Scholarships and Awards

Stories from Study Abroad: BC Study Abroad Scholarships

The BC Study Abroad Scholarships celebrate the study abroad experience through student-generated content and financial support. Scholarship recipients will receive $500 for a virtual study abroad program and $1000 for a in-person study abroad program, and the opportunity to share their in-person and/or virtual exchange study abroad experience via blog and photos.

Eligibility:

To be eligible for the BC Study Abroad Scholarships, applying students must meet the following criteria:

  1. Be currently enrolled at an active BC Study Abroad Consortium Institution.
  2. Enrolled in or accepted into a short-term study abroad program. Please note that the program may be conducted either as an in-person exchange (e.g. physically in another country) or as a virtual exchange using virtual learning platforms hosted by a foreign institution.

Expectations:

In-person exchange expectations:

In return for a $1000 scholarship, successful student applicants will submit the following:

  • One 300 to 400-word blog post (with photo) to be submitted during their study abroad program
  • One 300 to 400-word blog post (with photo) to be submitted within 60 days of the completion of their study abroad program
  • Upon completion of the program, 8 to 10 high resolution photos taken by the student documenting their experience:
    • Photos must be at least 150 dpi
    • Accompanied by a document (i.e. Word, Excel, etc.) containing:
      • Image file name
      • Caption for each image
      • Location where each image was taken (i.e. geotag)
      • A short presentation to be made at their home institution once back in BC

Virtual exchange expectations:

In return for a CAD$500 scholarship, successful student applicants will submit the following:

  • One 300 to 400-word blog post to be submitted during their virtual exchange program that is accompanied by either:
    • Screenshot of their virtual class; or
    • Picture, photo or video that demonstrates their learnings 
  • One 300 to 400-word blog post to be submitted once their virtual exchange program has concluded that is accompanied by:
    • Screenshot of their virtual class; or
    • Picture, photo or video that demonstrates their learnings 
  • Upon completion of their program, 5 or 6 screenshots/photos/videos created by the student that best illustrates their virtual exchange experience (e.g. team photos, presentation slides, pictures that demonstrate class achievements, etc.):
    • Photos must be at least 150 dpi
    • Accompanied by a document (i.e. Word, Excel, etc.) containing:
      • Image file name
      • Caption for each image

How to apply:

To apply for a BC Study Abroad Scholarships:

  • Review the application checklist
  • Email using the subject line:
    • Stories from Study Abroad: British Columbia Study Abroad Scholarships Application
  • Email all required material as a single email to:

Application deadline is March 1, 2024

Content Use

Photos and blog posts will be featured on the BC Study Abroad website and associated social media channels. They may also be featured on our Study in BC and BCCIE websites and social media.

Diversity statement:

BCCIE is committed to an inclusive learning environment that reflects the richness of the community that we serve. BCCIE welcomes applications from all qualified individuals, including Indigenous peoples, people of colour, people with disabilities, and all groups protected by the BC Human Rights Code.

BC Study Abroad and the BC Study Abroad Scholarships are administered by the British Columbia Council for International Education (BCCIE) on behalf of the BC Study Abroad Consortium.

Student Loans

You may be eligible to apply for student loans to support your study abroad experience. Ask a financial advisor at your home institution for further information on student loans.

Budgeting Tips

Studying abroad can be very affordable; it depends on many factors, including your destination, the time of year, your personal spending habits. For example, the cost of living is higher in Western Europe and Australia than in China. You can expect to spend more if you are living in a big city versus living in the countryside. To get a better idea as to what the costs might be the Foreign Currency Exchange Converter offers an easy way to translate foreign costs into Canadian dollars.

Some programs will be more expensive than others, depending on added features, such as meals, accommodation, field trips and tours. 

In addition to asking an advisor and past participants for budgeting tips, make sure to investigate available student discounts offered such as the International Student Identity Card (ISIC).

Another way to learn about costs and money-saving tips is to read personal reports written by past current or past study abroad students which are available on the study abroad website at your institution. 

There may be external sources of funding available to help you meet the financial requirements of your study abroad experience.