Graduate Awards Overview
The University of Northern British Columbia is
committed to encouraging students from diverse backgrounds and
experience to further their academic education through the
establishment of scholarships, which promote academic excellence and
bursaries which assist students in overcoming financial barriers to
post-secondary education. All awards established at the University of
Northern British Columbia are subject to acceptance by the University
Senate.
Applications
Application forms for Graduate Awards are available in the UNBC Awards, Financial Aid and Student Employment Centre.
Individual applicants are responsible for knowing the application
deadlines, providing complete information on the application form and
for supplying any supporting documentation that is required.
Unless otherwise stated in the criteria, the deadline for applying for most Graduate Awards is February 15 each year.
Definitions
Unless otherwise stated these definitions apply to the criteria listed on subsequent pages.
Academic excellence
Normally a minimum A- average, equivalent to or greater than a 4.00 GPA.
Academic proficiency
Normally a B- average, equivalent to or greater than a 2.67 GPA.
Satisfactory Academic Standing
Normally a minimum C average, equivalent or greater than a 2.00 GPA.
Minimum Standing
For the purpose of awards eligibility, minimum standing ("passing
grades") shall be considered equivalent to satisfactory academic
standing.
Annual GPA
Calculated on the basis of grade point averages for credit hours completed during the awards year, May 1 to April 31.
Award units
Calculated by multiplying the credit hours completed during the specified term by the grade points received for those hours.
Full-time Graduate Student
A full-time student is a graduate student who is enrolled in six
credits or more per semester, or is enrolled in a thesis, project or
comprehensive examination.
Resident of Northern BC
The area comprising northern British Columbia is defined in the University of Northern British Columbia Act.
A resident of northern British Columbia is so categorized by virtue of
birth or continuous dwelling within the defined region for the four
years immediately prior to admission at UNBC.
Award Types
Award
An award may be a fellowship, scholarship, bursary, prize or other monetary recognition assigned to a student.
Fellowship
Usually available only to graduate students, awarded on the basis of
high academic achievement (academic excellence or academic proficiency)
toward which secondary criteria may be applied.
Scholarship
Awarded on the basis of high academic achievement (academic excellence
or academic proficiency) toward which secondary criteria may be applied.
Bursary
Awarded on the basis of demonstrable financial need, provided the
student has met the requirement of satisfactory academic standing,
toward which secondary criteria including academic achievement may be
applied.
Prize
The award's value may be non-monetary, such as a book or other
gift-in-kind, or if monetary, its value is normally less than $250.
Medal
The award is an academic medal, awarded on the basis of academic
excellence or academic proficiency, toward which secondary criteria may
be applied.
Award categories
Graduate
Graduate Awards are set aside for students who have been admitted into the Graduate Studies program at UNBC.
Open
These awards may be available to a variety of UNBC students, including
new undergraduates, transfer, undergraduate in-course students, and
graduate students. Some awards may also be available to Faculty.
Administrative Policies
Unless otherwise stated these policies apply to the criteria listed on subsequent pages.
Graduate Awards
Students commencing or continuing in Graduate Studies at UNBC are
encouraged to apply for UNBC's Graduate Awards. To be considered for
awards adjudicated on the basis of criteria such as community service
or written research intent, it is recommended that students submit a
resume, or curriculum vitae and thesis proposal along with a completed
Graduate Awards application form to the Awards, Financial Aid and
Student Employment Centre. Applicants may be evaluated on the basis of
their admission GPA or their annual GPA for courses taken within the
academic year.
Awards Ceiling
The University reserves the right to limit the amount of money awarded
to any student and, if necessary, to reassign awards to other students
by reversion. The Senate Committee on Scholarships and Bursaries will
generally recommend that no individual student receive an award or
combination of awards exceeding a determined value.
Disbursement
It is generally understood that students will be enrolling in both the
Fall and the Winter Semesters. Funds will be deposited directly into
the students' UNBC accounts in two equal disbursements: the first on or
about September 10 and the second on or about January 10.
Awards may be deferred for a period of one semester only. Requests for
deferrals must be made in writing to the Awards and Financial Aid
office.
The University reserves the right to apply awards proceeds against
outstanding fees owing to the University. If the amount of the award or
awards exceeds the unpaid fees for the semester, the student may apply
for a refund of the excess balance after the add/drop deadline has past.
Liability
Any award may be withheld or cancelled for
any of these reasons: lack of suitable candidates; failure to meet the
terms and conditions of the award; withdrawal from the University or
withdrawal of the award by the donor. Furthermore, the University
assumes liability for the payment of scholarships, bursaries, prizes,
and other awards only to the extent that expected gifts from donors or
returns from particular investments of endowed funds are realized. The
University also reserves the right to make whatever changes are
required, including cancellation of particular awards or changes to
criteria.
Requirements
Unless otherwise stated, all awards are
conditional upon confirmation of full-time registration at the
University of Northern British Columbia in the semesters immediately
following the granting of the award.
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