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UVic Entrance Scholarships and Awards (SAFA)

UVic's Student Awards and Financial Aid office hands out more than $12.5 million a year in entrance scholarships, in-course awards and bursaries.

Reviewed by G Paul · verified August 31, 2026

What you will need

Submit your UVic undergraduate admission application by the standard deadline
For featured / supplementary awards: complete the named-award application by its specific deadline
For bursaries: complete the bursary application via the SAFA portal (separate from scholarship application; needs documented financial need)
For Work Study: separate Work Study application via SAFA
Submit final transcripts on UVic's published timeline

About this award

The University of Victoria's Student Awards and Financial Aid office (SAFA) distributes more than $12.5 million each year across the full range of UVic financial supports. The entrance scholarships and awards stream covers incoming undergraduate students; in-course scholarships and awards reward continuing UVic students based on their UVic record; featured scholarships are higher-profile named or donor-funded awards (often with supplementary applications and dedicated deadlines). Beyond merit-based scholarships, SAFA also runs a comprehensive bursary programme (need-based, separately searched on the SAFA portal), a work-study programme that connects students with on-campus employment, and emergency loan funding for current students facing unexpected costs. SAFA additionally handles government loan paperwork (BC and federal), US Federal Direct Loan administration for American students, and Confirmation of Enrolment letters needed for outside funders. UVic operates dedicated graduate awards in parallel — the SAFA portal has separate undergraduate and graduate award search tools.

Who qualifies

You qualify for entrance scholarship consideration if you are admitted to UVic as an incoming undergraduate (or, for in-course awards, currently enrolled at UVic). UVic awards span Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and international students depending on the specific award; bursaries are need-based and require documented financial need. Indigenous applicants, students with disabilities, and equity-deserving applicants have specific awards in the SAFA portfolio — search the SAFA portal with relevant filters. For featured / supplementary-application awards, eligibility narrows to specific faculties, fields of study, or community categories; check the per-award page for current criteria.

This is what the award's own page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm with the provider before you apply.

Canadian citizen, permanent resident or international student
Open to undergraduate students
Resident of British Columbia

How to apply

Read the award's own page
Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.
Order your transcript1–2 weeks
Your school's registrar can take a week or two.
Check this year's deadline
We don't have a confirmed date for this round. The award's own page will have it.

More details

Apply to UVic by the standard admission deadline so your file enters the entrance scholarship review pool automatically.

Beyond entrance, set up a UVic SAFA login once you are enrolled and use the in-course award search tool — many UVic students miss out on awards they would qualify for simply because no one told them to search the portal.

The featured scholarships have their own application deadlines (often distinct from admission), so build a calendar of any supplementary deadlines in your faculty or programme.

The bursary programme is separate from scholarships and operates on documented financial need — apply for bursaries even if you do not qualify for merit awards.

Work Study is a structured paid-employment program; useful if you want a part-time job aligned with your studies rather than working off-campus.

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