The Victoria Conservatory of Music is pleased to offer a financial aid program for individuals and families who need financial support in their pursuit of music education. Awards are granted to qualifying students to cover a portion of their tuition.
Bursary Funds
We are grateful to the donors whose generous contributions make our bursary program possible. The following are the bursary funds that have been created to assist our students are in pursuing their musical goals.
1. VCM Bursary
Successful applicants will be awarded the VCM Bursary, which can be applied as a 30% discount on most registrations. The VCM Bursary is a pool of funds comprised of the following:
| Millicent J Archer Bursary | Norah Elizabeth Jones Jeffrey Bursary |
| Jack & Kay Barraclough Memorial Bursary | Maria Manna Bursary |
| Jack & Hilda Beastall Bursary | Michael Manning Bursary |
| Beatty Bursary – Sacred Music | Jean D. Marcus Bursary Fund |
| Ray Buckett Memorial Bursary | McAlphine, Donald Peter Bursary |
| Marjorie Corah Bursary | Emile & Mary Michaux Memorial Scholarship |
| Thomas A Crerar Memorial Bursary | Dorothy Naylor Bursary |
| Phyllis Cripps Memorial Bursary | Irene Palinkas Bursary Fund |
| Edith & Vera Critchard Bursary | Charles Palmer Organ Bursary |
| Evelyn M.R. Drake Bursary | Ivy Screech Bursary Fund |
| 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 | VCM General Endowed Bursary Fund |
| Judith Harreman Memorial Voice Scholarship | Mr & Mrs Arthur Welsley Vining Bursary |
| James & Gladys Henderson Bursary | Paul & Nora Wharf Scholarship/Bursary |
| Velda Holland Piano Bursary | Dorothy White Bursary |
| I.O.D.E. Martlet Chapter Bursary | Beatrice Coyle Widdup Bursary |
2. Eric Charman Young Musicians’ Bursary
Successful applicants who are 25 years or age and under will be awarded the Eric Charman Young Musicians’ Bursary, which can be applied as a 20% discount on most registrations. This will be in conjunction with the VCM Bursary for a combined 50% discount on most registrations.
Applying for Bursaries
| Application Type | Application period | Bursary Use period |
| Returning Student | Application period from March 1st to May 31st, notification by June 30th | 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/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/lessons occurring in the following month through to August 31 |
| Summer Academy | Application period from February 1st to May 31st, all applications received by 15th of each month will be processed by the end of the month | Available against registrations for Summer Academies occurring in the following June to August |
Applications are via our online form, click here.
Eligibility
Financial aid is available to current students or new students wishing to enroll at the VCM. 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 VCM).
- Student’s and family’s account at the VCM 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 VCM (not registered in any lessons or classes in the past 24 months).
- 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.
Other rules
- Bursaries are applied via a discount against tuitions and are not refunded nor do they have a cash value.
- The VCM 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 VCM as volunteers. For this purpose, the student’s name may be forwarded to the Volunteer Coordinator.