UBC Donald A. Wehrung International Student Award
The Donald A. Wehrung International Student Award is one of UBC's most generous awards for international undergraduates — a full need-based scholarship covering tuition, residence, food, and books for the full duration of the undergraduate degree (up to CAD 80,000 per year, around LKR 18.8 million). It's named for Donald Wehrung, a former UBC Sauder School of Business professor, and targets students from countries facing political or economic distress who would otherwise have no path to a UBC undergraduate education. Sri Lankan applicants from low-to-middle-income families with exceptional A-Level / Edexcel results are competitive — the explicit focus on financial need makes this more accessible than pure-merit awards.
The round for September 2026 entry closed on 1 December 2025. The award runs on an annual cycle tied to admission, so expect a comparable deadline in early December for the following year. This is an early deadline that falls well before the intake. Confirm the current date with University of British Columbia before planning around it.
University of British Columbia
University-funded
emoji_events Award Overview
Value
Full Cost (~CAD 80k/yr, LKR 18.8M/yr)
Duration
4 Years (Renewable)
Awards
Multiple per Year
info How this award actually works
Who awards it
University of British Columbia — not Lanka Scholar. We are not the awarding body and cannot grant, reserve or guarantee this award.
How you are considered
Through your admission application. Awards like this are usually assessed automatically from the application you already submit — there is typically no separate scholarship form to fill in.
What it covers
Full Need-Based Funding (Up to CAD 80,000/yr). This is a reduction in tuition, not a full ride. You still fund the remainder, plus living costs and the balance your visa requires you to show.
Where we come in
We make the admission application strong enough to be competitive — course choice, documents, references and deadlines. The funder makes the decision.
fact_check Eligibility Criteria
Outstanding Academic Achievement
You must be in the top 5% of your cohort and demonstrate exceptional academic merit. For Sri Lankan applicants this typically means 3 A* / A grades at A-Level (or equivalent) plus subject distinctions, olympiad participation, or independent research.
Severe Financial Need
You must demonstrate that you would not be able to attend UBC without this award — and that you have no realistic alternative source of higher education. Award decisions factor in family income, savings, country economic conditions, and exchange rate exposure.
First-Year International Student
Open to international applicants entering UBC's Vancouver or Okanagan campus for the first time in September 2026. Transfer students and students already enrolled in any post-secondary institution are not eligible. Open to citizens of all countries including Sri Lanka.
English Proficiency
Meet UBC's English requirement — typically TOEFL iBT 100+ (with 22 in each section) or IELTS 7.0+ overall. UBC waives the English test if you've completed 4+ years of full-time secondary education in English (most Sri Lankan international school candidates qualify).
account_tree Application Process
Apply to UBC undergrad by 1 December
Submit your UBC undergraduate application via the UBC online application (you.ubc.ca/apply). Application includes academic transcripts, personal profile essays, and English test (if not waived). Aim to apply 4-6 weeks before the deadline.
Complete the Wehrung application
Within the UBC application portal, indicate you wish to be considered for the Donald A. Wehrung International Student Award. You'll complete a separate financial circumstances section, a 1-page personal statement, and provide supporting documentation on family income.
Reference and document review
Shortlisted applicants are asked for additional documentation in January-February — typically a school reference, certified income documents, and any additional context on financial circumstances. Some candidates are invited for a 20-minute video interview.
Outcome and acceptance
Selected Wehrung Scholars are notified in March-April alongside the standard admissions decision. The award is renewed annually subject to satisfactory academic progress (typically 70%+ average) and continued financial need.
Why UBC?
The University of British Columbia is consistently ranked in the global top 40 (QS #38 in 2026) — Canada's second-highest-ranked university after Toronto. The Vancouver campus is on a stunning Pacific peninsula. UBC's international student community is large (around 17,000 from 140 countries) and well-supported.
#38
QS World Ranking 2026
CAD 80k
Annual Award Value
17,000+
International Students
Looking for a scholarship because of the cost?
Then start here instead. Scholarships are competitive, usually partial, and decided by someone else — they are the least reliable way to make studying abroad affordable. Your destination and course choice move the number far more, and both are entirely within your control.
Work out your real number
Tuition, living costs, visa funds and flights for your destination — so you know the gap you are actually trying to close.
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The full catalogue, cheapest tuition first. Changing course or country saves far more than most awards are worth.
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Tuition, living costs and the total first-year figure for CA, in LKR as well as local currency.
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Every student visa requires you to show funds. Find out what you need before you commit to an application.
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