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BCIT Bursaries

A bursary is a non-repayable award granted to a full-time student who is progressing satisfactorily in their BCIT credential program and who demonstrates that they are in need of financial assistance.  You are a full-time student if you are enrolled in 60% or more of a 100% course load or 40% or more for students with approved permanent disabilities.

To be considered for a bursary you must:

  • Have applied and been assessed for financial need by the StudentAid BC (or the government student assistance loan program from your home province if you are not a BC resident).
  • Be a citizen or a permanent resident of Canada.
  • Be enrolled in a StudentAidBC-eligible BCIT credential program (credential programs lead to a certificate, diploma or degree).
  • Be enrolled as a full-time student at BCIT during the bursary academic period (full-time is defined as 60% or more of a 100% course load).
  • Have successfully completed a term/level of full-time study in their program (or 4 months of full-time study for those programs which are not term or level based) at BCIT in the last 12 months, with no Fail, Unsatisfactory or Incomplete grades during the most recent term/4 months of study.
  • Have a minimum average of 60% in prior full-time studies at BCIT (Technology students).
  • Document financial need by completing a bursary application form.
  • Be enrolled in one of the Technology or Trades program levels/terms/intake dates that is included on the posted list of bursary-eligible programs for that deadline (for the fall October 30 and the spring June 30 deadlines).

Note: You can only receive BCIT full-time student bursaries once per calendar year (January 1 to December 31), or one time per program if program is 12 months or less.

Selection criteria

As funds are limited, bursaries are awarded to those students who demonstrate that they have exhausted all other sources of financial assistance.

Some bursaries are restricted to specific applicants (e.g. hometown, geographic region, union affiliation, gender, etc.). On the last page of the application, identify any Specified Bursaries you are eligible for and wish to apply for.

How to apply

During a bursary application period, the application form for that period will be available on your myBCIT account.

Steps to apply:

  1. Go to myBCIT , and log in to your account.
  2. Click Online Self-Service.
  3. Select “Student Financial Aid & Awards” from the menu.
  4. Log in again with your A# Student ID.
  5. Select the “Web Application” icon.
  6. Select the correct “application term” and “Bursary – Online Application” to begin.

Note: Please read the instructions carefully and ensure all required fields are filled out. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Feel free to use this budget worksheet to help you prepare your online bursary application.

Details and deadlines by term

Expand each section below to find the term-specific application period, application form, deadline, and bursary eligibility list.

Applications must be received by the BCIT Student Financial Aid & Awards Office by the deadline date.

Bursary application results

Fall term bursary results will be available on your myBCIT account by the end of November.

To view your results, log in to myBCIT and select:

  1. Online Self-Service
  2. Select ‘Student Financial Aid & Awards’ from the menu
  3. Log in again with your A# student ID
  4. Select the ‘Web application’ icon to view your bursary status
  5. If approved, select the ‘Awards Won’ icon to view the names(s) of the bursary you are receiving and the amount of your award(s)

A bursary cheque will be mailed within four weeks from the date the bursary is disbursed.  Please ensure your mailing address is current on your myBCIT account.

Note: If you have outstanding monies owing to BCIT, this amount will be deducted from your award.

Letter of appreciation

Bursary funding is generously donated by interested individuals or organizations. To show gratitude for their support, we encourage you to write a Letter of Appreciation. In the letter, please include the name of the bursary, a brief biography, and your educational and career goals. Please email your letter to the BCIT Foundation Office, and they will forward your letter to the donor.

Terms and conditions

Bursary appeals

Students seeking to appeal the decision regarding their bursary application can access the BCIT Bursary Appeal Request form through their myBCIT account. Please provide details of your extenuating circumstances in the form.

Note: This appeal process is for full-time students who applied initially for a BCIT Bursary. If you didn’t apply initially, you can’t appeal. For extenuating circumstances, contact Student Financial Aid & Awards to schedule an advisor appointment at 604-432-8555.

To apply, follow these steps:

  1. Log in to myBCIT.
  2. Go to Online Self-Service.
  3. Choose ‘Student Financial Aid & Awards.’
  4. Re-enter your A# student ID.
  5. Click on the ‘Web application’ icon.
  6. Select ‘Bursary Appeal’ to start your application.

The application status and decisions for the 2024 Fall bursary appeals will be available on your myBCIT account by early December.

Cancelled awards

Awarded bursaries are subject to cancellation. Students that withdraw, reduce their course load, or no longer meet the bursary eligibility criteria may have to forfeit all or part of their award. This decision will be made by Student Financial Aid and Awards. A cancelled award will be charged against the student’s BCIT account.

Frequently asked bursary questions