100% Tuition Subsidy: VST Student Bursaries and Tuition Support Plan

VST offers a number of Bursaries as part of its Tuition Support Plan that can help defray the cost of studies. Tuition support can be requested by students registered in VST degree or diploma programs, for 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% of tuition, based on the student’s amount of financial need and registration status as indicated on the Tuition Support Application Form.

Deadlines for Bursary Applications and Updates for 2010-2011:

• April 15, 2010 for Summer Term
• June 9, 2010 for 2010-2011 work-study applications
• September 15, 2010 for Fall Term
• January 14, 2011 for Spring Term
• April 4, 2011 for Summer Term and 2011/2012 work-study applications

A Bursary and Tuition Support Plan Application Form form can be downloaded from Student Forms.

Master of Divinity by Extension students are also eligible for VST student aid. Please contact the office for details by phone at 604-822-9480 or email the Native Ministries Program Office.

Applicants are expected to supply a detailed budget as part of their application for VST bursaries. Applicants must demonstrate that they have searched for other possible sources of financial support including congregational and denominational assistance.

VST Scholarships

VST is pleased to offer 5 Entrance Scholarships. Two of these Scholarships cover a student’s full tuition throughout their degree program; two cover a student’s full tuition in their first year of study at VST, and a third Scholarship for up to $2,500.00 is granted to assist with relocation costs.

All entering students who apply by March 15th are considered for these scholarships on the basis of their application to one of VST’s diploma or degree programs. There is no separate application process. Each of the Scholarships will be offered annually pending the availability of funds.

VST Entering Year Scholarships

Relocation Bursary

• Qualifications: Awarded on the basis of financial need, relocation costs and residential expenses.
• Benefit: $2,500.00 CAD

Promise for Public or Pastoral Leadership Scholarship

• Qualifications: Awarded on the basis of demonstrated leadership, a promise of future ministry (lay, ordained or alternative), and given regardless of financial need.
• Benefit: Full-tuition for a student’s entering year (up to a maximum of 30 credit hours). A student’s first academic year runs from May – April, and begins with Summer Term.
NOTE: Recipients are responsible for all student fees, living expenses, textbooks and incidental fees, and thus will need to raise considerable additional support for their program at VST.

Academic Promise Scholarship

• Qualifications: Awarded on the basis of past academic achievement and demonstrated potential for academic studies at VST, and given regardless of financial need.
• Benefit: Full-tuition for a student’s entering year (up to a maximum of 30 credit hours). A student’s first academic year runs from May – April, and begins with Summer Term.
NOTE: Recipients are responsible for all student fees, living expenses, textbooks and incidental fees, and thus will need to raise considerable additional support for their program at VST.

VST Full-tuition Scholarships

International Student Scholarship
Aboriginal Student Scholarship

• Qualifications: Awarded on the basis of demonstrated leadership potential, demonstrated academic potential, and demonstrated financial need. Recipients will belong either to a First Nations community, or have citizenship in a country that is economically less advantaged. Recipients will demonstrate a firm commitment to use studies at VST to the benefit of his/her community or country of origin.
• Benefit: Tuition fees for the maximum number of credit hours required in the degree program in which the student has been admitted, or the first 5 years of study, whichever comes first.
NOTE: Recipients are responsible for all student fees, living expenses, textbooks and incidental fees, and thus will need to raise considerable additional support for their program at VST.

Scholarship Eligibility, Academic Performance and Student Conduct

In order to maintain the scholarship, the student must show evidence of satisfactory academic progress. Students disciplined under VST’s policy regarding inappropriate behaviour may be at risk of losing their scholarship. All scholarship recipients will be reviewed by the Faculty/Student Review Committee (FSRC) in January and May of each year. For more information on the FSRC, academic performance and student conduct policies, see VST’s Supplementary Calendar/Student Handbook.

Application Deadline for Consideration for Scholarships: March 15th

All applications received before March 15th will be considered for both Entering Year and Full-Tuition Scholarships. An applicant’s file should demonstrate the qualifications mentioned above through the regular submissions required from all prospective students (i.e. Personal statement; theological reflection/academic paper; reference letters; transcripts).

The Admissions committee (of either VST or the NMP) will be the body to designate recipients, through the Registrar. The Registrar will report to the Awards and Bursaries Committee the decisions of the Admissions Committee at their April meeting.

Recipients of a VST Scholarship will be named and informed by April 15th each year.

Additional Sources of Financial Aid

H.R. MacMillan Clergy Grants Fund

VST manages the H.R. MacMillan fund for the Continuing Education of Clergy Please review the H.R. MacMillan fund policy (43kb pdf file) and H.R. MacMillan application form for more information.

Denominational Support

A student’s own congregation/parish/diocese/presbytery may be a source of financial assistance. In many cases, there is an established fund for students of theology or a willingness to offer some financial support.

Non-VST Bursaries and Scholarships

For information on bursaries and scholarships available from organizations outside of VST please read the Other Bursaries page.

Federal and Provincial Government

The Canada Student Loans program is available to Canadians in all provinces and territories except Quebec, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut who run their own student assistance plans. This means that, in addition to a federal student loan, you may also be eligible for student loans or grants from the province or territory in which you live. While eligibility for federal and provincial loans is generally assessed using a single application form, these programs have somewhat different rules. For details on student financial assistance programs, see the provincial/territorial financial assistance office or access their website through the links listed below. Information on Canada Student Loans is available through Human Resources Development Canada Student Loan website.

National Student Loans Service Centre
P.O. Box 4030
Mississauga ON
L5A 4M4
1-888-815-4514 (within North America)
1-800-2-225-2501 (outside North America)
FAX: 1-888-815-4657
www.canlearn.ca

You must apply through the province in which you currently reside. In some provinces, students may obtain a grant – money given without the expectation of repayment. In BC, however, only loans are available to graduate students. Some, but not all, provinces will provide aid to students studying out of province.

BC residents can apply for student loans at the Student Aid BC website.

The Vancouver School of Theology code for this application is APAP.

Information and applications for each Province can be found on the National Student Loans Service Centre website.

U.S. Student Loans

If you are from the United States, VST has been assigned a school code number (G30783) by the U.S. Department of Education. This designation enables students from the U.S.A. who are attending VST to apply for either a U.S. Guaranteed Student Loan or deferred payment of an existing GSL. To be eligible for aid, an American student must be registered in 18 credit hours per academic year; although some funding may also be made available to students taking as few as 9 credit hours over the year. Students must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form online. For more information contact the Registrar at 604-822-9563 or By Email.

Courses leading to the Diploma of Theological Studies, M.Div., M.A.T.S. and Th.M. degrees have been included for the enrollment of eligible U.S. Veterans under the Veteran’s Readjustment Benefits Act of 1966.