CEIH Indigenous Student Awards – Applications are now Open until June 4th, 2026
Supporting Indigenous Health Science Students
The Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health currently has 4 award competitions available to Indigenous students enrolled in health programs at UBC Vancouver. Awards will be adjudicated based on the 2025 Winter 1 and 2 terms. For the merit based awards, students need to have been enrolled in minimum of 24 credits or full time program, have a minimum grade point average of 75% and meet the specific criteria of each award (as described below) to be considered for these awards. Awards range from $1500 to $10,000 which are applied through student services and applied towards tuition or if student is completing their degree and has already paid their full tuition, they will be refunded via direct deposit only.
Eligibility Criteria
- UBC Student: full-time student (24 credit) at UBC Vancouver in an undergraduate or graduate program
- First Nations (Status or Non-Status), Inuit, or Métis
- Meet the specific criteria as stated in each of the award descriptions listed below
How to Apply:
Step 1: Fill out the Qualtrix application form. You will be asked to outline the program you are in, your educational goals, your vision for the future, and your interest in improving the health of Indigenous people.
- Please use Google Chrome or Safari to complete the Qualtrics, there has been issues with the surveys on Firefox.
- UBC Qualtrics is a top-tier survey tool platform that complies with the BC Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) to ensure survey data is kept secure and is stored and backed up in Canada.
Step 2: Each award has specific criteria (as outlined above) so you will be asked to self- identify based on these criteria.
Step 3: Please note that you will be prompted to attach a screenshot copy of your 2025 Winter Term 1 and 2 grades (24 credits).
OPTIONAL: You can update Indigenous Self-Identification or Gender identity in Workday.
How the Awards are Evaluated:
Academic Excellence (scored out of 10)
- For merit-based awards, transcripts should demonstrate academic excellence and show growth in academic achievement and reach a minimum of 75% average for Winter 2025 Term 1 and 2. For graduate students, include a contact in your department that can verify your academic excellence.
Statement of Intent (scored out of 30)
- Introduce yourself, your Indigenous ancestry and your ties to your community
- Demonstrate how your lived experience have prepared you to provide culturally safe care
- Show personal conviction and preparation to build meaningful relationships with Indigenous peoples and communities as a health care practitioner or researcher
- Consideration given to personal qualities, character, interest and promise in community development and interdisciplinary health practice
- Reflect aspects of personal resilience, and a clear sense of direction in educational goals
- Composition of letter – free of grammatical and spelling errors
Award application deadline is May 31st, 2026 at 11:59pm Pacific Time. Please note that only successful applicants will be notified.
Students can apply to more than one award if you meet more than one award criteria.
Applications are now OPEN!
Please note that only successful applicants will be notified. If you have any questions or concerns, please email: ceih.awards@ubc.ca
** Students with academic accommodations for a disability or ongoing medical condition who are studying at a reduced credit load, can apply for these awards. Students need to provide supporting documentation from the UBC Centre for Accessibility. Students also need to include in their award application the number of credits currently enrolled in.
Criteria for each Award
Cindy Jordan-Orlaw Memorial Award in Health Sciences:
Endowment established by the friends and family of Dr. Cindy Jordan-Orlaw for Indigenous students with young families enrolled in a health sciences program at UBC. Award up to $1850. 1 Born in Inuvik, NWT, Cindy was one of the first Indigenous women and the first Inuit to graduate from the UBC MD program. Following her graduation in 2002, she went on to practice as a family physician in the North and continued to mentor Indigenous students. During her career, Cindy was president of the Northwest Territories Medical Association and Chief Medical Officer of the NWT.
Award in Medicine for Indigenous Students:
Award totalling $1500 For Indigenous students who demonstrate interest in improving the health of Indigenous people and are in a health-related program. The award is open to both undergraduate and graduate students.
Harold F. and Anne Bedner Award in Health Sciences:
Endowed through a bequest by Anne Margaret Uphill for female Indigenous students who are pursuing a degree in any area of Health Sciences including Medicine. Awardsup to $2,000 per student. The awards are open to female Indigenous students in any year of study in either undergraduate or graduate programs. Adjudicated based on academic merit.
Vancouver Foundation First Nations Scholarship:
One award at $10,000 scholarship is offered through the Vancouver Foundation and Dr. John H. V. Gilbert, for a First Nations student enrolled in a professional degree program in Health or Human Services. Students enrolled in minimum of 24 credits, have a minimum grade point average of 75%. Adjudicated based on academic merit.
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