Official Guidelines Updated: March 2026

The BC Scholarship Society Indigenous Student Awards — formerly known as the Irving K. Barber BC Indigenous Awards — provide renewable financial assistance to First Nations (Status or Non-Status), Métis, and Inuit students pursuing post-secondary education at eligible B.C. public and Indigenous post-secondary institutions. The program is administered by the BC Scholarship Society through the Victoria Foundation.

Awards are designed to provide sustained, multi-year support rather than a one-time payment. The amount you receive depends on the type of program you are enrolled in, and most award categories allow recipients to renew for additional years while remaining enrolled full-time.

Award Amounts by Program Type

Students completing a Master’s or Doctoral program after only one additional term may be eligible for a partial renewal valued at half the total award amount. If you previously received an award in any category and have since completed your program, you may apply for a new award for a different program.

Common Eligibility Criteria

All Indigenous Student Award categories share the following requirements:

• You identify as First Nations (Status or Non-Status), Inuit, or Métis.
• You are a resident of British Columbia, defined as having a primary residence in the province for at least 12 consecutive months prior to the date of full-time enrolment in the program for which you are applying.
• You are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, convention refugee, or protected person living in Canada.
• You are planning to study at a B.C. public post-secondary institution or an eligible Indigenous post-secondary institution (see lists below).
• You will be registered as a full-time student, as defined by your institution (usually 60% or more of a full course load). Exceptions may apply for students unable to study full-time due to a disability or medical reasons.
• Your program commences between May 1, 2026 and April 30, 2027 for the current application cycle.

Additional program-length requirements by category:

• Apprenticeship/Trades/Certificates/Diplomas — minimum 7 continuous weeks in length
• Undergraduate, Associate, Law, or Medical Degree — minimum two semesters in length
• Master’s or Doctoral Degree — minimum two semesters in length

Eligible Institutions

Public post-secondary institutions:

• British Columbia Institute of Technology
• Camosun College
• Capilano University
• Coast Mountain College
• College of New Caledonia
• College of the Rockies
• Douglas College
• Emily Carr University of Art + Design
• Justice Institute of British Columbia
• Kwantlen Polytechnic University
• Langara College
• Nicola Valley Institute of Technology
• North Island College
• Northern Lights College
• Okanagan College
• Royal Roads University
• Selkirk College
• Simon Fraser University
• Thompson Rivers University
• University of British Columbia (including UBC-O)
• University of the Fraser Valley
• University of Northern BC
• University of Victoria
• Vancouver Community College
• Vancouver Island University

Eligible Indigenous post-secondary institutions:

• Ahousaht Education Authority
• Blueberry River First Nation Adult Centre
• Chemainus Native College
• Coastal Training Centre
• Cowichan Tribes – Quw’utsun Syuw’entst Lelum
• En’owkin Centre (Okanagan Indian Educational Resource Society)
• Gitksan Wet’suwet’un Education Society
• Gitwangak Education Society
• Heiltsuk College
• Ittatsoo Learning Centre
• Jean Marie Joseph Adult School
• K’ak’ot’lats’i School
• Kitimat Valley Institute
• Kwadacha Dune Tiiy – Aatse Davie Society
• Kyah Wiget Education Society
• Lip’alhayc Learning Centre
• Muskoti Learning Centre – Saulteau First Nations
• NEC Native Education College
• Neskonlith Education Center
• Northern Shuswap Tribal Council
• NTC Nuuchahnulth Tribal Council NETP
• Pacheedaht First Nation
• Penelakut Island Learning Centre
• Penticton Indian Band Adult Education
• Prince George Nechako Aboriginal Employment & Training Association
• Saanich Adult Education Centre
• Seabird College
• Sechelt Indian Band Education Centre
• Secwepemc Cultural Education Society
• Snuneymuxw First Nation/House of Learning
• Sto:lo Nation
• Ted Williams Memorial Learning Centre
• Tl’azt’en Adult Learning Centre
• Tsay Keh Dene Nation Learning Centre
• Ts’zil Learning Centre (Liliwat Nation)
• Wabsuwilaks’m Gitselasu Adult School
• Wilp Wilxo’oskwhl Nisga’a Institute

How to Apply

Applications are submitted online through the BC Scholarship Society’s application portal. Your work is saved as you go, so you can return to your application before the deadline without losing progress. Once submitted, you can no longer make edits.

New applicants — create an account on the BC Scholarship Society website and complete the eligibility screening questions. If you are found eligible, the application form opens automatically. You will need to confirm your Indigenous identity by either uploading documentation such as a status or membership card, or by providing the email address of a Verifier from an Indigenous organization who will complete a short online form on your behalf.

Renewal applicants — log in to your existing account, complete the eligibility questions for renewal, and fill out the short renewal application form. You will be notified by email whether your renewal is approved.

If you need assistance completing your application, contact the BC Scholarship Society directly (see contact details in the highlight box below).

Other Financial Aid Options

In addition to the Indigenous Student Awards, you may be eligible for other provincial and federal programs. When you apply for a B.C. student loan through StudentAid BC, you are automatically assessed for the B.C. Access Grant for Full-Time Students and the Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students. Indigenous students may also want to explore federal bursary programs through the Post-Secondary Student Support Program (PSSSP) and the Inuit Post-Secondary Education Strategy, depending on their nation and region.

Ready to find a program? Explore eligible schools today.