Pacific Leaders scholarships for children of public servants

Every year, up to 60 scholarships of $2,500 are available to children of B.C. Public Service employees.

• You have a solid academic standing (minimum B grade average or above for high school, Grades 10 to 12, and any post-secondary education)
• You're a student under the age of 25 as of the application deadline shown above
• You haven't received a scholarship from Pacific Leaders Scholarships for Children of Public Servants previously. You can receive only one scholarship during your lifetime
• You'll be a full-time student and have at least one parent, as defined by StudentAidBC policy, who is a full- or part-time regular employee of a BC Public Service employer. This includes all ministries and any organization that is enabled under the Public Service Act
• Your parent has worked in the BC Public Service for the last three years as of the application deadline shown above
• You plan to study a trade or do technical/vocational training or an undergraduate degree at a designated school or university located in B.C.

You are not eligible to apply if your parent is an auxiliary or casual employee, or a political staffer as defined in the Standards of Conduct for Political Staff.

If you're unsure of your parent’s employment status, please have them contact AskMyHR by submitting a service request using the categories My Team or Organization > Employee & Labour Relations > Other Issues & Inquiries.

You're also ineligible if your parent is an employee of the broader public sector, including:

• Provincial Health Authorities (such as VIHA)
• School districts and universities
• Crown Corporations (Example: Community Living BC, BC Hydro)
• Other municipal or federal governments (Example: police)

These organizations have their own terms and conditions of employment.

If you're not sure if your parent works for an eligible employer, email StudentAidBC.

How it works

Scholarship winners are chosen by an independent selection committee of current and retired provincial government employees.

Applications are judged based on:

• An essay written by the student explaining the contribution that public service employees provide to the citizens of British Columbia
  • Plagiarized essays or those written by anyone other than the applicant will result in the entire application being denied
• Communication skills
• References

How to submit

Applications for the 2024 Pacific Leaders scholarships for children of public servants will open at the end of March 2024.

Mailing Address
Pacific Leaders Scholarships for Children of Public Servants
Student Services Branch
Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training
PO Box 9173, Stn Prov Govt
Victoria BC  V8W 9H7

Courier Address
Pacific Leaders Scholarships for Children of Public Servants
Student Services Branch
Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training
835 Humboldt St. 1st Floor
Victoria BC  V8V 4W8

The award process

A selection committee will review eligible applications and select up to 60 recipients to receive scholarships.

You should be notified in writing of the outcome by the end of August.

Scholarships will be awarded once Student Services Branch has received a Confirmation of Enrolment form from your institution which will be sent to you after you receive your approval letter.

Scholarships must be used prior to March 31 of the following year and can't be deferred.

Feedback will be provided upon request.

There's no appeal process for unsuccessful applicants. Scholarships can't be deferred, but you can reapply the next year.

Additional information

The scholarship cut-off age of 25 is consistent with other government programs and allows us to target the dependants of public servants.

Research shows that students of this age range likely need the financial boost the most.

This program is targeted to those under 25 who are pursuing an undergraduate credential.

Graduate students aren't eligible.

Only one scholarship is allowed per child because we want as many members of the public service—and their children—to benefit from these scholarships as possible.

If public servants have more than one child, each child is eligible.

Since one of the criteria of this scholarship is solid academic achievement, applicants must have a threshold mark of grade B. Higher grades aren't rewarded; as long as the B threshold is met, this requirement is satisfied. 

The selection committee will also base its decision on your communication skills and the relevance of your education.

Institution and program eligibility

Pacific Leaders programs and StudentAidBC use public funds, so scholarship funding can only be provided for studies at public or private post-secondary institutions in B.C. that are designated by the province for the provision of student financial assistance.

The educational or training program itself must also be one that's eligible under the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills & Training's StudentAidBC criteria. 

Check the StudentAidBC website to ensure your chosen institution is designated.

All B.C. public post-secondary institutions, and some private institutions, are designated. Before any B.C. private career training institutions can be designated for student financial aid, it must be registered and accredited by the Province of British Columbia.