Bursaries and awards for post-secondary education and training programs.
About
The Education Awards Program helps residents in a household directly receiving subsidy from BC Housing, or receiving rental assistance through the Rental Assistance Program (RAP) at the start of courses pursue their educational goals as a way to achieve success and personal growth. The bursaries and awards are for post-secondary education and training programs.
We offer seven education awards and bursaries. We encourage you to apply for as many awards as you’re eligible for. We grant one award a year to each successful applicant based on academic achievement and financial need.
Annual Dates & Deadlines
- January – Annual program launch
- April 30 – Application Deadline – All applications must be received by 2 pm
- July 31 – Notifications sent to applicants (congratulations and regrets)
- August 30 – Deadline for Award – Winners must confirm their September enrolment
Award & Bursaries
BC Housing Bursary
Award winners receive $750 for tuition and other school-related expenses.
Eligibility:
- You are between the ages of 17 and 64 and are a resident in a household directly receiving subsidy from BC Housing or receiving rental assistance through the Rental Assistance Program (RAP) at the start of courses.
- You must be registered at a recognized B.C. post-secondary or vocational institution on a full- or part-time basis in September of the application year (part-time is considered to be two courses attended in September of the application year).
BC Housing Bursary Application Form
BC Housing Award for Full-Time Studies
Award winners receive $1,000 for tuition and other school-related expenses.
Eligibility:
- You are between the ages of 17 and 64 and are a resident in a household directly receiving subsidy from BC Housing or receiving rental assistance through the Rental Assistance Program (RAP) at the start of courses.
- You are registered at a recognized B.C. post-secondary or vocational institution on a full-time (60 percent course load) basis in September of the application year.
BC Housing Award for Full-Time Studies application
BC Housing Indigenous Peoples Award
Award winners receive $1,000 to assist Indigenous Peoples in pursuing post-secondary education.
Eligibility:
- You are an Indigenous person between the ages of 17 and 64 and are a resident in a household directly receiving subsidy from BC Housing or receiving rental assistance through the Rental Assistance Program (RAP) at the start of courses.
- Registered at a recognized B.C. post-secondary institution in September of the application year.
- Registered as a full-time student (60 percent course load).
BC Housing Indigenous Peoples Award application
The Steven Bibby Humanitarian Award
Steven Bibby was a passionate leader in the field of emergency management over his 28-year career with BC Housing. Notably, Steven was a central Figure in developing a post-disaster building assessment framework and emergency lodging guidelines. This Award of $1,000 in his memory recognizes excellence in emergency management or building resilient communities.
Eligibility:
- Students between the ages of 17-64.
- Residing in a household directly receiving subsidy from BC Housing or receiving rental assistance through the Rental Assistance Program at the start of courses.
- Registered at a recognized B.C. post -secondary educational or vocational institute on a full-time (60 percent course load) basis in September of the application year.
- Pursuing opportunities in disaster management or a related field.
Steven Bibby Humanitarian Award Application Form
Katherine McParland Bursary
Katherine McParland was a passionate and well-respected advocate for youth experiencing homelessness; she was also a member of BC Housing’s Board of Commissioners when she passed away unexpectedly in 2020. As a former youth in care, Katherine knew how few supports exist for youth at risk of homelessness, and spent her career fighting tirelessly to create youth-specific housing with individual supports.
This award recognizes Katherine’s many significant contributions, and assists young adults (18-25) who have experienced housing instability and who are pursuing an education in social work or community services. Award Winners receive $1,000 bursary.
Eligibility:
- Students between the ages of 18-25
- Experienced past housing instability
- Residing in a household directly receiving subsidy from BC Housing or receiving rental assistance through the Rental Assistance Program at the start of courses
- Registered at a recognized B.C. post-secondary educational or vocational institute on a full-time (60 percent course load) basis in September of the application year
- Pursuing opportunities in social work or community services
Who can be a nominator: A family member, social worker, teacher, community leader or employer
Katherine McParland Bursary Award Application Form
Margaret Mitchell Outstanding Achievement Award
Margaret Mitchell was a dedicated housing advocate and played a key role in the development of the BC Housing Education Awards Program. This award is named in her memory. Award winners receive $1,000 for a graduating Grade 12 student who demonstrates excellence in academics, sports, the arts or community involvement.
Eligibility:
- You are graduating from Grade 12 with a record of achievement in academics, sports, the arts or community involvement.
- You have been nominated by a fellow student, teacher, community leader or neighbour.
- You are a resident in a household directly receiving subsidy from BC Housing or receiving rental assistance through the Rental Assistance Program (RAP) at the start of courses.
- You are registered in post-secondary education or vocational training at a recognized B.C. post-secondary institution in September of the application year as a full-time student (60 percent course load).
Who can be a nominator: A family member, fellow student, a teacher, a community member, a neighbour, etc.
Margaret Mitchell Outstanding Achievement Award application
Gail Burak Bursary
This award recognizes Gail Burak's key leadership role as former BC Housing senior housing and health services manager, and her pioneering work in developing an integrated model of housing and health services. Award winners receive $1,000 for tuition and other school-related expenses for those pursuing educational opportunities in a health-related field.
Eligibility:
- You are between the ages of 17 and 64 and are a resident in a household directly receiving subsidy from BC Housing or receiving rental assistance through the Rental Assistance Program (RAP) at the start of courses.
- You are registered at a recognized B.C. post-secondary or vocational institution in a health-related field on a full-or part-time basis in September of the application year.
- On completion of the program, you must be eligible to register with a professional regulatory body (for example, social work, nursing or vocational rehabilitation).
Gail Burak Bursary Application Form
Questions
1. Who is eligible for BC Housing’s Education Award Program?
Individuals who are:
- Pursuing vocational education or post-secondary education at a recognized B.C. institution on a full- or part-time basis in the coming school year (September of application year).
- Part-time means attending at least two classes per term during September of the application year.
- Full-time means holding a minimum 60 percent course load during September of the application year.
- Enrolled in courses that begin or continue through September of the application year.
- Residing in a household directly receiving subsidy from BC Housing, or receiving rental assistance through the Rental Assistance Program (RAP) at the start of courses.
- Between the ages of 17-64 during the application year.
2. What do I need to include in my application package?
A full application package includes:
- A completed application form
- A personal statement of no more than 500 words that includes educational and personal goals, community involvement and challenges you have overcome
- Two letters of reference — from an employer, community leader, volunteer supervisor or teacher
- Academic transcripts (unofficial transcripts accepted
- Nominator’s statement (for Margaret Mitchell Award applicants only)
3. Can I submit one package for all application submissions?
No. You must submit completed application forms and all required documentation for each individual submission.
4. How do I submit my application package(s)?
You can email, fax, drop off, or mail completed application packages to any of our regional offices listed below. Completed application forms and all required documentation must be submitted as individual submissions (i.e. emails require a separate attachment for each award or bursary submission). Photos of documents will not be accepted.
Education Awards Program
510-369 Terminal Avenue
Vancouver, BC V6A 4C4
Fax: 604-609-7031
Email:[email protected]
Regional Offices
Vancouver Island Region Office
301-3440 Douglas Street
Victoria, BC V8Z 3L5
Fax: 250-475-7551
Interior Region Office
451 Winnipeg Street
Penticton, BC V2A 5M7
Fax: 250-492-1080
Northern Region Office
1380 2nd Avenue
Prince George, BC V2L 3B5
Fax: 250-562-6488
5. When will I hear if I’ve received an award?
BC Housing’s selection committee will advise potential award and bursary recipients and non-recipients by the end of July. It is the potential award recipient's responsibility to ensure we receive all requested documentation before August 30.
Once we receive all the required documentation from potential award and bursary recipients, we will confirm the information and process the awards and bursaries. Cheques will be mailed directly to the recipients by the end of September. Bursary and award cheques will not be mailed to the educational institution.
6. Can I attend any school or program to be eligible for these awards?
The program you are attending must be offered by a recognized private B.C. training institution or public B.C. post-secondary institution.
7. If I'm not enrolled in school in September of the application year, or if I've already completed my program before that date, am I eligible for these awards?
Unfortunately, the BC Housing Awards program does not award funds retroactively, and we only award funds in September each year. As such, only students who are enrolled in September of the application year will be eligible for awards.
8. Is there a limit to the number of years in a row that an applicant can apply for and receive a bursary or award?
No. An applicant can apply every year he or she is eligible.
9. Can an applicant receive more than one award per year?
While applicants can submit multiple application packages, each applicant is only eligible to win one award per year.
10. If applicants can't provide an official transcript, what can they do?
If you cannot submit an official transcript, please email the Education Awards Program team at [email protected] or call 604-454-5432.
11. What is an official transcript?
- A transcript is a record of all courses taken and grades received at an academic institution.
- An official transcript usually needs to be requested from the institution’s registrar, will be stamped or sealed by the academic institution, and there is usually a cost to obtain it.
- An unofficial transcript is free, less formal and in some cases can just be printed off by the student or by the institution’s administration. It can also be a printed out as a screen shot of your grades from a B.C. academic institution website, clearly showing your name, grades, course description(s) and date.
14. What is a letter of reference?
A letter in which the writer makes a general assessment of the qualities, characteristics and capabilities of a person or confirms details about that individual’s situation or circumstances.
This letter can be from an employer, community leader, volunteer supervisor or teacher, written within the past 12 months.
15. Can someone who is pursuing an online education program apply for an award?
Yes, as long as the program is offered by a recognized private B.C. training institution or a public B.C. post-secondary institution and meets the BC Housing requirements for full- or part-time study.
16. Can I call or email BC Housing to see if you received the application package(s)?
Unfortunately, due to the large volume of applications and other information requests, we can't return calls to check the receipt of an application. We thank you in advance for ensuring all application packages are complete and submitted through appropriate channels.