Okanagan in any one of the following programs: Management, Engineering, English, Creative Writing, Nursing, or Science

Application

  • You do not need to apply for this award—all eligible transfer students are automatically considered
  • The award will be applied directly to your tuition and fees account
  • Full award and installment details will be available through the Student Services Centre (SSC) once you accept your award

The Finch Family Undergraduate Award

A $12,000 award is offered by Ken and Jean Finch to a third-year student at UBC’s Okanagan campus. The award recognizes one outstanding continuing student who has demonstrated academic strength and is a well-rounded citizen.

Candidates for the award must demonstrate high academic performance, enhanced by extra-curricular activities such as community service, research projects or summer employment.

The award is payable at $6,000 in each of third and fourth years of study. Subject to maintaining continued scholarship standing, award recipients will have their award renewed for their fourth year of study.

The award is made on the recommendation of the Adjudication Committee.

Eligibility

Candidates for this award must meet the following criteria:

  • You are registered in a minimum of 24 credits in your third year of studies, having completed your first two years at UBC’s Okanagan campus
  • You were registered in a minimum of 24 percentage-graded credits in the previous winter session
  • You have demonstrated a deliberate and focused approach to your education
  • You are an outstanding student with a minimum of 85% GPA, enhanced by extra-curricular activities such as research or summer employment
  • Your studies may lead to entrepreneurship, innovation, community involvement or local economic development.

Application

Visit back in the fall of 2024 for new application

Deadline

This application is now closed

UBC Okanagan Students’ Union Service Award & Amal Alhuwayshil award in campus engagement and leadership

A $9,000 service award has been endowed by the UBC Students’ Union Okanagan for students enrolled at the University of British Columbia, Okanagan campus. This award recognizes one or more students in undergraduate or graduate programs who have demonstrated commendable efforts to enhance on and off-campus engagement and well-being.

Also, a $2,000 award has been made available annually through a gift from Amal Alhuwayshil, former student union president, to students enrolled at the University of British Columbia, Okanagan campus. This award recognizes a student who has engaged in one or more campus-based activities involving diversity, and inclusion, and demonstrated leadership in these areas by encouraging others to engage in these issues in the campus community.

Eligibility

Candidates for the scholarship must demonstrate the following criteria:

  • You demonstrate a dedicated involvement in leadership, enhancing student experience on campus, or improving the well-being of a community (locally or globally).
  • You have contributed to your community by volunteering in such positions or programs for a minimum total of 250 hours.
    • On-campus examples: participation in student government, student clubs, course unions, UBC events, Indigenous programs, peer support networks.
    • Off-campus examples: volunteering for charitable organizations, coaching a team.
  • You are a registered full-time student in an undergraduate or graduate program at the UBC Okanagan campus.
  • Paid work, course related volunteering or participation in recreational activities will not be considered in the application.
  • You must meet the award criteria as outlined in the Senate Regulations Governing University Awards.

Application

2023W UBCSUO Service Award & Amal Alhuwayshil Application

Instructions

  1. Access the application form via the link above.
  2. Complete the Student Information section
  3. Complete all information in the Volunteer/Community Involvement section to ensure you have a minimum total of 250 hours
  4. If you would like to also be considered for the Amal Alhuwayshil Award in Campus Engagement and Leadership for $2,000, please include 200 word on how you have engaged in one or more campus-based activities involving diversity and inclusion, and demonstrated leadership in these areas by encouraging others to engage in these issues in the campus community
  5. Read and sign the terms & conditions before submitting

Application Deadline

April 30, 2024 at 11:59pm PST

Other awards

Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Scholarships

Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science Scholarships

McCall MacBain Scholarship

Rhodes Scholarships