UBC Okanagan Undergraduate Student Awards

What you will need

• ✓ For the Finch Family Undergraduate Award, the Students’ Union Service Award and the Students’ Union Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship: an application (each award page links to it)
• ✓ For the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) Scholarship and the Rick and Yasmin Thorpe and Friends Scholarship: no application — you are considered automatically

About this award

Depending on the award you win, you could receive $12,000 for the Finch Family Undergraduate Award, $7,900 for the UBC Okanagan Students’ Union Service Award, $5,250 for the Students’ Union of UBC Okanagan Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship, $2,500 for the Rick and Yasmin Thorpe and Friends Scholarship, or up to $1,000 for the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) Scholarship. These are scholarships and awards, not loans, so you do not have to pay them back. These awards are for you if you are a continuing undergraduate student at the Okanagan campus who has shown academic strength, a commitment to diversity, or a dedication to enhancing campus engagement and well-being. The Finch Family Undergraduate Award is open for applications until October 15, 2026, and the Students’ Union Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship is also listed as open for applications. The Students’ Union Service Award is closed for the 2026 Winter session (UBC says to check back in the spring). You do not apply for the DVC or Thorpe scholarships — you are considered automatically. When you apply, ask how and when you'll hear back. Selection varies by award: some are based on being in the top 10% or 20% of domestic students, while others recognize outstanding citizens or those identifying as Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Colour. UBC does not publish how many students apply for each award. For the Rick and Yasmin Thorpe and Friends Scholarship, the money is applied directly to your tuition and fees account. Ask University of British Columbia — Okanagan Campus during your application how the money for other awards will reach you — some awards pay students directly, others apply funds to tuition. Confirm this so you can plan your cash flow. Renewal conditions aren't listed — if you're counting on this for multiple years, confirm with University of British Columbia — Okanagan Campus whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

To qualify for these awards, you must be an undergraduate student at University of British Columbia — Okanagan Campus. Specific requirements depend on the award: - For the Finch Family Undergraduate Award: you must be a third-year student who is an outstanding continuing student and a well-rounded citizen. - For the UBC Okanagan Students’ Union Service Award: you must be in an undergraduate or graduate program and have demonstrated commendable efforts to enhance on and off-campus engagement and well-being. - For the Students’ Union of UBC Okanagan Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship: you must identify as Black, and/or Indigenous, and/or a Person of Colour. - For the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) Scholarship: you must be a continuing domestic undergraduate student entering second, third, or fourth year. It is based on the previous year's grades and goes to the top 10% of continuing domestic students and the top 20% of continuing domestic Indigenous students. - For the Rick and Yasmin Thorpe and Friends Scholarship: you must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, a strong academic student, and a graduate of Summerland Secondary School, Penticton Secondary School, Princess Margaret Secondary School, or Penticton Christian School. You must also be registered in full-time studies in Management, Engineering, English, Creative Writing, Nursing, or Science.

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.

• ✓ Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• ✓ Open to undergraduate students

How to apply

1. 1

   Read the award's official page

   Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.

2. 2

   Check this year's deadline

   We don't have a confirmed date for this round. The award's official page will have it.

Tips for applying

• Academic StrengthAvoid just listing your grades. Instead, describe how your academic achievements reflect your growth as a student. Mention a specific project or course where you pushed yourself.
• Community EngagementAvoid giving a generic list of clubs you joined. Instead, highlight one specific way you improved the well-being of other students on or off campus. Describe the result of your effort.
• StrategyAvoid applying to every award regardless of fit. Instead, focus on the one that matches your identity or specific high school background, like the Thorpe scholarship if you attended a local Penticton school.
• RealismAvoid assuming you will get an automatic award. Instead, check your Workday portal frequently to see if you were selected for the DVC or Thorpe awards, as these do not require a separate application.

Questions students ask

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