Graduate students at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) are getting support to pursue advanced degrees in fields like science and engineering, thanks to a new graduate student scholarship fund.
The $735,000 scholarship fund will encourage research, innovation and growth in northern British Columbia. The merit-based fund will support 800 awards of $15,000 over the next three years, for students pursuing research-focused graduate degree programs.
There will be an emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math, as well as other disciplines. Professional programs, such as UNBC’s master of business administration, will also be eligible.
Student groups and other post-secondary sector partners have long advocated for a graduate scholarship program, as British Columbia lagged behind other provinces with a comparable graduate scholarship program.
There are about 16,000 domestic students enrolled in graduate degree programs at 10 public post-secondary institutions throughout the province. UNBC, which will administer the $735,000 fund, has 500 students in graduate degree programs.
The fund is part of a larger plan to increase support for the technology sector. B.C. is also investing in 2,900 new tech spaces and Women in Technology scholarships, with 10 annual $10,000 scholarships awarded, including at least one award to an Indigenous woman.
