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 awards are available at the offices of high school guidance counselors, other post-secondary institutions, and at UNBC Student Success Centres. An on-line application form is also available by accessing the UNBC website: www.unbc.ca/finaid

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. Students are advised to read the criteria for each award carefully, and to attach any information listed under Application Instructions to their UNBC awards application form.

Unless otherwise stated, the deadline for applying for awards is March 1 each year.

Application forms are not carried over from one award period to the next. Applicants are required to submit a new application form, along with any supporting documentation required, for each award period.

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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 3.67 GPA.

Academic Proficiency
Normally a minimum B- average, equivalent 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 - 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 Student
For the purpose of awards eligibility, an undergraduate student who registers in and attempts nine or more credit hours per semester in an undergraduate degree program will be considered a full-time UNBC student.

New Post-secondary Student
A student who has not previously attended a post-secondary institution such as a college or university.

Resident of Northern BC
A person who resides in a northern community located within the regions established under the College and Institute Act for the College of New Caledonia, the Northern Lights College and the Northwest Community College.

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.

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Award Types

Award
An award may be a fellowship, scholarship, bursary, prize or other monetary or non-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 for 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 achievement, toward which secondary criteria may be applied.

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Award Categories

Admission
Available to students commencing an undergraduate course of studies at UNBC for the first time.

In-course
Available to undergraduate students who have completed at least 18 credit hours (nine credit hours per semester) at UNBC during the current awards year and are continuing a course of studies at UNBC.

Graduate
Available to students who are enrolled in a Master's or Doctoral program. A full-time graduate student is one who is enrolled in six credits or more per semester, or is enrolled in a thesis, project or comprehensive examination. Please consult the Graduate Calendar for a list of awards available to graduate students.

Transfer
Certain awards are available to those students who are entering UNBC after having commenced degree studies at other institutions. In all circumstances a minimum of 18 transfer credit hours is required. Eligibility for awards is based on the Registrar's calculated transferable hours and grade point average.

Part-time
Available to students who are registered in less than nine credit hours each semester.

Open
These awards are available to all categories of undergraduate students, including new post-secondary, transfer, in-course and graduate students. Some awards may also be available to Faculty.

Renewable
An award which was made upon the student's enrolment to UNBC and which has the possibility of being renewed annually subject to the renewal terms and conditions as defined in the award's criteria.

External
Awards which are administered outside of UNBC but for which UNBC students are eligible. Separate application forms may be required.

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Administrative Policies

Unless otherwise stated these policies apply to the criteria listed on subsequent pages.

Admission Awards
Admission awards are open to students commencing an undergraduate degree program at the University of Northern British Columbia for the first time. To be considered for awards adjudicated on the basis of criteria such as leadership skills and community service, it is recommended that students submit a resume‚ or curriculum vitae along with a completed Application for Awards to the Awards and Financial Aid office.

New students will be evaluated on their admission average as calculated by the Office of the Registrar. Students who have prior post-secondary experience will be evaluated on the grade point average of their transferable courses as calculated by the Office of the Registrar.

In-course Awards
Students continuing a course of studies at UNBC should apply for UNBC's scholarships and bursaries; to be considered as well for awards adjudicated on the basis of criteria such as leadership skills and community service, it is recommended that students submit a r‚sum‚ or curriculum vitae along with a completed Application for Awards to the Awards, Financial Aid, and Student Employment Centre. Unless otherwise stated, in-course awards are available to undergraduate students who have completed a minimum of 18 credit hours (nine credit hours per semester) over the awards year (June 1 - May 31). Applicants are evaluated based on their annual GPA, their calculated grade point average for courses taken within the academic year. In case of a tie, preference will be given to students who have successfully completed a greater number of courses over the term under consideration. Credit hours will be multiplied by grade point averages to determine any student's awards units:

 

Example

Student A
Total credit hrs/3 sem: 27.0
Annual GPA: 4.0
Award units: 108.0

Student B
Total credit hrs/3 sem: 30.0
Annual GPA: 4.0
Award units: 120.0

Student B, with higher award units, will be given preference in award selection. The cumulative GPA shall be used to break ties between identical award units.

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. UNBC Merit Awards and UNBC In-course Scholarships are considered to be stand-alone awards, and will not be awarded to students who are in receipt of other academic awards of equal or greater 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.

Non-renewable awards may be deferred for a period of one semester only. Renewable awards may be deferred for up to one academic year at the discretion of the Awards Office. All requests for deferrals must be made in writing to the Awards, Financial Aid and Student Employment Centre, and must outline the reasons the deferral is being sought.

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 once the add/drop deadline is 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 or corrections that are required, including cancellation of particular awards or changes to criteria or award values.

Requirements
Unless otherwise stated, all awards are conditional upon confirmation of full-time registration at the University of Northern British Columbia in the Fall and Winter Semesters immediately following the granting of the award.