Scholarships for Students Living with Personal or Health Issues and/or Disabilities

Scholarships for Students who have Personal/Health Issues and/or Disabilities

Take some time to investigate the numerous scholarships available to students who have experienced/are experiencing various health issues.


A New Website for Students with Disabilities

This website allows students with disabilities to search an extensive database to find awards, scholarships, government funding and grants to assist in paying for college or university. Check out the site at disabilityawards.ca.


Diabetes Hope Foundation Scholarship:

The Diabetes Hope Scholarship Program was established to recognize youth in the community who have excelled in their academic achievements; demonstrated exceptional leadership skills and volunteerism in the community; and possess exemplary diabetes self- management practices.

Deadline: March 7th, 2022 To apply - click here


Canadian Mental Health Association of BC – Scholarships and Bursaries Program

There is a wide range of awards available for post-secondary students with lived experience of mental health or substance use concerns living in British Columbia.

Scholarships and Bursaries include…

  • Lorne Fraser Educational Bursary

  • Lorne Fraser Educational Scholarships for Mental Health Promotion

  • Mental Health Fine Arts Bursary

  • Indigenous Mental Health Fine Arts Bursary @ Emily Carr

  • Janice Lee Blue Wave Bursary

Deadline to apply is in July. Learn more and see how to apply at www.cmha.bc.ca/bursary


The Gaulin Memorial Scholarship

The Sarah Gaulin Memorial Scholarship seeks to support and encourage the resilience of individuals with mental illness pursuing post-secondary education. Students must be registered in a post-secondary institution and provide documented proof of their mental illness.

Deadline: April 1st, yearly To apply - Click Here


The Looking Glass Foundation Scholarships

The Looking Glass Foundation awards 3 scholarships to young people who have received, or are currently receiving, treatment for an eating disorder. Value: 1 $5000 Scholarship + 2 $2,500 Scholarships

Deadline: May 31st, 2022 To apply - Click Here


Jamie-Lynn Robertson Memorial Bursary

This award will be presented to a student whose life has been impacted by epilepsy. This award will not be granted based on academic achievement, but the recipient must demonstrate financial need and submit a 300-word essay on how epilepsy has impacted their life.

Additionally, a student must:

  • Be between 17-19 years of age entering into college or university studies in a BC post-secondary institution.

  • A Canadian citizen.

  • Become a member of The Center for Epilepsy and Seizure Education British Columbia.​

Deadline: March 1, 2022 To Apply - Click Here ​


Canadian Hard of Hearing Association Scholarship Program

Three Scholarships totalling $1000 each are offered to students who are hard of hearing, deafened, or oral deaf. Support documentation is required. Eligible applicants may be first-time or returning students at a recognized college or university.

Deadline: April 30th, 2022 To apply - Click Here


Coast Capital Savings - Standing Tall and Youth Get It Awards

Two $3500 awards have been designated for the Sooke School District. They are given to youth who have faced adversity and have not only risen up against the odds, but are demonstrating a commitment to continue their education. This award is open to students who have faced challenges like poverty, health, family issues, personal loss, and lack of supports (for example, youth who are, or who have been, in government care). Both the SD62 application form and the Coast Capital official application form need to be included in your application. Please submit your application to the Career Centre before or on the due date.

Deadline: April 14, 2022

To apply - Click Here for the SD62 application form Click Here for the Coast Capital official application form. Submit application to the École Royal Bay Scholarship Google Classroom.

Help Fill A Dream - Rick Thomas Memorial Scholarship

The Rick Thomas Memorial Scholarship of $3500 will assist Help Fill A Dream family members with the financial responsibility of paying for post-secondary education, and recognizes the resilience and perseverance that our families have faced due to their own or their family member’s life-threatening / critical condition.

Deadline: May 15, 2022 For Information - Click Here To apply - Click Here

The Lisa Huus Memorial Fund for People with Disabilities

The Lisa Huus bursary assists persons with disabilities as they undertake or continue their post-secondary education at the University of Victoria, or other accredited colleges/universities on Vancouver Island. Bursaries may be used for items such as tuition fees, textbooks, equipment, transportation, residence and support worker costs.

Deadline May 31st To apply - Click Here


The Medavie Health Foundation Scholarship

Up to five scholarships of $5,000 each will be awarded this year to youth who have overcome adversity related to mental health and who are pursuing health-related post-secondary studies at a recognized Canadian university or community college. Each scholarship will be renewable for up to three additional years, subject to continued eligibility.

Deadline: application not yet available for 2022 To apply - Click Here

The David Mason Educational Fund

The David Mason scholarship assists persons with physical disabilities to undertake their post-secondary education. Priority is given to students who received services at the Queen Alexandra Centre for Children’s Health or who participated in a QA program and are undertaking post-secondary studies in British Columbia.

Deadline: June 15th (not currently available) To apply - Click Here

​Terry Fox Memorial Scholarship (NUPGE)

This scholarship is for students with a disability who are planning to enter the 1st year of a Canadian public, post-secondary education institution, full-time, in the fall term following graduation from high school. Applicants must be children or grandchildren (including foster children or grandchildren) or legal wards of a current or retired member of a Component, or a Component's affiliate, of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE).

Deadline: July 1st, 2022 To apply - Click Here

​Canadian Mental Health Association of BC – Scholarships and Bursaries Program

There is a wide range of awards available for post-secondary students with lived experience of mental health or substance use concerns living in British Columbia. Some of these awards are given to students who are already studying at post-secondary, so keep them in mind as you move forward!

Scholarships and Bursaries include…

  • Lorne Fraser Educational Bursary

  • Lorne Fraser Educational Scholarships for Mental Health Promotion

  • Mental Health Fine Arts Bursary

  • Indigenous Mental Health Fine Arts Bursary @ Emily Carr

  • Janice Lee Blue Wave Bursary (available to current high school applicants)

To learn more and see how to apply - Click Here

Programs for Students with a Permanent Disability:

Canada student grant for students with permanent disabilities

This program helps part-time or full-time students with permanent disabilities with the cost of education.

$2,000 $4,000* per program year (August 1 to July 31).

*Note: The amount has been temporarily increased until July 2023 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For Grant Information - Click Here

Canada student grant for services and equipment for students with permanent disabilities

This program helps part-time or full-time students with permanent disabilities pay for exceptional education related costs for services and equipment.

​For Grant Information - Click Here

Up to $20,000 per loan year is available to eligible students for services and equipment like:

  • Notetakers

  • Tutors

  • Interpreters

  • Technical aids​

B.C. supplemental bursary for students with a permanent disability

$800 bursary is available if you:

$400 bursary available if you:

For more information - Click Here