BCI Indigenous Empowerment Scholarship Program (2026/2027)

Closing date: October 1, 2026 at 11:59pm PDT

Join BCI's Indigenous Empowerment Scholarship Program and gain valuable work experience in the financial industry. The British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI) is offering Indigenous students a unique opportunity that combines a $15,000 annual scholarship with a four-month or eight-month paid work term, either starting in January or May 2027 in Victoria, BC. This program focuses on developing crucial soft skills and embedding financial/investment industry knowledge into Indigenous communities.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

BCI manages a globally diversified portfolio of assets valued at $313.7 billion and is one of Canada’s largest institutional investors. We invest globally to support pension and other funds for more than 30 clients based in British Columbia. We are proud to have been chosen as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers and BC’s Top Employers. These national and provincial competitions recognize employers who offer exceptional workplaces for their employees.

BCI's Indigenous Empowerment Scholarship Program aims to provide support to Indigenous students enrolled in business-related studies at post-secondary institutions across Canada. The program combines financial assistance, work experience, and mentorship to set students up for success.

WHAT THE PROGRAM INCLUDES

• Financial Assistance: $15,000 per school year (disbursed in two installments) for tuition, books, and living expenses

• Paid Work Experience: Four-month (or eight month) work term in Victoria, BC, starting in either January or May 2027, with competitive compensation

• Mentorship: One-on-one mentorship and career guidance from BCI professionals and/or peer mentors

• Professional Development: Exposure to investment management processes and industry best practices

WHO YOU WILL WORK WITH DURING THE WORK TERM

Work term placements are determined based on your skills, career interests, and BCI's business needs. We have work terms available with the following teams:

1)    ESG - Capital Markets & Credit Investments · Summer 2027 (May – August)
2)    Investment Accounting & Reporting - Finance · Winter 2027 (January) or Summer 2027 (May), eight-month term
3)    Corporate Accounting - Finance · January 2027, eight-month term
4)    Infrastructure & Renewable Resources - Winter 2027 (January – April) or Summer 2027 (May – August)
5)    Strategic Asset Allocation - Investment Strategy & Risk · Winter 2027 (January – April)
6)    Total Portfolio Risk & Solutions - Investment Strategy & Risk · Winter 2027 (January – April) or Summer 2027 (May – August)
 

Full job descriptions for each of the above roles can be found here.

When applying, please review each role carefully and indicate your preferences in both your essay and the questionnaire. We will do our best to accommodate your top choice, but this is not guaranteed in every case.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

• Resume (maximum 2 pages)

• Essay/Tell Us About You (maximum 2 pages) – Tell us about your educational goals, why BCI is a good fit for your career goals, achievements, community involvement, an example of overcoming a challenge and which BCI team you’d prefer to work with (and why) if you join us!

• Proof of Indigenous Ancestry: Certificate of Indian Status, Métis Membership Card, Inuit Beneficiary Card, or equivalent documentation

• Proof of Enrollment: Full-time enrollment (minimum 60% course load) in eligible programs* at a Canadian post-secondary institution AND completion of at least one year of post secondary credits at time of application

• Transcripts (official or unofficial)

• *Eligible Programs: Business Administration, International Business, Management, Finance, Commerce, Accounting, Economics, Statistics, Actuarial Science, and Mathematics (certificate, diploma, Bachelor's, or Master's levels)

• If accepted: Proof of Legal authorization to work in Canada for the full program duration (September to August) and willingness to complete and pass background checks (education, security, criminal) will be required.

WORK TERM BENEFITS INCLUDE

• Competitive work term salary: $2,155.00 - $2,745.00 gross bi-weekly + vacation pay in lieu of days off (6% of salary)

  • Salary determined by department placement and academic background

• The ability to opt-in for access to Dialogue, a user-friendly app that offers virtual primary care, employee and family services, and mental health supports

• Time to connect with co-op students & interns at BCI – with approximately 80- 100 students each cohort, you’ll build your network and shared learning

• 2 paid days during the work term for volunteering

• Travel: if coming to Victoria for this work term, BCI will provide a fixed-rate travel allowance based on your location

HOW TO APPLY

• Apply directly to the BCI Indigenous Empowerment Scholarship Program posting on our scholarship page https://bci.wd10.myworkdayjobs.com/Scholarships_External

• Application deadline: October 1, 2026 at 11:59pm PST

• Please upload your resume, essay, transcripts and proof of Indigenous ancestry

• Note: All co-ops will need to be completed in person at our Victoria office with the option to work one day per week from home. Please note, some positions are not eligible for hybrid work.

Questions? Email scholarship@bci.ca

Scholarship Information: https://www.bci.ca/people/scholarship/