How to use a scholarship

Last updated on June 18, 2026

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Understand the requirements to redeem a scholarship 

  1. Your scholarship(s) must be valid.
  2. You must be enrolled with a ​post-secondary institution that is designated by the Province of B.C. (i.e., approved for Canada Student Loans), or a post-secondary program provider that is approved by SkilledTradesBC. If your chosen school is not listed, consider asking it to seek designation.

Exception: to redeem a Pathway to Teacher Education scholarship, you must be attending an approved teacher education program at a B.C. post-secondary institution. To qualify, the program must be a teacher education program which leads to certification to teach in the B.C. K–12 school system. Accordingly, some programs do not qualify for this purpose, such as a Minor in Education.

  1. You must have paid tuition that is equal to or greater than the value of your scholarship(s).
  2. Your program must have already started.

Collect the right documents and submit (online if you can)

You must submit evidence of enrolment and tuition paid to be reimbursed and receive your cheque. The evidence you need to submit depends on whether your voucher has been stamped and signed by your post-secondary program provider.

Select the situation below that applies to you and then prepare the information described.

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How to redeem a scholarship if you have a voucher with a legible stamp and signature from your post-secondary program provider

If it has been stamped and signed, please write three pieces of information directly on your voucher:

  • your Social Insurance Number (SIN);
  • your email address; and,
  • your home mailing address if it has changed (i.e., where you want your cheque delivered).

Next step:

Submit your voucher

 

How to redeem a scholarship if you have a voucher, but you don’t have it stamped and signed by your post-secondary program provider

It’s usually quicker to get your cheque if you submit a voucher that has been stamped and signed by your post-secondary program provider. However, you may instead submit it along with evidence to show that you are enrolled, that your tuition has been paid, and that your program has started. Get ready to submit the following.

Voucher. Write three pieces of information directly on the voucher:

  • your Social Insurance Number (SIN);
  • your email address; and,
  • your home mailing address if it’s changed (i.e., where you want your cheque delivered).

Verification of your enrolment and tuition paid. Provide one or more documents (or screenshots of online information) that, when combined, show the following:

  • your name (must be on every document you submit);
  • the name of your post-secondary program provider (must be on every document);
  • the date your program started; and,
  • the amount of tuition paid.
    • (acceptable) an official receipt or account balance summary from your post-secondary program provider
    • (unacceptable) statements that show tuition due but not paid
    • (unacceptable) bank and credit card statements/receipts

Next step: submit your voucher and evidence of enrolment and tuition paid.

Submit your voucher

 

How to redeem a scholarship without a voucher

Review timelines for scholarship notifications

Is it December or later after graduation and you’re expecting or lost your scholarship voucher?

If yes, you can still redeem without it. Here is what you need to do.

  1. Login to your StudentTranscripts Service (STS) account.
  2. Check to see if there is a scholarship(s) listed. If yes, that means you are confirmed as a recipient; the paper voucher did not reach you.
  3. Get ready to submit the following.

Declaration form (PDF). Complete this form to declare that you lost or did not receive your voucher

Verification of your enrolment and tuition paid. Provide one or more documents (or screen shots of online information) that, when combined, show the following:

  • your name (must be on every document you submit);
  • the name of your post-secondary program provider (must be on every document);
  • the date your program started; and,
  • the amount of tuition paid.
    • (acceptable) official receipt or account balance summary from your post-secondary program provider
    • (unacceptable) statements that show tuition due but not paid
    • (unacceptable) bank and credit card statements/receipts

Next step: submit your declaration form and evidence of enrolment and tuition paid.

 Submit

Tip! If you submit electronic documents using the online form, you will receive your cheque faster than by sending paper mail. Most forms of electronic documents are acceptable if they are legible. This includes scans and photos of paper documents, as well as screenshots of online information. If you cannot submit online, you may send paper documents by mail: Provincial Scholarships Program, Ministry of Education and Child Care, PO Box 9183 STN PROV GOVT, Victoria BC, V8W 9H9

Find out when your cheque will arrive

If the information you submit is complete and meets requirements, a cheque will be issued in your name and sent to your mailing address. Estimated delivery time: approximately 8 weeks.

If details are missing, the Provincial Scholarships Program team will reach out to you for more information, and this may delay your cheque considerably. 

If it has been more than eight weeks since you submitted all necessary information and you have not received your cheque, you are welcome to ask the team for a status update. 

Learn how to replace a lost, damaged, or stale-dated cheque

To ask for a new cheque, send a request by email to scholarships@gov.bc.ca and include the following information:

  • a scan or photo of your cheque (if you have it with you); 
  • your full legal name;
  • your date of birth;
  • the name of the high school you graduated from;
  • your Personal Education Number (PEN); and,
  • your complete mailing address.

You will receive a response with instructions on next steps that you will have to complete. A replacement cheque will then be mailed to you at the address you have provided. Estimated delivery time: approximately 8 weeks.