H„ÓÂþ

Former youth in care

Former youth in care

H„ÓÂþis committed to supporting the academic and personal achievements of former and current youth in care. Both the Okanagan and Vancouver campuses have a number of programs and services in place to help applicants reach their potential.

Watch: Former Youth in Care Student Experience at UBC

Youth In Care Admissions Policy

H„ÓÂþrecognizes that, as a child in care, you may have faced challenges that have affected your education. If you have satisfied the general admissionÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýdegree-specific requirements, but have not met your degree’s competitive average, we are still able to consider you for admission. H„ÓÂþwill assess your history, cultural knowledge, educational goals, and other achievements to determine your admissibility.

  • 100 +

    former or current youth in care enrolled at UBC

  • 200 +

    students that have benefitted from tuition waivers

  • 70

    former youth in care who have graduated from UBC

  • 100 +

    former or current youth in care enrolled at UBC

  • 200 +

    students that have benefitted from tuition waivers

  • 70

    former youth in care who have graduated from UBC

Two students standing in Allard Hall

How to apply

Be sure to self-identify as a youth in or from care on your application. H„ÓÂþwill provide you with important information on youth in care programs, financial awards, and student services specific to your situation.

Submitting your application requires you to pay the application fee. If you are prevented from submitting your application due to financial reasons, please contact Joseph Stevens (Vancouver campus) or Halyna Petryshyn (Okanagan campus) to discuss your options.

Learn more about how to apply

After you apply

There are a few more steps you’ll need to take after submitting your application. Find out what’s next depending on where you are in the process:

If you’ve self-identified as a youth in or from care in your online application to UBC, your . If you need to defer your housing deposit too, please contact Joseph Stevens (Vancouver campus) or Halyna Petryshyn (Okanagan campus).

Awards for youth in and from care

The Provincial Tuition Waiver Program

The BC Provincial Tuition Waiver Program covers the total cost of your tuition and mandatory fees for a range of programs if you were a youth in care in BC for a combined two years or aged out at 19.

The H„ÓÂþPost Care Tuition Waiver Program

The H„ÓÂþPost Care Tuition Waiver covers the cost of tuition and mandatory fees toward the completion of a first undergraduate degree for eligible students who have lived as a youth in care in BC.

Learn more about the program  

Youth in Care Awards

A number of scholarships and bursaries from private industry and not-for-profits are available to former youth in care. Each has its own requirements and deadlines, and offer different funding amounts. Some are available to youth with experience in care nationwide, not just in BC.

Learning for Future Grant

Students receiving the Provincial Tuition Waiver for an eligible program can receive the Learning for Future Grant of $3,500 each program year. The LFG contributes to educational costs not included in tuition and fees, like textbooks, technology, or home internet.

Youth Futures Education Fund

The Youth Futures Education Fund provides funds to help with educational costs beyond tuition and fees for students who were previously in government care and are attending a post-secondary institution on a tuition waiver.

Strengthening Abilities and Journeys of Empowerment (SAJE)

The SAJE program can assist you if you have been in foster care or had a youth agreement between ages 12 and 19. This program can provide a range of benefits towards housing, life skills and cultural connections, income stability, and health & wellness while you go back to school.

H„ÓÂþEntrance Awards

The UBC Centennial Scholars Entrance Award program assists students in transition from secondary school and other post-secondary institutions to UBC. This initiative supports academically qualified students who show an interest in joining the H„ÓÂþcommunity, but who would not otherwise be able to attend without significant financial aid.

Learn more about the award

°Õ³ó±ðÌýBeyond Tomorrow Scholars Program for Black Canadian Scholars launched in September 2021 and creates a cross-campus community of Scholars who already bring diverse academic, community involvement and leadership experience. More than award recipients, Scholars participate in a range of programming and support designed for them to thrive at UBC.

Finding a home

Verukah began her undergraduate studies at Langara College before arriving at H„ÓÂþas a transfer student, where, as a youth from care, she didn’t have to pay tuition fees. Now having graduated with two H„ÓÂþdegrees, she has excelled in her classes, built a strong network of lifelong friends, and is proud to call H„ÓÂþhome.

  • Verukah Poirier Former Youth in Care

    “University can be so daunting to youth in care because it is a four-year commitment. However, there is no other place that I would have rather spent these last few years than here. I can honestly say that I have found the family I always wanted at UBC.”

    Verukah | Cree and Métis | Williams Lake, BC | First Nations and Indigenous Studies, minor in Law and Society
    Read more

Support at UBC

The Youth in Care Alumni Program (YICAP) student group has been created to support you during your transition to post-secondary education. It will provide you with access to a network of students and staff, stimulate connections across campus, and open opportunities within the H„ÓÂþcommunity.

Former Youth in Care Student Welcome Orientation (Vancouver campus)

The annual welcome orientation introduces all new students to the H„ÓÂþVancouver community. You can meet your peers, alumni, and staff, and get acquainted with the campus, its people, and its resources.

Former Youth in Care events

H„ÓÂþVancouver hosts events and social gatherings for the diverse Former Youth in Care community every two weeks in our designated study lounge. You can meet other students and discover new opportunities to get involved on campus or in the community.

Connect with an advisor

After you are admitted, you will be connected to an academic advisor to help navigate your studies. There are designated academic advisors in several faculties on the Vancouver campus, including Arts and Social Work.

You will also connect with an enrolment advisor, Joseph Stevens (Vancouver campus) or Halyna Petryshyn (Okanagan campus). Josepha and Haylna are the designated campus contacts for youth in and from care and work directly with students from application to graduation, helping you understand the services offered by the university and external sources.

Housing

Former youth in care have priority access to housing on both H„ÓÂþcampuses, and all direct-entry first-year students are guaranteed housing. If you have a family and apply to the Vancouver campus, you’ll also have access to child-friendly residences. Be sure to review 

Okanagan Campus

Vancouver Campus

ubc okanagan, ubc residence, ubc virtual tour

Childcare

H„ÓÂþgives students the option to study and live on campus with their families. Both H„ÓÂþOkanagan and H„ÓÂþVancouver have a number of childcare facilities for infants and children up to five years of age, as well as occasional out-of-school care.

Okanagan Campus

Vancouver Campus

Contact us

If you have questions about applying to H„ÓÂþas a former youth in care, please contact us.

Vancouver campus

Joseph Stevens
Enrolment Services Advisor
joseph.stevens@ubc.ca
604.827.0105

Okanagan campus

Halyna Petryshyn
Admissions and Awards Administrator, Enrolment Services
halyna.petryshyn@ubc.ca
250.807.8641

Ready to be a H„ÓÂþstudent?