UBC Presidential Scholars Awards

UBC is looking for the most accomplished and promising Canadian citizens and permanent residents to join our community. The Presidential Scholars Award program offers the most prestigious awards available to students who are entering UBC. These include a one-time award of approximately $5,000, and renewable awards of up to $40,000 on the Okanagan campus, and $80,000 on the Vancouver campus, each payable over four years.

Are you eligible?

To be considered for the Centennial Scholars Entrance Award:

• You must be a strong academic student and meet all UBC admissions requirements.
• You must demonstrate financial need.
• You must be a Canadian citizen,  permanent resident, or protected person in Canada.
• You must be entering directly from high school or transferring from another post-secondary institution.
• You must apply to a direct-entry undergraduate program at UBC, and not have a previous degree.
• Although you can specify two undergraduate degree choices in your application to UBC, your award application will only be considered for your first-choice campus and degree.
• The Centennial Scholars Entrance Award is separate from the Presidential Scholars Award. You are eligible to apply for both awards, provided you meet the criteria.

How do you apply?

• Submit your UBC application by December 1
• Complete the UBC Entrance Award Application by December 1 December 15 (deadline extended)

What do you need for the UBC Entrance Award application?

A completed UBC Entrance Award application will include the following:

• Student Application Form
• Description of Circumstance (maximum 1,000 words)
• A statement outlining your personal, family, and financial situation that makes it necessary for you to apply for this award. You must explain your involvement and contribution to your school, community, or family, and your interest in joining and contributing to the UBC community. You must also describe how receiving this award will impact your personal situation, now and in the future. There are a number of donor-funded awards designed to support post-secondary participation of underrepresented groups of people within the Canadian population. If you self-identify with one of these groups please indicate this in your Description of Circumstance.

Parent/Guardian Form

This is to provide information on your family’s finances, and is required for students who have been attending high school within the past 48 months. If you are not in contact with your parent/guardian or are unable to submit a parent/guardian form, you can explain your situation in your Description of Circumstance.

Reference Form

Your personal reference must be well acquainted with you, and able to comment on your character, interest in UBC, and financial circumstances. Your reference could be – but is not limited to – a coach, a teacher, your counsellor, your principal, your supervisor from a work or volunteer position, your family doctor, or a community or religious leader.

When is the deadline?

Completed Entrance Award applications, including the Student Application Form, Description of Circumstance, Reference Form and Parent/Guardian Form (if applicable), must be received by December 1 December 15 (deadline extended). A completed UBC Admission Application must be received by December 1.

UBC will contact the majority of Centennial Scholars Entrance Award recipients by May 15. Only successful award applicants will be contacted.