UBC Presidential Scholars Award

What you will need

• ✓ Complete the University of British Columbia online application by December 1
• ✓ Answer 'Yes' in the Awards section of the online application
• ✓ Pay the admission fee by December 1
• ✓ Provide a complete academic and personal profile

About this award

Presidential Scholars Awards come in two forms: a one-time award of approximately $5,000, or a renewable award of up to $40,000 on the Okanagan campus or up to $80,000 on the Vancouver campus, payable over four years. This is a scholarship, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you are a high-achieving student who has excelled in academics and shown leadership in the arts, community, athletics, or school. You must apply by December 1. The University of British Columbia will contact the majority of winners by the end of the day on April 27; only successful applicants will be contacted. Selection is based on your academic and personal profiles. You are evaluated only on your first-choice degree, as the University of British Columbia will not evaluate second-choice degrees for this award. Ask the University of British Columbia during your application how the money will reach you — some awards pay students directly, others apply funds to tuition. Confirm this so you can plan your cash flow. UBC's page does not list what you must maintain to keep a renewable award each year — ask before you count on all four years.

Who qualifies

You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. This award is open to high school and CEGEP (Collège d'enseignement général et professionnel — the public post-secondary colleges in Quebec) students who are entering the University of British Columbia.

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 high school or CEGEP 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

   Write your essay

   Be specific about what you did and what changed because of it. Proofread it twice.

3. 3

   Apply by December 1

   The award's official page gives the date without a year, so confirm it there. Save a copy, and submit at least a day early.

Tips for applying

• Personal ProfileAvoid giving generic answers about your achievements. Instead, provide specific examples of your leadership in the arts, community, or athletics. Describe one project or event where your actions made a measurable difference.
• StrategyAvoid waiting until the last minute to submit your admission fee. Instead, complete all sections of your online application and pay the fee well before December 1. You will not qualify if any part of the application is incomplete by the deadline.
• RealismAvoid assuming a second-choice degree will be considered. Instead, put your strongest and most desired program as your first choice. Since the University of British Columbia only evaluates first-choice degrees for this award, your primary selection is the only one that counts.

Questions students ask

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