LAKELAND – Since the invasion of Ukraine by Russian military forces nearly one year ago, the impact of the war has rippled throughout the world leaving many Ukrainian citizens suspended in uncertainty.
Portage College, which has several campuses across the Lakeland, is creating a path to help Ukrainian citizens living in Canada find some return to normalcy through education.
The college has made funds available to support five prospective students from Ukraine who have fled their home country for the safety of Canada.
The five Ukrainian Solidarity Scholarships available for the 2023-2024 academic year will cover tuition and mandatory fees, confirmed Jaime Davies, the corporate communications manager for Portage College.
“The amount depends on what program they decide to take as the tuition varies. So, each experience will be unique,” Davies told Lakeland This Week.
Eligibility for the scholarships require applicants be an international student – not a permanent resident or a Canadian citizen – who has left Ukraine for Canada due to the ongoing war.
They must also attend full-time schooling at a Cold Lake, St. Paul or Lac La Biche location.
The Ukrainian Solidarity Scholarship does not have an age restriction at this time, stated Davies. This means anyone eligible to attend a post-secondary level education can apply.
"We’ll assess each applicant on a case-by-case basis. If they can’t provide school information, we’ll be testing them for placement,” she said.
Due to the current conflict, the college has considered the difficulty for Ukrainian students to access their transcripts and will be offering the option of administering placement exams to determine eligibility based on the program the student is applying for.
Those interested in applying for the Ukrainian Solidarity Scholarship or those who are looking for more information on the scholarships, can contact Portage College and ask to speak with international student advisor Kayla Matthews.
