Bursary Information

Eligibility Criteria

Bursary support is available for:

  • Current students
  • New students
  • Emergency circumstances
  • Collegium students (Eric and Shirley Charman Young Musician’s Bursary only)

Bursaries are granted on the basis of financial need. Students who cannot demonstrate financial need will not be considered for assistance. As funds are limited, bursary eligibility is based on the following criteria:

  • Income status – families whose annual household income does not exceed $80,000. Exceptional cases may be considered (i.e. three or more siblings registered at the Conservatory). For Collegium, the income limit is $100,000, or two or more siblings registered in the Collegium Program.
  • Financial need – we have limited funds to give out and they are intended to assist people with limited financial means who cannot otherwise afford to enroll. Even if you are “low income”, these bursaries are not intended for those with adequate savings, investments, wealth, or other financial support.
Bursary Regulations
  • Student’s and family’s accounts at the Victoria Conservatory of Music must be in good standing.
  • New Student bursaries, issued outside of the standard application time period, will only be considered in cases where a student is new to the Conservatory (not registered in anything at the Conservatory in the past 24 months).
  • Those who are currently receiving any Music Therapy bursaries through the Conservatory are not also eligible for the general bursary.
  • Bursaries are for individuals only and cannot be awarded to businesses, trusts, or other organizations. In addition, any lessons, sessions, or classes being billed to or paid for by third party funding organizations or programs (such as AFU, distance learning, etc.) are not eligible.
  • Emergency bursary applications from returning students, issued outside of the standard application time period, will only be considered in cases where financial circumstances have changed, such as job losses, etc.
  • Bursaries are applied via a discount against tuitions and are not refunded nor do they have a cash value. Therefore if a tuition amount has already been paid for, a subsequent bursary award cannot be retroactively applied.
  • The Conservatory reserves the right to verify all aspects of the applicant’s financial circumstances and possible resources and request further financial information if required.
  • Bursary recipients may be asked to contribute some of their time and talent to the Conservatory as volunteers. For this purpose, the student’s name may be forwarded to the Volunteer Coordinator.
  • Bursaries can only be applied to tuitions paid directly to the Conservatory (i.e. Camosun tuition is paid directly to Camosun, therefore Conservatory bursaries cannot be applied).
  • Bursaries cannot be retroactively applied to courses with a start date prior to awarding nor to private lessons that have already taken place.
How to Apply

Complete our online application. Incomplete applications will not be considered, and a separate application must be submitted for each student. You can apply for a pool of bursaries and/or the Eric and Shirley Charman Bursary with this application.

Bursary Application

Application Periods and Deadlines

Application Type 

Application period 

Bursary Use period 

Returning Student 

Application period from March 1 to May 31, notification by June 30 

Available against registrations for the following academic year September 1 to August 31 

New Student 

Continuous intake, all applications received by 15th of each month will be processed by the end of the month 

Available for classes starting and/or lessons occurring in the following month through to August 31 

Emergency – for returning students whose circumstances have changed 

Continuous intake, all applications received by 15th of each month will be processed by the end of the month 

Available for classes starting and/or lessons occurring in the following month through to August 31 

Summer Intensive Student 

Application period opens February 1. Deadlines vary depending on program, please refer to Summer Intensive page for more information 

Available against registrations for Summer Intensive programs occurring in the following June to August 

Collegium Student 

Application period from June 1 to July 31, notification by August 15 

Available against Collegium Program registrations for the following academic year September 1 to August 31 

How to Use Your Bursary

Individuals who are awarded bursaries will receive their prize as a credit on their Conservatory account, which can be applied towards future registrations or any other purchases at the Conservatory.

Decision Process

Bursary applications are reviewed by a committee consisting of the Assistant Registrar and the Chief Financial Officer. Applicants are assessed against the criteria and regulations as listed above. Successful bursary recipients will be notified by email. Each year, the budget available for bursaries is determined by the distributions received from the Scholarship and Bursary Endowment Funds. If the bursaries awarded reaches the budget for the year, then further applications will be closed until further funds become available.

Available Bursaries

Successful applicants will be awarded a Victoria Conservatory of Music Bursary, which can be applied as a 30% discount on most registrations. This is a pool of funds comprised of the following:

Millicent J Archer Bursary Maria Manna Bursary
Jack & Kay Barraclough Memorial Bursary Michael Manning Bursary
Jack & Hilda Beastall Bursary Jean D. Marcus Bursary Fund
Beatty Bursary – Sacred Music McAlphine, Donald Peter Bursary
Ray Buckett Memorial Bursary Emile & Mary Michaux Memorial Scholarship
Marjorie Corah Bursary Dorothy Naylor Bursary
Thomas A Crerar Memorial Bursary Irene Palinkas Bursary Fund
Phyllis Cripps Memorial Bursary Charles Palmer Organ Bursary
Edith & Vera Critchard Bursary Ivy Screech Bursary Fund
Evelyn M.R. Drake Bursary Estate of Naomi Skinner Bursary
Thomas Henry Lewis Evans Memorial Bursary Charlton L. Smith Early Childhood Music Bursary
First Nations Piano Bursary Alan Soulsby Memorial Bursary
Stanley Flitcroft Bursary Victor Stringer Bursary Fund
Margaret Gage Scholarship Fund TD Canada Trust Bursary
Nellie & John Gillespie Bursary Anthony Thorn Memorial Bursary
Captain Massy Goolden Bursary Fund Otto Tiemann Bursary Fund
Marjorie Hansen Piano Bursary Thomas & Betty Underwood Bursary Fund
Judith Harreman Memorial Voice Scholarship VCM General Endowed Bursary Fund
James & Gladys Henderson Bursary Mr & Mrs Arthur Welsley Vining Bursary
Velda Holland Piano Bursary Paul & Nora Wharf Scholarship/Bursary
I.O.D.E. Martlet Chapter Bursary Dorothy White Bursary
Norah Elizabeth Jones Jeffrey Bursary Beatrice Coyle Widdup Bursary
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Saying Thank You

Bursaries have been made possible through the generosity of many donors. A letter of thanks is appreciated and can be addressed to the Bursary Committee. Students may also be asked to contribute some of their time and talent to the Conservatory as volunteers. For this purpose, the Volunteer Coordinator may be in contact regarding volunteer opportunities.

Eric and Shirley Charman Young Musicians’ Bursary

Successful applicants who are 25 years of age and under will be awarded the Eric and Shirley Charman Young Musicians’ Bursary, which can be applied as a 30% discount on most registrations. This will be in conjunction with the Conservatory bursary for a combined 60% discount on most registrations.

Eric Charman was a true champion for the arts. His legacy will live on in perpetuity with his endowment that pays tribute to his steadfast commitment to a vibrant musical community in Victoria, providing a foundation to thrive for generations to come.

Please note, all Eric and Shirley Charman Young Musicians’ Bursary funds have been dispersed for the 2023-24 academic year! Students may still apply for bursary funding through the Victoria Conservatory of Music Bursary.

Learn more about Eric Charman

Eric and Shirley Charman 2019

Music Therapy client wearing a striped shirt and his instructor

Music Therapy Bursary Support

Financial assistance toward Music Therapy sessions is available and awarded throughout the year depending on availability. Inquiries should be made directly to the Music Therapy Department Head:

Email Dr. Johanne Brodeur, or call 250.386.5311 ext. 203.