Awards and Scholarships

The Fisheries and Aquaculture Program has incredible industry support from generous local benefactors that provide twenty-two different scholarships, bursaries, and awards available exclusively to Fisheries and Aquaculture students. A list of awards can be found by scrolling down to the Fisheries & Aquaculture section of VIU's Scholarships and Awards page. These awards total more than $35,000!

To qualify and apply for these awards, complete the "Scholarship/Award/Bursary Profile" in your student record.  The profile is open for entry from early September to March 31. Note that you may change and update your profile up until the deadlines listed below. Your final submission as of October 31 will be used for "Bursary" selections, and your final submission as of March 31 will be used for "Scholarship & Award" selections.

Exceptions to these deadline dates are noted in the descriptions of the awards. Please note that additional applications may come available during the year and will be posted in our Bulletin Board section.

International Students: VIU has scholarships specifically for international students. International students can also apply for scholarships where financial need is not a criteria. Also, as you may know, international students with six months of study completed can apply for an off-campus work permit. This allows you to work part-time during the school year and full-time during the summer.

A list of awards can be found by scrolling down to the Fisheries & Aquaculture section of VIU's Scholarships and Awards page. These awards total more than $35,000!

• The Chief Joe Mathias BC Aboriginal Scholarship Fund was established to honour the memory of the late Chief Joe Mathias, a hereditary and elected Chief of the Squamish Nation. This Scholarship Fund is dedicated to helping realize Joe’s dream of providing post-secondary opportunities for energetic, dedicated and aspiring young British Columbia First Nation students, and providing them the opportunities to enable them to realize their dreams of becoming leaders of tomorrow in the career of their choosing. Please check the website for the next call for applications (2025).

• The Millenium Ocean Prize ($5,000) celebrates youth activism advancing Marine and Freshwater conservation, and sustainable use of oceans, seas, rivers, lakes and marine resources.  Initiatives that champion sustainable fisheries will receive special consideration. 

• Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation Scholarships. The first two scholarships on this page are open to all Canadian Residents pursuing graduate or post-graduate work in fish and wildlife management or conservation.

• Pacific Salmon Foundation Volunteer Stewardship Community Bursary Program.  Applicants must be a full time student in good standing in at least second year of an accredited program that leads to a career supporting Pacific Salmon, and applications are accepted August - October 30 every year.

• Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC Scholarship Award. Applications are accepted until May 31st for the following fall tuition, and there are four $1,500 scholarships available!

Thank you to everyone that attended the Fisheries and Aquaculture Awards & Scholarship Dinner, which was held on campus at the newly opened Shq'apthut (An Indigenous Gathering Place) building on November 6. Food was provided by Quality Foods. A total of $27,000 was awarded to students this year!

Thank you to everyone that attended the Fisheries and Aquaculture Awards & Scholarship Dinner, which was held on campus (Bldg 355, Rm 211) on November 22. Food was provided by Panagos. A total of $29,850 was awarded to students this year!