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Scholarships & Awards

Scholarship & Award Applications will be available in our "Applications" section, approximately two months prior to deadline dates. Mail or take completed applications to the Financial Aid & Awards Office by the specified deadline dates.

Scholarships and Awards will be selected based on minimum course load requirements, grade point average requirements, specific donor criteria and information provided on the application form.

Published award information is subject to change. Many of the awards are funded by interest earned on endowment funds established by very generous donors. The interest earned for the awards will vary with the financial markets.

 

For information on awards based on athletic, rather than on scholastic achievements, visit our website at www.viu.ca/mariners/recruiting.htm or contact the Director of Athletics at 250-740-6419.

ENGLISH & CREATIVE WRITING

Barry Broadfoot Awards for Journalism/Creative Non-Fiction

2 awards, $500 each; Available to students in journalism and/or creative writing non-fiction courses, whose efforts, integrity and potential as a writer in the field is deserving of encouragement. No application necessary. Recipients recommended by faculty in February. Award presented at the Portal Launch in Spring.

Bill Juby Award

1 award, $500; Available to mature part-time students in English or Creative Writing, who are returning to VIU in the fall. Selection will be based on academic achievement. No application necessary. Recipient selected in May, with funds awarded as a tuition credit for the fall semester.

Helen “Nellie” Keigan Memorial Award

1 award, $500; For students of children’s literature who demonstrate a sensitivity to the imagination of children, and who show originality and creativity in unlocking children’s natural potential. No application necessary. Recipients recommended by the English department in May, with funds issued in June.

Jason Mayes Memorial Award

1 award, $300; Available to third or fourth year Creative Writing / Journalism students enrolled in Publishing or Scriptwriting. No application necessary. Recipient recommended by the department in February. Award presented at the Portal Launch in Spring.

Jason Peskanovich Memorial Award

1 award, $400; Available to continuing students majoring in English or Creative Writing, with selection based on academic achievement and financial need. Apply to Financial Aid & Awards office by April 30. Funds awarded as a tuition credit for the fall semester.

Kevin Roberts Poetry Award

1 award, $500; Available to continuing students in English or Creative Writing, who demonstrate excellence in writing poetry, or the literary study of poetry, as determined by faculty from the English and Creative Writing departments. No application necessary. Recipients determined by faculty from the English & Creative Writing departments in February. Award presented at the Portal Launch in Spring.

L.C. Parkin Memorial Award

1 award, $250; Applicants must demonstrate potential for success through traits such as ability to meet deadlines, by showing original written expression, and by having had work published or performed in a medium for which the consumer pays. Apply to Financial Aid & Awards office by April 30. Funds awarded as a tuition credit for the fall semester.

Mary Garland Coleman Prize in Lyric Poetry

1 award, $150; Available to students in Career & Academic Preparation or University courses in any year of study, who demonstrate excellence in writing lyrical poetry. Applicants must submit a poem with their application. Apply to Financial Aid & Awards office by April 30. Funds awarded as a tuition credit for the fall semester.

Mike Matthews Award for Studies in Canadian Literature

1 award, $1,000; Available to students who have demonstrated a strong interest in, and passion for, Canadian Literature, and who will be pursuing continuing studies in that field. Preference will be given to students who focus on effective writing, originality and humour. Apply to Financial Aid & Awards office by April 30. Funds awarded as a tuition credit for the fall semester.

Morris Donaldson Memorial Scholarship

1 award, $750; Available to continuing students who demonstrate academic growth, originality and commitment to a career in English studies. No application necessary. Recipient recommended by the English department in May, with funds issued in June.

Myrtle Bergren Creative Writing Award

1 award, $150; Available to full or part-time creative writing students demonstrating promise in the field, who intend to pursue further studies in creative writing at VIU or another BC University. No application necessary. Recipient selected in February. Award presented at the Portal Launch in Spring.

Pat Bevan Scholarship in Creative Writing – Fiction

1 award, $500; Available to continuing full-time students showing promise in writing fiction, who combine high academic achievement, creativity, motivation and enthusiasm, and who make a positive contribution to their classes. No application necessary. Recipient recommended by the Creative Writing department in February. Award presented at Portal Launch in Spring.

Pat Bevan Scholarship in Creative Writing – Poetry

1 award, $500; Available to continuing full-time students showing promise in writing poetry, who combine high academic achievement, creativity, motivation and enthusiasm, and who make a positive contribution to their classes. No application necessary. Recipient recommended by the Creative Writing department in February. Award presented at Portal Launch in Spring.

Pat Bevan Scholarship in English Literature

1 award, $500; Available to continuing full-time students in English literature, who combine high academic achievement, creativity, motivation and enthusiasm, and who make a positive contribution to their classes. No application necessary. Recipient recommended by the English department in May, with funds awarded as a tuition credit for the fall semester.

The Meadowlarks Awards

4 awards, $750 each; Available to full-time or part-time students in Creative Writing who have produced a body of promising work, and have demonstrated a genuine dedication to, and grasp of the craft of fiction. Not awarded to writers of genre fiction. Financial need may be considered. Must be a "Jacob Wrestler". Preference will be as follows: two awards to students currently enrolled in year 2, and two awards to students currently enrolled in year 3. No application necessary. Recipients selected in February. Award presented at the Portal Launch in Spring.

Transfer Awards

Students transferring to the University of British Columbia, University of Victoria, or Simon Fraser University, are advised to contact the Financial Aid & Awards office at the respective institution, as each have many "in-house" scholarships and bursaries, some of which are specifically designated for students transferring from regional colleges or universities.

College Transfer Entrance Award to Royal Roads University

1 award, $2,000: Students enrolled at Vancouver Island University who are planning to enter a Royal Roads University undergraduate program, may apply to VIU for a $2,000 tuition credit. An eligible candidate will be able to demonstrate achievement through academic or other preparation in one of our major theme areas: sustainable development, entrepreneurship, empowering leadership, and conflict analysis and management.

A complete application consists of an application form and a one page essay (application form and information available on-line at royalroads.ca/awards). Submit completed application package to the Financial Aid & Awards Office at VIU by the specified due date on the Royal Roads website.

 

Irving K. Barber Scholarships

  • Transfer Scholarships

    Scholarships of $5,000 are available to students who have completed two years of full-time study and must transfer to another public post-secondary institution in BC to complete their degree. GPA must be at least 3.5 and students must demonstrate exceptional involvement in their school and community.

 

  • BC Aboriginal Student Awards

    Awards of $1,000 to $5,000 are available to BC residents of Aboriginal ancestry, who have been active in their school or community, and are planning to study in either a certificate, diploma, degree, or approved trades / apprenticeship programs.

 

  • Aboriginal Teacher Education Awards

    Awards of $5,000 are available to Aboriginal students registered in a teacher education program at a BC University, which leads to certification by the BC Teachers' Council. This includes programs leading to a Developmental Standard Term Certificate in First Nations Language and Culture.
 

 

Additional detailed information and applications are available at www.bcscholarships.ca

 

W.L. Mackenzie King Memorial Scholarships

Two classes of Mackenzie King Scholarship are available to graduates of Canadian universities: the Open Scholarship and the Travelling Scholarship. Both are to support graduate study.

  • The Open Scholarship is available to graduates of Canadian universities who pursue graduate study in any discipline, in Canada or elsewhere.  One Open Scholarship is awarded each year. The value has recently been about $10,000 but it is subject to change.

 

  • The Travelling Scholarship is available to graduates of Canadian universities who pursue graduate study in the United States or the United Kingdom in the areas of international relations or industrial relations.  Recently four scholarships of $11,000 each have been awarded annually, but the number and the amount are subject to change.

Additional information and applications are available at http://www.mkingscholarships.ca/index-e.html and must be submitted to VIU Financial Aid & Awards Office by February 1st