1. What is the One World Scholarship?
The One World Scholarship program provides up to 10 scholarships of $10,000 each annually to students from a designated country wishing to pursue post-secondary studies in B.C. (8 for undergraduate degree programs and 2 for diploma/certificate programs). For the 2008/09 and the 2009/10 academic years, the scholarship will be available to students from the People's Republic of China (PRC) who are enrolling in an undergraduate or diploma/certificate program in a public post-secondary educational institution in BC.
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. Program guidelines in Chinese are also available from this website.
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 are applying to study at no later than April 1 for the upcoming academic year (commencing in September).
4. What is the deadline to submit my application?
The deadline for applications for the One World Scholarships is April 1 for the upcoming academic year (commencing in September).
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 of marks?
Yes. An unofficial transcript of your post-secondary education up until the point of application will help both you and the financial aid office decide if you are eligible for this scholarship.
7. When will I know if I have won a scholarship?
You will be notified if you have been chosen to receive an award by June 30 in the year you apply.
8. 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 applying to and will not be sent on for adjudication.
9. If I am successful, how and when will I receive the award?
In September, the institutional representative(s) will confirm that the successful scholarship winner is enrolled in a study program at their institution. Following this confirmation, a cheque will be issued to the successful scholarship winners via their British Columbia public post-secondary education institution.
10. 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
11. Why can't students study in a private post-secondary school and apply for 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 students within the public post-secondary system.
12. Who decides which students will be awarded the funding?
Students apply to the institution you are planning to attend. The institution then nominates two student applicants and one alternate to a centralized adjudication committee. The central adjudication committee then selects up to 10 recipients of the One World Scholarship.
13. What is government's role in this scholarship?
The B.C. Government contributed the $12-million to establish an international endowment to fund this scholarship program. Three government representatives also sit on the 10-member board of the Irving K. Barber B.C. Scholarship Society.
14. 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.