Scholarships and funding by student stage

Pick where you are. We mapped the realistic funding stack — primary sources, what often gets missed, the order to apply.

• High School Students

  Scholarships and funding for high school students in BC headed to post-secondary

  Strong applicants stack $5,000–$18,000 in first-year funding from a combination of provincial grants, federal grants, school entrance awards, and external scholarships.

• College & Diploma Students

  Scholarships and funding for college diploma and certificate students in BC

  $4,000–$12,000 per year is typical, with shorter-program students getting funding sized to program length. Trade-adjacent diplomas can also stack workforce-development grants.

• Undergraduate Students

  Scholarships, grants, and bursaries for undergraduate university students in BC

  $5,000–$18,000 per year is the realistic stack for most students. Top-decile students with major scholarships (Schulich, Loran, TD, Schulich Leader) can stack $30,000+ per year.

• Graduate Students (Master's & PhD)

  Funding, scholarships, and tri-council awards for graduate students in BC

  Funded PhDs typically receive $25,000–$35,000/year through stipends + TA work + scholarships. Master's funding is more variable: $0–$25,000/year depending on supervisor and program.

• Trade & Apprenticeship Students

  Funding, grants, and tax credits for BC trade school and apprenticeship students

  Apprentices can stack apprenticeship grants ($1,000–$2,000 federal Apprenticeship Incentive Grant per level) + tax credits + EI during in-school sessions + StudentAid BC + tool tax credits. Realistic total support: $5,000–$15,000 per apprenticeship year.

• Returning Adult & Mature Students

  Funding, grants, and re-skilling support for adult returners and mature students in BC

  Mature students often qualify for higher StudentAid BC packages because of dependents and lower assessed family income. $8,000–$20,000/year is realistic. Layered with sector grants for retraining, can exceed $25,000.

Skillucate is independent — not StudentAid BC, not the Government of BC, not the Government of Canada, not a school. Information current as of 2026-05-10.