UBC Awards for Indigenous Students

The UBC Awards for Indigenous Students include scholarships and bursaries. When a student applies for these awards, they are considered for both merit and need-based awards. Scholarships are awards that recognize academic, community, or athletic achievement. Bursaries are based on financial need. Student awards based solely on financial need are not included on your official transcript.

Eligibility requirements

To be considered for UBC Indigenous awards, you must meet all the following requirements:

• You are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or have refugee status.
• You are an Indigenous student and have self-identified in Workday.
• You will submit the application for intended Indigenous awards by the award program deadline.
• You are enrolled in a full-time course load studying on the Vancouver campus.
• You meet the eligibility requirements as outlined in UBC’s Regulations Governing University Awards.
• You demonstrate financial need to be considered for bursaries.
• Unclassified or qualifying students are not eligible for these awards. Read through the Academic Calendar information on the classification of students.
• UBC uses the term Indigenous in place of Aboriginal as held in the spirit of its use in section 35(2) of the Canadian Constitution, to refer inclusively to members of First Nations, status and non-status, treaty and non-treaty Indians, Métis, and Inuit peoples in Canada, recognizing that many people prefer the terms that are specific and traditional to their communities.

Additional requirements

Some awards have additional requirements, which are listed in the application. Please read the award descriptions before you start your application, to better target the awards you qualify for.

If you are eligible for bursaries, submit an application to the UBC Bursary Program by the deadline to be considered for UBC General Bursary at the same time. Application to the general bursary program at UBC is helpful in determining your financial need. An application to the UBC Bursary Program is not required for your application to UBC Awards for Indigenous Students.

Before you apply

There are detailed instructions on the application form. Follow these steps before you apply:

• Make sure you meet all general and specific eligibility requirements for applicable awards.
• Prepare written statements describing your personal situation, financial need, and connection to any Indigenous UBC campus communities. Include any additional information for specific awards as requested.
• If you are applying for bursaries, consider applying for the UBC Bursary Program before the deadline. Application to this program helps establish your financial need. but is not required to apply for UBC Indigenous Awards.

How to apply

Applications are now closed for 2025. Check back mid-August 2026 for updates.

In addition to UBC Awards for Indigenous Students, there are scholarships and bursaries available from non-profit organizations, private companies, and other award search portals. Visit the specific award pages linked below for details, deadlines, and how to apply.

Some awards may require a personal statement or a short essay describing why you are a suitable candidate. Many may be based on your financial need, academic merit, or both. View the list of awards below in order of application deadline.

Descriptions of awards for Indigenous students

A. James Rasteh Award for Indigenous Students [#1474]

Awards totalling $2,000

Active Earth Engineering Ltd. Award for Indigenous Students in STEM [#5442]

Awards totalling $2,500

Alfred and Joan SCOW First Nations Bursary [#8218]

Bursaries totalling $3,850

Ansari-Cook Foundation Bursary for Indigenous Students [#5429]

Bursaries totalling $7,750

CANNON Memorial Bursary [#7924]

Bursaries totalling $1,100

Clarence Ludwig MUSCLOW Bursary [#8144]

A $4,100 bursary

Douglas C. Pryke Memorial Bursary [#8691]

Bursaries totalling $2,500

Evan ADAMS Health Sciences Bursary [#8259]

Bursaries totalling $1,450

FIRST Nations House of Learning Bursary [#8273]

Bursaries totalling $3,100

Gladys C. CRAWFORD First Nations Bursary [#8317]

Bursaries totalling $15,650

Gwyn and Aileen GUNN Bursary for First Nations Students [#8405]

Bursaries totaling $27,700

Jessie MANNING Bursary for Indigenous Students [#7893]

A $950 bursary

KHOT-LA-CHA Award [#681]

Awards totalling $1,250

KNIGHT Family Centenary Scholarship for Indigenous Students [#1442]

Scholarships totalling $1,500

Laura (Pat) BAND and Richard W. Band Award [#1401]

A $1,350 award

Mary and James FYFE-SMITH Memorial Bursary [#7804]

Through a bequest of the late Florence Fyfe-Smith, three bursaries of $1,400

Native Brotherhood of BC Jubilee Scholarship [#1272]

A $1,300 scholarship

Native Northwest Award for Musqueam Students [#1472]

Awards totalling $2,000

Robin Woodsworth CAMPBELL Memorial Bursary [#7303]

Bursaries totalling $4,000

Roy Sworder First Nations Bursary [#8460]

Bursaries totalling $2,100

Shirley M. WONG Bursary in Education [#7348]

Bursaries totalling $5,950

Simon MULDOE Memorial Bursary [#8049] bursary of $1050

SQUAMISH Nation Award [#687]

A $1,000 award

ST. Mary’s Anglican Church First Nations Bursary [#8270]

Two bursaries of $1,000

Thomas R BERGER Bursary in Law [#8245]

A $250 bursary

Wilson DUFF Memorial Bursary [#7830]

One or more bursaries of $1,450