Grants

The British Columbia health care bursary

This provincial bursary program was established to train health-care workers in areas where the province is facing skill shortages, and to help B.C. health-care workers keep pace with changing technology and preventive care needs. Up to $1 million is awarded annually across all health-care sectors to qualified applicants with the greatest financial need.

Bursary awards range from $500 to $3,500. You can only receive one health care bursary in a 12-month period.

The following programs are Not eligible: Nursing programs – nursing students can apply for the nurses education bursary. Medical school programs and programs at the doctorate level – see the financial aid officer at your institution for information on assistance in these areas.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a health care bursary, you must meet all these criteria:

• You have been a permanent resident of B.C. for the last 12 months.
• You are not delinquent or in default of a B.C. student loan.
• You can show financial need.
• You are enrolled in an eligible health-care program, at least four months long, at an eligible B.C. public post-secondary institution, St. Paul's Hospital or the B.C. Cancer Agency.
• Your study program leads to a certificate, diploma or degree recognized for practice in B.C.

See appendix A of the application form [1.25mb] for a list of eligible programs of study and eligible post-secondary institutions.

Bursary award periods and application deadlines

There are three award periods each year for the B.C. health care bursary. Your application must be received by StudentAid BC (address below) by the application deadline date for each award period:

How to apply

Application forms [1.25mb] and tips on how to complete the application form are available electronically on this website. They are also available in hard copy from B.C. public post-secondary institutions, health-care union offices and StudentAid BC of the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development. Contact information is at the bottom of this webpage.

Complete your application and mail it to:

B.C. Health Care Bursary
StudentAid BC
PO Box 9173 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria BC V8W 9H7

Courier address only:

B.C. Health Care Bursary
StudentAid BC
1st Floor – 835 Humboldt St.
Victoria BC V8W 9H2

We must receive your application by 4:30 p.m. on the deadline date.

You will be notified of the results by mail about six weeks after the deadline date. You cannot check the status of this application online.

Due to budget limitations, not all applicants can be awarded a health care bursary. We send a list of alternative funding sources to those who are not awarded bursaries.

For more information call 250 356-8380 (in Victoria)
or ask Service BC to transfer you to the Victoria number by calling
604 660-2421 (in the Lower Mainland) or
1-800-663-7867 (toll-free in Canada).

E-mail inquiries to AVED.SpecialPrograms4@gov.bc.ca.