Fraser Valley/Victoria – The B.C. Graduate Scholarships are merit based with a focus on students in research-based degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Other disciplines including professional programs such as business administration and health, are also eligible. These scholarships will enable British Columbia institutions to attract the best and brightest graduate students and increase their ability to compete for students who are leaders in their field. The scholarships will be administered by the post-secondary institutions.
The scholarships build on a fundamental shift toward affordability and opening doors to post-secondary education in B.C.
Since government eliminated interest on student loans in 2019, graduates throughout the province have saved approximately $40 million in interest payments alone.
The new BC Access Grant provides low- and middle-income students with up to $4,000 a year for full- and part-time studies, nearly doubling the number supported by previous grant programs to more than 40,000 students annually. This program means students moving into graduate studies will have less debt than previous generations. This builds on the minister’s mandate of increasing eligibility to reduce barriers and make sure more people are able to access the skills they need for the jobs of the future.
The ministry is providing $3.75 million to support scholarships for students in graduate degree programs at 10 public post-secondary institutions. The investment will support 250 awards with a minimum of $15,000 each over the next two years, demonstrating government’s commitment to building a strong, innovative economy.
Post-secondary institutions receiving the funding include the University of Northern British Columbia, Thompson Rivers University, University of the Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island University. UFV will receive $90,000 to disperse.
