Scholarship Opportunities for BC Residents

PCU-WHS offers scholarship opportunities for BC residents through the WDA Grant.

Application Deadline: TBA early 2026

FINAL INTAKE: Fall 2026, for maximum 1 year of scholarship towards part-time or full-time study

  • Scholarship towards either full- or part-time study in the
    2+2 Bachelor of Disability Management (BDM) program
    at Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences (PCU-WHS).
  • Made possible by funding to the National Institute of Disability Management and Research (NIDMAR),
    provided by the Government of Canada through the Canada-British Columbia Workforce Development Agreement (WDA).
  • $6,500 annually for the first year only of two years of full-time study, or $3,250 for the
    first year only of four years of part-time study, applied towards tuition fees.
    The scholarship grant expires in 2027.
  • Scholarship funds will cover most (but NOT all) of the course tuition for the
    2026-27 academic year, and can only be applied to tuition for the specialized courses required to complete
    the 2+2 BDM program.[1]

This is a critical gateway to a highly desirable and rewarding professional career opportunity in the rapidly
expanding field of Return to Work and Disability Management not only in BC, but across Canada and internationally.

Candidates must:

  • Have permanent resident (landed immigrant) or Canadian citizenship status and be permanent residents of
    British Columbia;
  • Meet the admission criteria of PCU-WHS, and
    must qualify for Admission Directly into Year 3 of the Bachelor of Disability Management (BDM) program
    (i.e., the 2+2 program). To qualify for Admission Directly into Year 3, applicants must:

    • Have graduated with an associate degree, 2-year diploma, or other relevant educational prerequisite
      which provides 57-60 transferable academic credits (or equivalent) in a range of disciplines;[2]
    OR
    • Be eligible for Admission Directly into Year 3 (i.e., the 2+2 BDM program) on the basis of Prior Learning
      Assessment and Recognition (PLAR). A combination of professional experience and career education will
      be assessed under Flexible Admission policy on a case-by-case basis. Applicants under Flexible Admission
      should have a minimum of 5-10 years of relevant experience in a related field.
    OR
    • Hold a verifiable Red Seal Certification (Trades To Academic (TTA) admission into Year 3). Students holding
      a verifiable Red Seal Certification may be granted 57-60 transfer credits towards admission into the
      2+2 BDM. Pre-entry assessment of English command/Writing skills typically needed for success in BDM
      coursework will be required. Applicants are asked to apply under Admission Directly into Year 3.
  • Be in a position to register for full-time (10 courses per year) or part-time (5 courses per year) study in the
    2+2 BDM program beginning in September 2026 and to complete the degree
    within a 2-year period for full-time study or 4-year period for part-time study.[3]
    The Scholarship will apply to     the first year only of the 2+2 program for either full- or part-time study.[4][5

Scholarships are awarded on a first-come-first-qualified basis.

WDA Scholarship Information Booklet- Link available early 2026

WDA Scholarship Application Form- Link available early 2026

This Scholarship is designed to significantly increase the availability of disability management professionals and practitioners for British Columbia employers across all public and private sector organizations and be a major long-term strategic and sustainable workplace approach to “Building a Culture of Accommodation”. This strategy mirrors the successful outcomes seen in other jurisdictions across Canada and around the world where greater professionalization in the Return to Work and Disability Management field is significantly improving socio-economic outcomes for disabled workers, employers, and society at large. Individuals having completed the BDM will be encouraged to write the professional certification examinations for the designations of Certified Disability Management Professional (CDMP) and Certified Return to Work Coordinators (CRTWC) once they have completed relevant work experience to meet the eligibility requirements. Individuals having completed the BDM will be encouraged to write the professional certification examinations for the designations of Certified Disability Management Professional (CDMP) and Certified Return to Work Coordinators (CRTWC) once they have completed relevant work experience to meet the eligibility requirements.

 

[1] All students who do not have suitable research coursework or experience will be required to take an additional 300-level research course prior to entering their final year of the program.

[2]  Preferred domains of previous study include human resources, occupational health and safety, healthcare, business, and social work.

[3] All students who do not have suitable research coursework or experience will be required to take an additional 300-level research course prior to entering their final year of the program.

[4]  The scholarship grant expires in 2027.

[5] Please note that, although PCU-WHS is a statutory, degree granting, post-secondary teaching and research institution, and the Bachelor of Disability Management program is offered under the written consent of the Minister, academic programs at PCU-WHS are not eligible for Canadian or Provincial Student Loans because they are offered exclusively online.