UBC Presidential Scholars Award for Indigenous Students

What you will need

• ✓ Apply to UBC by December 1, completing every section of the online application
• ✓ Pay the admission fee by December 1
• ✓ Answer “Yes” in the Awards section of the UBC application

About this award

The University of British Columbia has over $437,000 available through these awards. You could receive a renewable scholarship worth up to $40,000 or a one-time award of up to $7,500. As these are scholarships, they are not loans, so you do not have to pay the money back. This is for you if you are an Indigenous secondary school student preparing to start your post-secondary journey. To be considered, apply to UBC by December 1 and answer “Yes” in the Awards section of your UBC application. Every section, including the admission fee, must be done by December 1. UBC contacts most winners by April 27, and only successful applicants are contacted. The awards recognize students who excel across the board, with academic and leadership achievements in the arts, community, athletics and school. You are evaluated for your first-choice degree only, based on your academic profile and personal profile. 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. Some of these awards are renewable scholarships and others are one-time awards. UBC does not list what you must maintain to keep a renewable award — ask before you count on every year.

Who qualifies

You must be an Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit or Métis) secondary school student to qualify for these specific awards, and a Canadian citizen or permanent resident applying from high school or CEGEP. If you apply before the deadline, the University of British Columbia will consider you for both the general Presidential Scholars Awards and these Indigenous-specific awards.

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 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

   Submit your application

   Save a copy, and submit at least a day before the deadline shown above.

Tips for applying

• ApplicationAvoid sending a generic application. Instead, highlight your unique experiences and connection to your community. Visit the Presidential Scholars Awards page to see the full application steps.
• SupportAvoid trying to navigate financial planning alone. Instead, reach out to Chloe Erlendson, the Recruiter Advisor for Indigenous Students, at 604.827.2135 or chloe.erlendson@ubc.ca for help with awards or sponsorship billing.
• StrategyAvoid leaving your UBC application until the last week. Instead, finish every section, pay the admission fee and answer “Yes” in the Awards section before December 1.
• RealismAvoid assuming that applying for the Indigenous-specific award excludes you from others. Instead, remember that one application puts you in the running for both general and targeted funding.

Questions students ask

Similar awards

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• University of British ColumbiaTrek Excellence Scholarship$1,500
• University of British ColumbiaKillam Doctoral Scholarship (UBC)$40,000
• University of British ColumbiaUBC Major Entrance Scholarship + Centennial Scholars Programme
• University of British ColumbiaKaren McKellin International Leader of Tomorrow Award