Scholarships and funding

Scholarships and bursaries

UVic awards entrance scholarships of varying amounts to students who are new to the university. These are awarded mainly on the basis of a student's academic excellence. 

The Department of Geography has a number of department-specific bursaries and in-course scholarships of varying amounts. Some of these require an application, and for others, all geography students are automatically considered. We are gratified to enjoy the legacy of several highly-respected geographers whose wills have included significant awards for our students and faculty. Dr. Bill Ross and Ms. Gilian Sherwin are among those colleagues who, in their passing, assisted new generations in an eternal link of support.

See the Student Awards and Financial Aid website for more details.

Research awards

Jamie Cassels Undergraduate Research Award

The Jamie Cassels Undergraduate Research Award (JCURA) was started in 2009-10 as the Undergraduate Research Scholarship program by the Vice-President Academic and Provost. It supports exceptional undergraduate students who might otherwise not be able to obtain a direct research experience as a part of what we anticipate should be a truly formative learning experience.  Undergraduate students with a GPA of 7.0 or above who are registered in 3rd and 4th year are eligible for this award. Full-time status normally means registration in 12 or more units of study in the Winter Session.  Award winners complete a research project under the mentorship of a faculty supervisor.  Each successful student receives $1,500 credited directly in his/her UVic account. To be considered for JCURA funding, please fill out a JCURA application form and submit it according to the form instructions.

NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award

The NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award (NSERC USRA) allows students to gain research experience through four months of paid internship in several natural science fields. If you are interested in this award, please discuss the possibilities of a nomination with a faculty member supported by an NSERC grant in your area of research. In the Department of Geography, faculty members in the fields of physical geography, geomatics, and human-environment interactions are the most likely to hold NSERC funding.

Emergency Funding

Life happens... let us help you.

Through Student Awards and Financial Aid, UVic has an emergency loan fund which provides short term assistance to students experiencing an unanticipated and urgent financial crisis.