1. What is the Irving K. Barber B.C. Scholarship?
2. Where can I get an application for this scholarship?
3. Where do I send my application for consideration?
4. What is the deadline to submit my application?
5. What if I don’t have everything required by the deadline? Can I send information in later?
6. Do I need to provide an unofficial transcript of marks?
7. I won’t complete my 54 credits (or equivalent) until the end of April, but the application deadline is March 31. Can I still apply for this scholarship?
8. Can I apply for the scholarship if I am transferring after completing the first year of my degree program?
9. When will I know if I have won a scholarship?
10. Can I get my application/supporting documentation back after it is considered for this scholarship?
11. If I am successful, how and when will I receive the award?
12. Why can’t students in private post-secondary schools take advantage of this scholarship?
13. If I am not successful, can I appeal?
14. Who decides which students will be awarded the funding?
15. What is government’s role in this scholarship?
16. What is the Victoria Foundation’s role in this scholarship?

1. What is the Irving K. Barber B.C. Scholarship?

This scholarship was established for B.C. students who are transferring from public colleges, university colleges and institutes to complete their degree at another public post-secondary institution in B.C. The scholarship is named in honour of philanthropist Irving K. Barber, founder of Slocan Forest Products Ltd.

2. Where can I get an application for this scholarship?

Application forms are available from this website, or at the financial aid office of any public post-secondary institution in British Columbia.

3. Where do I send my application for consideration?

Completed application forms and all required documentation must be sent to the financial aid office of the institution you will be transferring from (leaving) no later than March 31 of the year in which you will be transferring.

4. What is the deadline to submit my application?

The deadline is March 31 of the year in which you will be transferring.

5. What if I don’t have everything required by the deadline? Can I send information in later?

No. Only complete applications with all required documentation received by the deadline will be considered. Incomplete applications will be returned.

6. Do I need to provide an unofficial transcript?

Yes. An unofficial transcript of your post-secondary education up until the point of application will help both you and your financial awards office decide if you are eligible for this scholarship. An unofficial transcript should be readily available through your institution, either online or through the registrar’s office, and will give you an idea of your current GPA. You can use a copy of this unofficial transcript to help you find out if the courses you have taken are transferable by searching the BC Transfer Guide.

7. I won’t complete my 54 credits (or equivalent) until the end of April, but the application deadline is March 31. Can I still apply for this scholarship?

Yes. Your financial awards office should be able to help you to confirm whether the courses you have in progress at the time of the application will satisfy the requirement.

8. Can I apply for the scholarship if I am transferring after completing the first year of my degree program?

No. You must complete at least 54 credits (or equivalent) for transfer into the degree program at your new institution to be eligible to apply for this scholarship.

9. When will I know if I have won a scholarship?

You will be notified if you have been chosen to receive an award no later than July 31 in the year you apply. However, to receive a scholarship cheque in late September, you must continue to meet the eligibility criteria listed on the application during your transition period between institutions.

10. Can I get my application/supporting documentation back after it is considered for this scholarship?

Complete applications with supporting documentation that have been forwarded for adjudication will not be returned. After having been considered in the adjudication process, they become the property of the adjudication committee chair appointed by the Irving K. Barber B.C. Scholarship Society. Documents will be held in confidence subject to the disclosure provisions of the applicable privacy legislation for at least one year.

Any applications that are determined to be incomplete will be returned to you by the institution you are transferring from and will not be sent on for adjudication.

11. If I am successful, how and when will I receive the award?

You will be able to pick up your cheque at the financial aid office of the institution you transfer to by the end of September, as long as your enrolment as a full-time student in the program into which you applied for admission as a transfer student has been confirmed.

12. Why can’t students in private post-secondary schools take advantage of this scholarship?

The eligibility criteria for this scholarship are determined by the board of directors of the Irving K. Barber British Columbia Scholarship Society. The scholarships are funded from an endowment fund that was established for the purpose of supporting transfer students within the public post-secondary system.

13. If I am not successful, can I appeal?

There is no appeal process. The decisions of the adjudication committees are final, and all available scholarships will be awarded based on their determinations. If you think the committee did not follow correct procedures or did not properly consider your application, you should advise the adjudication committee chair in writing. Letters should be sent to:

Irving K. Barber B.C. Scholarship Society
Adjudication Committee Chair
#109 – 645 Fort St.
Victoria, BC   V8W 1G2

14. Who decides which students will be awarded the funding?

Each application is sent to an adjudication committee made up of five regional sub-groups. The regional group that corresponds with the institution the student is transferring from reviews the applications. The committee, made up of public post-secondary institution representatives, makes decisions on the awards and informs the Scholarship Society of its choices.

15. What is government’s role in this scholarship?

Government contributed the $15-million endowment fund to match Dr. Irving K. Barber’s $12.25-million gift to establishing the Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences at UBC Okanagan and the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre Interface Program.
Three government officials also sit on the 10-member board of the Irving K. Barber B.C. Scholarship Society.

16. What is the Victoria Foundation’s role in this scholarship?

The Victoria Foundation and the Irving K. Barber BC Scholarship Society have partnered in managing and awarding scholarships from the fund. Under the partnership, the Victoria Foundation administers and coordinates the Society’s scholarship programs including receiving screened applications from sending institutions, forwarding applications on to the adjudication committee for consideration, and communicating with scholarship applicants.