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Canada Open for September 2026 entry — applications close 1 December 2025

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.

University of British Columbia

University-funded

emoji_events Award Overview

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Value

Full Cost (~CAD 80k/yr, LKR 18.8M/yr)

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Duration

4 Years (Renewable)

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Awards

Multiple per Year

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.