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What are the differences between scholarships, bursaries, awards and
loans?
Financial aid to students is generally available in the form of scholarships,
bursaries, awards, and loans. While loans have to be repaid, scholarships, bursaries, and
awards do not.
Scholarships are tuition credits awarded by institutions, agencies or
individuals. Scholarships can be based on academic excellence, sport performance or
community service. Criteria for receiving a scholarship may also include membership or
affiliation with a group, organization or community or financial need.
Bursaries are grants awarded after school has started and are based on you
proving financial need and the ability to successfully continuing on at post-secondary
education.
Awards may be cash, books, certificates or trophies based on demonstrated
excellence at something or some personal achievement.
Student loans are funds borrowed from a bank, to be repaid on a calculated rate
of interest. Repayment usually begins six months after graduation.
What courses do I need to graduate from high school?
The Ministry of Education has posted information of interest to
parents and students concerning the Graduation Program on its
web site. This page contains information on graduation requirements,
policies including those on equivalency, challenge, independent directed
studies, partial credit, external courses and examinations.
Summary of Current Graduation Requirements (effective September 1995)
Graduation requirements are summarized as follows:
To graduate, students must earn a minimum of 52 credits, including Foundation Studies
(minimum 28 credits) and Selected Studies (minimum 24 credits).
Foundation Studies
Students must earn a minimum of 28 credits in the following subject areas:
- Language Arts 11 (4 credits)
- Language Arts 12 (4 credits)
- Social Studies (4 credits)
- Mathematics (4 credits)
- Science (4 credits)
- Fine Arts (2 credits)
- Applied Skills (2 credits)
- Career and Personal Planning (4 credits)*
*Note: In either Grade 11 or 12, students must earn one credit (30 hours) of work
experience.
Selected Studies
Students must earn a minimum of 24 credits. Students select courses of varying credit
value to support their career plans (e.g., apprenticeship, vocational, technical,
university or college studies, entry to workforce).
Of the minimum 24 credits:
- 10 credits must be for provincial Grade 12 courses.
- up to 8 credits can be for locally developed courses, unless part of an approved Career
Program.
Can I take courses outside of school that will help me get skills that
may lead to employment?
The Ministry of Education has a list of approved External Courses
that you can take outside of the regular school system. Completion
of these courses or programs not only gives you credits towards high
school graduation, but also provides valuable skills that may lead
to employment. For further information about External Courses, including
how they fit into the graduation program, check out Chapter 2 in the
Ministry of Education’s Course Information
book (PDF Format).
We have listed a few examples below:
Lifesaving
You can get school credit for completing Bronze Cross and National Lifeguard Service
certificates. Certificates, exams and assessments are on a pass/fail basis and records are
kept by the Lifesaving Society.
- For further information contact:
- Rod-Paul Martin, Education Director,
- BC-Yukon Branch of the Lifesaving Society;
- 112-3989 Henning Drive; Burnaby, BC V5C 6N5
- ph: (604) 299-5450
- fax: (604) 299-5795
- e-mail: Lifesaving_Society@bc.sympatico.ca
Canadian Red Cross Water Safety Instructor
You can get school credit for Canadian Red Cross Water Safety Instructor. This national
certificate is administered and issued by the Canadian Red Cross Society.
- For further information contact:
- Leslee Taylor, Water Safety-Western Canada
- Canadian Red Cross Society, BC Coastal Region
- 909 Fairfield Road; Victoria BC V8V 3A3
- ph: (250) 382-2043
- fax:: (250) 382-3420
First Aid
Students can gain credits by completing certificate programs for Workers’
Compensation Occupational (WCB) First Aid Level II and III.
- For further information contact:
- Rich Courtney, WCB Program Developer
- Workers’ Compensation Board of BC
- PO Box 5350 Stn Terminal; Vancouver BC V6B 5L5
- ph: 1-800-621-7233 or (604) 276-3090
- fax: (604) 279-7494
Cadets
Each qualified Air, Army, or Sea Cadet will be provided with a National Defence Cadet
Certificate of Qualification (CF558) signed and dated by his or her Commanding Officer.
This certificate identifies personal and course data. For a Staff Cadet program a level of
performance will be indicated.
Information can be obtained from:
- or: Pacific Region Cadets;
- Attention: Region Cadet Officer
- PO Box 17000, Station Forces; Victoria, BC V9A 7N2
- Fax: (250) 363-0915
4-H
Certificates are administered and evaluated by the BC Ministry of Agriculture, and Food
(Youth Development Programs, Agriculture Division) and 4-H leaders. To achieve program
certification members must earn 4 program skill certificates with a score higher than 75%
or can complete Provincial 4-H Club Week and 3 program skill certificates with a score
higher than 75%.
- For additional information contact:
- Youth Development Programs, BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food
- 1767 Angus Campbell Road; Abbotsford, BC V3G 2M3
- Attn: Youth Development Specialist
- ph: (604) 556-3067
- fax: (604) 556-3030
- website: http://www.bc4h.bc.ca
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