BC Excellence Scholarship

There’s no denying that academic excellence can take you places. More so if you’re a British Columbia student who has scored exceptionally well in high school. Why you ask? Because that just might be the key that unlocks all doors of having the most fulfilling and rewarding career. 

The provincial government of British Columbia has a program in place which awards 55 exceptional high school students with a scholarship. Known as the BC Excellence Scholarship, you can get this award if you demonstrate certain qualities, which include leadership and service (both in your school and your community) as well as display a clear aptitude and commitment to the career path you want to pursue. 

Here are the details of this program to get you started –

BC Excellence Scholarship – Eligibility, How to Apply

Eligibility Criteria 

To get this scholarship, you must tick all the right boxes. That is to say, you must be deemed eligible. The competition is tough here since its only awarded to 55 students each year. With that said, if you want know whether you qualify, check out the eligibility criteria below – 

• Be a citizen of Canada or a permanent resident of the country – a fact which should reflect in your high school records.
• Be resident of the province of British Columbia.
• You must be enrolled in a school in the same year for which this scholarship will be awarded. The type of schools that are considered eligible are – 
  • A public school or a Distributed Learning School of British Columbia 
  • A Group 1, 2 or 4 British Columbia Independent School 
  • A Continuing Education Center 
  • Or study under registered homeschooler who is part of public, independent or distributed learning school

• You should fulfill every single eligibility requirement that the provincial government has in place.
• You must be deemed eligible for a Dogwood Diploma, which is the BC Certificate of Graduation.
• Your final grades when you graduate should look like this – 
  • A “B” average at the very least in the graduation courses required in your grades 11 and 12
  • A “B” (73%) in your Language Arts 12 course 
  • A “B” average minimum with not single grade lower than C+ (67%) and only one C+ in all the courses that meet the requirement when it comes to Math 11, Science 11 or 12 and Social Studies 11 or 12 

Note: Although you have the freedom to apply for both this scholarship as well as Pathway to Teacher Education scholarship, you will only receive one if you qualify.

How To Apply 

The application process for this scholarship can seem daunting. But don’t worry, we’re here to help you out. Here are certain pointers can make the process of application a lot easier – 

• The first thing you need to know in order to apply, you must be nominated by your school for this scholarship. Each school is allowed to nominate only one student each year. 
• If you’re confused about to fill the application form, you can check out a sample form here. 
• Before you submit any information in the course of your application, you must review them. This includes information such as –
  • the nomination form (which your school will complete for you); 
  • your written system (which carries a weight of 60% when it comes to assessment of your application); 
  • your resume (which should be in the format specified as it carries 40% weight in your assessment); and 
  • your two reference letters (one that’s community specific and one that focuses on your role in school)
• The application form is available in the fall of each year so be on the lookout for it.
• Make sure you meet all eligibility requirements.

You can apply for the BC Excellence Scholarship here. 

How Much Can You Get 

We think you’ll be happy to know that this scholarship rewards deserving candidates handsomely. If you manage to become a recipient of it, you will receive a scholarship voucher worth $5,000 from the Ministry of Education and Child Care, which you can use as reimbursement for the tuition fee you paid attending a designated post-secondary school for your higher studies. In case you’re wondering which schools qualify, you can check out the list here. You can also use this scholarship if you pursue a degree in an institution that has the approval of the Industry Training Authority. 

Other Student Aid Options 

Think you could do better with another scholarship program? Luckily, there are options to choose from. If this one doesn’t work out for you, you can apply for BC Achievement Scholarships. Alternatively, you can also try Pathway to Teacher Education Scholarship or BC Access Grant or BC Full-Time Student Loan.