HCOS Scholarship & Bursary Opportunities

This page is designed to support HCOS students and families as they explore, apply for, and manage scholarships, bursaries, and awards. Below you will find HCOS in-house opportunities, external resources, application guidance, and next steps after receiving an award. 

 

 HCOS In-House Scholarship Opportunities 

 HCOS offers several internal scholarship and bursary options for eligible students. Families are encouraged to review the following policies carefully: 

 

 

 District Authority Scholarships (DAS) Learn about eligibility, timelines, and requirements for District Authority Scholarships. 

 

 

 HCOS Scholarship & Bursaries  Review HCOS policies and information related to scholarships and bursaries. 

 

 

 

 External Scholarship Resources 

 Students are strongly encouraged to apply for external scholarships and bursaries in addition to HCOS opportunities. 

 

 

 ScholarshipsCanada A comprehensive Canadian scholarship search website: 

 

 

 Additional Scholarship List   A document compiled by HCOS to support students in their search, including timelines and deadlines.  

 

 

 

 Finding Volunteer Opportunities 

 Many scholarships require proof of community involvement. Volunteer opportunities can be found through: 

 

 

 Volunteer BC 

 

 

 GoVolunteer 

 

 

 Local community boards and program guides 

 

 

 Conversations with neighbours, church mentors, coaches, and friends 

 

 

 

 How to Apply for Scholarships & Bursaries 

 Step 1: Assess Your Financial Need 

 Determine your financial situation and estimate how many scholarships and bursaries you plan to apply for. 

 Step 2: Create a Tracking System 

 If you are applying for multiple awards, staying organized is essential. 

 

 

 Create your own tracking spreadsheet in Excel or 

 

 

 Use the HCOS Scholarship Tracking Template . 

 

 

 Step 3: Suggested Tracking Fields 

 Include the following fields in your spreadsheet: 

 

 

 Scholarship name 

 

 

 Scholarship provider 

 

 

 Contact information 

 

 

 URL for additional information or application 

 

 

 Deadline date 

 

 

 Award amount 

 

 

 Eligibility criteria (age, grade, GPA, etc.) 

 

 

 Required documentation (transcripts, financial records, references, essays, etc.) 

 

 

 

 Helpful Hints for Scholarship Success 

 

 

 Begin researching scholarship opportunities in Grade 11 

 

 

 Volunteer consistently; many scholarships value long-term involvement 

 

 

 Carefully review eligibility criteria for each award 

 

 

 Apply for a variety of smaller awards, as they often receive fewer applications 

 

 

 Maintain an up-to-date resume and adaptable cover letter 

 

 

 Dedicate specific time each week for scholarship research 

 

 

 Pay close attention to application deadlines, especially for hard-copy submissions 

 

 

 

 You Were Awarded a Scholarship or Bursary — Now What? 

 1. Thank Your Donors 

 Once you receive an award, it is important to write a thank-you letter to the donor. The mailing address is usually included with your award notification. 

 Sample Thank-You Letter: 

 

 Dear Donor, Thank you for the scholarship. I am planning to pursue a career in teaching and will be attending UNBC in the fall. The funds will go toward tuition and books and is very much appreciated. 

 Sincerely, Mya Scholarship 

 

 2. Award Deferral 

 If you are not attending post-secondary immediately after graduation, indicate in your thank-you letter that you are requesting a one-year deferral. Most scholarships and bursaries allow deferrals for one year only. 

 

 Types of Scholarships, Bursaries & Awards 

 I. Post-Secondary Institution Scholarships 

 These awards are connected to specific post-secondary institutions and often require acceptance of an offer of admission. They may include: 

 

 

 Automatic awards (e.g., entrance scholarships) 

 

 

 General scholarship applications 

 

 

 Faculty-specific awards (e.g., Engineering, Education) 

 

 

 Nominated scholarships (limited nominations per school) 

 

 

 Need-based bursaries 

 

 

 II. Association & Community Scholarships 

 Community groups such as unions, clubs, businesses, organizations, and associations often offer scholarships. Criteria may include: 

 

 

 Academic achievement 

 

 

 Artistic or athletic ability 

 

 

 Leadership 

 

 

 Community service 

 

 

 Financial need 

 

 

 Students are encouraged to explore opportunities connected to: 

 

 

 Parents’ or guardians’ workplaces 

 

 

 Cultural, professional, or service organizations 

 

 

 Associations linked to parents or grandparents 

 

 

 III. Find-a-Match Scholarship Websites 

 These websites match students with scholarships based on their profile: 

 

 

 Yconic 

 

 

 ScholarshipsCanada 

 

 

 ScholarTree 

 

 

 StudentScholarships 

 

 

 Maclean’s (Scholarships tab) 

 

 

 EducationPlannerBC 

 

 

 

 If you have questions or need support, please contact your HCOS academic advisor. We encourage all students to apply broadly and start early.