The BC Achievement Scholarship is a prestigious award recognizing the academic excellence of approximately 8,000 graduates in the province of British Columbia. It honors students who have achieved outstanding academic performance during their high school years.
To qualify for this scholarship, academic achievement is evaluated based on specific grades achieved in courses taken in grades 10 to 12, including those required for graduation and elective courses. It’s important to note that only the courses necessary for meeting graduation requirements are considered, and the exact courses may vary among graduates due to the flexibility of the BC curriculum.
Recipients of the BC Achievement Scholarship are awarded a scholarship voucher worth $1,250. This voucher can be used to receive reimbursement from the Ministry of Education and Child Care. Students can claim this scholarship after they start attending a designated post-secondary institution or a B.C. authorized trades training provider.
It’s essential for students to be aware that the BC Achievement scholarship vouchers have a five-year redemption period. Each voucher comes with an expiration date, and extensions are not granted beyond this period. Therefore, recipients must use their scholarship voucher within the specified timeframe to benefit from this financial award.
Selection Process
The selection process for the BC Achievement Scholarship is straightforward and based on specific academic criteria. It involves the following key steps:
- Automatic Calculation: Eligible students are automatically considered for the scholarship. The selection process begins by calculating the final percentages from the courses taken by each student in grades 10 to 12. These percentages serve as the basis for determining which 8,000 graduates have achieved the highest academic marks in the province.
- Tie-Breaking Criteria: In the event that there is a tie among students for the 8,000 available scholarships, tie-breakers are employed. The final percentage from the course that fulfills the Language Arts 12 graduation requirement is used to resolve ties. This ensures a fair and objective method for awarding the scholarships.
- Variable Grade Averages: Since the grades of students within each graduating cohort can vary from year to year, there is no fixed percentage that guarantees the receipt of a BC Achievement scholarship. The competitiveness of the scholarship means that students need to perform exceptionally well academically to secure it. As a result, it is possible for high-achieving students to miss out on this scholarship due to the limited number of awards available.
- No Application Required: Importantly, students do not need to submit separate scholarship applications. The selection process is automatic, and if a student meets the eligibility criteria and achieves the required academic performance, their grades will be automatically considered for the BC Achievement Scholarship.
Eligibility
To be eligible for consideration for the BC Achievement Scholarship and similar Provincial Scholarships in British Columbia, students must meet specific criteria, including core eligibility requirements and scholarship-specific eligibility requirements:
Core Eligibility Requirements
- Canadian Citizenship or Permanent Residency: Students must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents (landed immigrants) with this status recorded by the school where they registered for Grade 12.
- British Columbia Residency: Eligible students must be residents of British Columbia.
- School Enrollment: Students must be enrolled in one of the following categories for the scholarship year:
- A British Columbia public school, including online learning schools.
- A Group 1, 2, or 4 British Columbia Independent School.
- A Continuing Education Centre.
- Registered as a homeschooler with an eligible school in British Columbia.
- Completion of Graduation Requirements: Eligible students must have successfully completed all graduation requirements and officially graduated by August 31 of the scholarship award year.
Scholarship-Specific Eligibility Requirements
In addition to the core eligibility criteria, students must also meet scholarship-specific requirements, including:
- Eligibility for a B.C. Certificate of Graduation: Students should be eligible for a B.C. Certificate of Graduation (Dogwood Diploma).
- B.C. Graduation Program Requirements: Students must fulfill the requirements of the B.C. Graduation Program.
- Academic Standing: Students should not have more than one Transfer Standing (TS) or Standing Granted (SG) reported among course marks used to satisfy graduation requirements, regardless of the credit value of the courses.
- Language Arts 12 Requirement: For the course used to fulfill the Language Arts 12 graduation requirement, students should have a reported percentage score of at least “B” (73% or above).
Meeting these eligibility requirements is essential for students to have their grades considered alongside those of other eligible graduates for the BC Achievement Scholarship and other Provincial Scholarships in British Columbia. These requirements ensure that the scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate both academic excellence and a commitment to their educational journey.
Other Information
Here are the important dates and information regarding the BC Achievement Scholarship and the collection of personal information:
Important Dates
- August 31: Schools must update student records with the Ministry by this date. This ensures that eligible students are properly considered for the scholarship. It includes verifying citizenship or permanent resident status with a “C” indicator through the school’s student information system.
- November: Notifications about scholarship awards are posted to the Student Transcripts Service. Students can log in to their account to check if they have received the BC Achievement scholarship. Paper scholarship vouchers are also mailed to recipients during this period, using the last home addresses reported by schools.
Collection of Personal Information
For the purpose of processing scholarships under the Provincial Scholarships Program, students’ personal information will be collected in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, Section 26(c). This personal information is used to verify eligibility, select successful candidates, and process scholarship payments.
If you have questions about the collection of personal information, you can contact the Ministry of Education at the following address:
Director, Student Transitions, Education Programs Division
Email: scholarships@gov.bc.ca
Phone: 250-356-2443
Mailing Address: PO Box 9183 Stn Prov Govt, Victoria BC, V8W 9H9.