District/Authority Scholarships (BC)

BC Ministry of Education and Child Care

$1,250 tuition voucher for 5,500 high school graduates in British Columbia showing excellence in a chosen field.

Published by G Paul · last checked August 31, 2026

Total value

$1,250

Deadline each year

August 31

Level

High school

Open to

British Columbia

Apply on the official site ↗

What you will need

For students in public schools: Application submitted through your school or district office
For students in independent schools (Groups 1, 2, and 4): Application submitted through FISA (Federation of Independent School Associations)
Fulfilling B.C. Certificate of Graduation (Dogwood Diploma) or B.C. Adult Graduation Diploma (Adult Dogwood) requirements
Outstanding achievement in a chosen area of interest as defined by your local committee

About this award

You receive a $1,250 scholarship voucher. This is a grant, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. Once you start attending a post-secondary institution designated by the Province of B.C. (meaning it is approved for Canada Student Loans) or a program provider approved by SkilledTradesBC (the organization that certifies trades professionals in the province), you can redeem the voucher to be reimbursed for tuition you have already paid. This is for you if you are a high school graduate who has shown outstanding achievement in a specific area, such as the arts, community service, athletics, or technical trades. Conditional recipients are notified each spring. The BC Ministry of Education and Child Care then checks eligibility in September. Paper vouchers are mailed to confirmed recipients in November. Because the mailing depends on your home address, you must inform your high school of any address changes before you graduate; if you move after graduation, email scholarships@gov.bc.ca. Local scholarship committees in your district or authority choose the conditional recipients based on their own specific criteria. There are 5,500 awards given out in total. Selection criteria aren't published centrally, ask your school counselor how winners are chosen in your specific district so you can judge your odds. The money reaches you as a paper voucher sent by mail. You then follow the redemption instructions to get reimbursed for your tuition. Ask the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care during your application process if there are digital alternatives or specific timelines for the reimbursement check. You have five years to redeem your voucher before it expires. The expiry date is printed on the voucher itself, and the ministry does not grant extensions. Renewal conditions aren't listed because this is a one-time award for graduates.

Who qualifies

To be confirmed as a recipient, you must meet these requirements by August 31 of your graduating year: you must fulfill the graduation requirements of either the B.C. Certificate of Graduation (Dogwood Diploma) or the B.C. Adult Graduation Diploma (Adult Dogwood), and you must meet the core eligibility requirements set by the Ministry. Additionally, you must meet the specific criteria set by your local scholarship committee in one of these areas: - Applied Design, Skills, and Technologies (e.g., Business, Home Economics, Media Arts, Technology, Tourism) - Community Service (e.g., Volunteer activity involving local, global, or cultural issues) - Fine Arts (e.g., Dance, Drama, Music, Visual Arts) - Indigenous Languages and Culture (demonstrated at school or in the community) - Languages (including AP (Advanced Placement) or IB (International Baccalaureate) courses) - Physical Activity and Health (e.g., Athletics, Dance, Gymnastics) - Technical and Trades Training (e.g., Coding, Culinary Arts, Mechanics, Robotics, Woodwork)

This is what the award's official page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm on the award's official page before you apply.

Open to high school students
Resident of British Columbia
Studying Applied Design, Skills, and Technologies, Business, Home Economics, Media Arts, Technology, Tourism, Community Service (Volunteer Activity), Fine Arts, Dance, Drama, Music, Visual Arts, Indigenous Languages and Culture, Languages, Physical Activity (and Health), Athletics, Gymnastics, Technical and Trades Training, Coding, Culinary Arts, Mechanics, Robotics or Woodwork

How to apply

Read the award's official page
Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.
Deadline: August 31
August 31 has already passed this year. The award's official page gives the date without a year, so check there when the next round closes before you prepare anything.

Tips for applying

SupportMany students forget that these are decided by local committees. Instead of a standard application, talk to the teachers or coordinators who oversee your specific area of interest to ensure the committee knows your name and your achievements before the selection meeting.
StrategySince you apply through your school or district office, the process varies by location. Contact your school office immediately to get the local criteria and internal deadlines, as these are often earlier than the provincial timeline.
RealismWith 5,500 awards available across the whole province, your odds are best when you compete in a niche category. If you are a student at an independent school, remember that you must coordinate your application through FISA (the Federation of Independent School Associations, the body that manages scholarships for private schools).

Questions students ask

How do I apply?

Use the Apply on the official site button on this page: it opens the official application page in a new tab.

When is the deadline?

BC Ministry of Education and Child Care gives the deadline as "August 31". Check their page for this year's date.

Can international students apply?

Check the award's official page for the citizenship rules.

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FundMyCourse.ca · checked Aug 31, 2026