In response to BC’s Bill 41 – 2019: Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act and the education focused Direct Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) and Direct Articles of the United Nations Declaration for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), NVIT invites Indigenous Grade 12 graduates from all secondary schools across British Columbia, along with Indigenous and non-Indigenous graduates from select high schools, to become part of our academic community either at the Merritt or Burnaby campus for an educational experience immersed in Indigenous ways of knowing supported by a bursary equivalent to tuition for 30 credits of full-time studies.
Eligibility:
The Immediate Entry Bursary (IEB) is awarded to Grade 12 graduates who graduate and transition directly from high school to NVIT. Students must apply, be accepted and registered in a minimum 60% course load of post-secondary level courses for the next academic year by June 30, 2026.
To qualify, student must be a 2026 Grade 12 graduate (Indigenous or non-Indigenous) from:
- School District #58 (Merritt Secondary, Princeton Secondary, SCIDES);
- School District #74 (Desert Sands Community School, Kumsheen Shch-Ema-meet, Lillooet-Secondary, David Stoddart Secondary);
- School District #78 (Agassiz Elementary-Secondary, Boston Bar Elementary-Secondary, Hope Secondary);
- Logan Lake Secondary;
- Similkameen Elementary Secondary;
- A BC First Nations School registered with the BC First Nations Schools Association;
- Or any secondary school in British Columbia, if the applicant self-identifies as Indigenous
Amount:
NVIT will award up to $3,013 towards tuition for the first year of study (books, supplies and/or student fees are the responsibility of the student). The bursary is non-transferable (cannot be transferred to anyone else), non-deferrable (program of study must start before March 31, 2027), and unused amounts cannot be transferred to another year of study. The bursary amount is based on a 100% course load for first year of study in the Associate of Arts degree program. This is typically ten 3-credit courses for a total of 30 credits. Some programs have more courses/credits while others are based on credit-hours. Please schedule an Immediate Entry Bursary Advising appointment to discuss the costs/fees that are not covered by the Immediate Entry Bursary.