Scholarships for Students with Personal/Health Issues and/or Disabilities:
Scholarships for Students in Government Care or Non-parental Custody:
The province of British Columbia has introduced a Tuition Waiver Program for students between 19 and 27 who have been in care or in the custody of non-parents for at least 24 months before reaching the age of 19.
For the details click here
Adoptive Families Association of BC
These scholarships and bursaries are designed specifically for adoptees and former youth in care. There are also post-secondary institutions in BC that offer free or reduced tuition for former youth in care. Please visit the website for all the awards offered.
Deadlines: Varied (Check the website for the application deadlines.) To apply – Click Here
The Education Achievement Bursary
This bursary provides young people with up to $5,000 in funding for post-secondary school per academic year to use for all accredited schools, not just the usual designated post-secondary schools.
Eligibility:
1. You are currently in care or a former youth in care either under a continuing custody order (CCO) or temporary custody order (TCO, Voluntary Care Agreement or Special Care Agreement) or Youth Agreement in B.C. under the Child, Family and Community Services Act.
2. You are a Canadian Citizen or a Landed Immigrant, ages 14 to 25.
3. You are currently enrolled or planning to enroll in a secondary, post-secondary academic, technical or vocational program, a recognized public or a registered private post-secondary institution.
4. Must have a cumulative total of 1 year in government care.
To apply - Click Here
The Reach for Success Bursary
This $1,500 per year and can be used for a variety of workshops, courses and other skill building activities. Examples of this include driver’s lessons, music lessons, food safe, fork lift certificate, sports and recreation fees etc. This bursary is not for post-secondary courses or programs.
Eligibility:
1. You are currently in care or a former youth in care either under a continuing custody order (CCO) or temporary custody order (TCO, Voluntary Care Agreement or Special Care Agreement) or Youth Agreement in B.C. under the Child, Family and Community Services Act.
2. You are a Canadian Citizen or a Landed Immigrant, ages 14 to 25.
You are currently enrolled or planning to enroll in a secondary, post-secondary academic, technical or vocational program, a recognized public or a registered private post-secondary institution.
4. Must have a cumulative total of 1 year in government care.
To apply - Click Here
Federation of Youth in Care Networks (FBCYICN)
The two Dream Fund bursaries (listed below) offer financial support to young people interested in career training and/or education opportunities. We distribute the Dream Fund to successful applicants three times a year.
Deadlines: February 3rd, 2023
To apply - Click Here
Sarah Gaulin Memorial Scholarship
Student applying for this award must submit proof of an ongoing mental health condition in addition to the applications and supplementary documents.
Deadline: April 1st, Yearly
For More Information - Click Here
To Apply - Click Here
Lime Connect Pathways Scholarship
This scholarship is open to students who consider themselves to have a disability, visible or invisible.
Application Process Opens Early March 2023
To apply - Click Here
Janice Lee Blue Wave Bursary
This $750 bursary is open to students who live with (have lived with) depression in order to “invest in the resilience, wisdom and potential of young people and to reduce some of the barriers during the major transition from high school to higher education”.
Application Process Opens Summer 2023
To apply - Click Here
Lorne Fraser Educational Bursary
Several $700 bursaries are available to students for the tuition costs of a post-secondary education at an accredited BC institution.
Application Process Opens 2023
For More Information - Click Here
Mental Health Fine Arts Bursary (FAB) Award
Held at Vancouver Foundation, two $1000 bursaries are available for students at least 18 years of age currently enrolled in, or accepted to, a recognized post-secondary program in the field of fine arts.
Application Process Opens 2023
For More Information - Click Here
The Medavie Health Foundation Scholarship
This scholarship of $5,000 (5 available) will be awarded annually to a youth who has overcome adversity related to mental health and is pursuing health-related post-secondary studies.
Application Process Opens 2023
To apply - Click Here
Coast Capital Standing Tall Awards
Two $3500 awards have been designated for the Sooke School District. They are given to youth who have faced adversity and have not only risen up against the odds, but are demonstrating a commitment to continue their education. This award is open to students who have faced challenges like poverty, health, family issues, personal loss, and lack of supports (for example, youth who are, or who have been, in government care). Both the SD62 application form and the Coast Capital official application form need to be included in your application. For more information, click this link: Coast Capital Awards Info.
Application process opens 2023
BC Federation of Community Social Services
The Youth Education Bursary assists young people that are or have been in care and want to pursue a career in the field of Human Social Services. Bursaries support students with the financial costs of post-secondary tuition, books, and supplies.
Application process opens 2023
For Information - Click Here
The Lisa Huus Memorial Fund for People with Disabilities
The Lisa Huus bursary assists persons with disabilities as they undertake or continue their post-secondary education at the University of Victoria, or other accredited colleges/universities on Vancouver Island. Bursaries may be used for items such as tuition fees, textbooks, equipment, transportation, residence and support worker costs.
Application process opens March 2023
For Information - Click Here
The Polly Scott Bursary
This bursary provides financial assistance to young adults between the ages of 17 and 25, with a diagnosed disability or on-going health challenge, to undertake or continue their post-secondary education in any accredited post-secondary institution in Canada.
Deadline: NOT AVAILABLE FOR 2023 YET
For Information – Click Here
Canadian Hard of Hearing Association Scholarship Program
Three Scholarships totalling $1000 each are offered to students who are hard of hearing, deafened, or oral deaf. Support documentation is required. Eligible applicants may be first-time or returning students at a recognized college or university.
Deadline: Will be available November 2022
For Information - Click Here
The David Mason Educational Fund
The David Mason scholarship assists persons with physical disabilities to undertake their post-secondary education. Priority is given to students who received services at the Queen Alexandra Centre for Children’s Health or who participated in a QA program and are undertaking post-secondary studies in British Columbia.
Deadline: June 30th, Yearly
To apply - Click Here
Scholarships for Students in Government Care or Non-parental Custody:
The province of British Columbia has introduced a Tuition Waiver Program for students between 19 and 27 who have been in care or in the custody of non-parents for at least 24 months before reaching the age of 19.
For the details click here
Adoptive Families Association of BC
These scholarships and bursaries are designed specifically for adoptees and former youth in care. There are also post-secondary institutions in BC that offer free or reduced tuition for former youth in care. Please visit the website for all the awards offered.
Deadlines: Varied (Check the website for the application deadlines.) To apply – Click Here
The Education Achievement Bursary
This bursary provides young people with up to $5,000 in funding for post-secondary school per academic year to use for all accredited schools, not just the usual designated post-secondary schools.
Eligibility:
1. You are currently in care or a former youth in care either under a continuing custody order (CCO) or temporary custody order (TCO, Voluntary Care Agreement or Special Care Agreement) or Youth Agreement in B.C. under the Child, Family and Community Services Act.
2. You are a Canadian Citizen or a Landed Immigrant, ages 14 to 25.
3. You are currently enrolled or planning to enroll in a secondary, post-secondary academic, technical or vocational program, a recognized public or a registered private post-secondary institution.
4. Must have a cumulative total of 1 year in government care.
To apply - Click Here
The Reach for Success Bursary
This $1,500 per year and can be used for a variety of workshops, courses and other skill building activities. Examples of this include driver’s lessons, music lessons, food safe, fork lift certificate, sports and recreation fees etc. This bursary is not for post-secondary courses or programs.
Eligibility:
1. You are currently in care or a former youth in care either under a continuing custody order (CCO) or temporary custody order (TCO, Voluntary Care Agreement or Special Care Agreement) or Youth Agreement in B.C. under the Child, Family and Community Services Act.
2. You are a Canadian Citizen or a Landed Immigrant, ages 14 to 25.
You are currently enrolled or planning to enroll in a secondary, post-secondary academic, technical or vocational program, a recognized public or a registered private post-secondary institution.
4. Must have a cumulative total of 1 year in government care.
To apply - Click Here
Federation of Youth in Care Networks (FBCYICN)
The two Dream Fund bursaries (listed below) offer financial support to young people interested in career training and/or education opportunities. We distribute the Dream Fund to successful applicants three times a year.
Deadlines: February 3rd, 2023
To apply - Click Here
Sarah Gaulin Memorial Scholarship
Student applying for this award must submit proof of an ongoing mental health condition in addition to the applications and supplementary documents.
Deadline: April 1st, Yearly
For More Information - Click Here
To Apply - Click Here
Lime Connect Pathways Scholarship
This scholarship is open to students who consider themselves to have a disability, visible or invisible.
Application Process Opens Early March 2023
To apply - Click Here
Janice Lee Blue Wave Bursary
This $750 bursary is open to students who live with (have lived with) depression in order to “invest in the resilience, wisdom and potential of young people and to reduce some of the barriers during the major transition from high school to higher education”.
Application Process Opens Summer 2023
To apply - Click Here
Lorne Fraser Educational Bursary
Several $700 bursaries are available to students for the tuition costs of a post-secondary education at an accredited BC institution.
Application Process Opens 2023
For More Information - Click Here
Mental Health Fine Arts Bursary (FAB) Award
Held at Vancouver Foundation, two $1000 bursaries are available for students at least 18 years of age currently enrolled in, or accepted to, a recognized post-secondary program in the field of fine arts.
Application Process Opens 2023
For More Information - Click Here
The Medavie Health Foundation Scholarship
This scholarship of $5,000 (5 available) will be awarded annually to a youth who has overcome adversity related to mental health and is pursuing health-related post-secondary studies.
Application Process Opens 2023
To apply - Click Here
Coast Capital Standing Tall Awards
Two $3500 awards have been designated for the Sooke School District. They are given to youth who have faced adversity and have not only risen up against the odds, but are demonstrating a commitment to continue their education. This award is open to students who have faced challenges like poverty, health, family issues, personal loss, and lack of supports (for example, youth who are, or who have been, in government care). Both the SD62 application form and the Coast Capital official application form need to be included in your application. For more information, click this link: Coast Capital Awards Info.
Application process opens 2023
BC Federation of Community Social Services
The Youth Education Bursary assists young people that are or have been in care and want to pursue a career in the field of Human Social Services. Bursaries support students with the financial costs of post-secondary tuition, books, and supplies.
Application process opens 2023
For Information - Click Here
The Lisa Huus Memorial Fund for People with Disabilities
The Lisa Huus bursary assists persons with disabilities as they undertake or continue their post-secondary education at the University of Victoria, or other accredited colleges/universities on Vancouver Island. Bursaries may be used for items such as tuition fees, textbooks, equipment, transportation, residence and support worker costs.
Application process opens March 2023
For Information - Click Here
The Polly Scott Bursary
This bursary provides financial assistance to young adults between the ages of 17 and 25, with a diagnosed disability or on-going health challenge, to undertake or continue their post-secondary education in any accredited post-secondary institution in Canada.
Deadline: NOT AVAILABLE FOR 2023 YET
For Information – Click Here
Canadian Hard of Hearing Association Scholarship Program
Three Scholarships totalling $1000 each are offered to students who are hard of hearing, deafened, or oral deaf. Support documentation is required. Eligible applicants may be first-time or returning students at a recognized college or university.
Deadline: Will be available November 2022
For Information - Click Here
The David Mason Educational Fund
The David Mason scholarship assists persons with physical disabilities to undertake their post-secondary education. Priority is given to students who received services at the Queen Alexandra Centre for Children’s Health or who participated in a QA program and are undertaking post-secondary studies in British Columbia.
Deadline: June 30th, Yearly
To apply - Click Here
