How I Secured a Full-Ride Bachelor’s at the University of British Columbia, Canada Through the Donald Wehrung International Student Award

My name is Tareq AlSourani, and I am an 18-year-old student originally from Gaza, Palestine. This upcoming September, I will be starting my undergraduate studies at the University of British Columbia, majoring in Political Science. I chose to pursue this field because I am deeply committed to structural change, storytelling, and global advocacy. Having lived through systemic instability and war, I want to use higher education to understand the mechanics of political systems and use my voice to bring human narratives to light on the world stage.

UBC International Scholars Program Details

University of British Columbia, UBC International Scholars Program, The Donald Wehrung International Student Award, (Full-Ride Scholarship)

Were You Offered Any Other Scholarships?

Full-Ride Scholarship at the University of Notre Dame.

Northwestern University in Qatar, Full Financial Aid Loan Offer

Partial Fundings/Awards from the University of Alberta, Dalhousie University

Finalist for the Morehead-Cain Scholarship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Educational Background

I recently graduated from secondary school at King’s Academy in Jordan. Before attending King's Academy, my foundational years were spent studying in Gaza, Palestine. My background prepared me because it forced me to pursue an academic path under extreme, unconventional pressures. Dealing with a demanding international curriculum while navigating displacement and geopolitical instability gave me the academic stamina and deep real-world context necessary to pursue a degree in Political Science.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to the University of British Columbia?

Did You Take Any Standardized Tests? If So, How Did You Prepare for Them?

Preparing to apply required an incredible amount of long-term planning and community support. I spent months mapping out complex global university timelines, writing personal statements, and working closely with my counseling team to ensure my background was accurately represented. It was a rigorous process of finding a balance between meeting highly competitive academic benchmarks and effectively conveying the unique trajectory of my life across different borders.

My primary resource for finding international opportunities and navigating global education was Horizons Academy. I joined them back in 2021 when I was 13 years old, and their office in Gaza became my guide. Over five years, they kept me informed about international boarding schools, elite summer programs, and tailored university funding programs.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the UBC International Scholars Program?

Applying for a highly selective award like the Donald Wehrung International Student Award requires showing who you are beyond your grades. I prepared by focusing deeply on my track record of leadership and community advocacy. For instance, I highlighted my work as a student journalist and writer, including my experience co-authoring the published dual-perspective memoir “Gaza, Held in Time”. I also practiced explaining how I intended to give back to the campus community and use my education for service.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I believe my application stood out because of raw grit and a proven commitment to advocacy. Rather than just surviving difficult circumstances, I used writing and journalism as active tools to transcend blockades and borders. Publishing a memoir that reached readers in over ten countries – and was recently translated and published in Spain – demonstrated to the admissions committee that I already possessed a global voice and a dedication to making an impact before stepping onto a university campus.

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again?

If I could do it again, I would tell myself to embrace failures and rejections as necessary steps toward the right door. Early on in 2022 and 2023, I went through a grueling process of applying to multiple boarding schools worldwide, most of which didn’t work out – including an initial rejection from King’s Academy. I kept pushing anyway, and that past rejection eventually turned into a defining victory when I re-applied and graduated from there. I would remind myself to trust the process earlier and not let a 'no' deter my momentum.

What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

Never let your current geographical or socio-economic circumstances dictate the limits of your potential. Seek out specialized support networks and educational communities like Horizons Academy that believed in my vision. When writing your applications, be completely honest about your path. Do not try to write what you think admissions officers want to hear; instead, speak with genuine clarity about your obstacles, your triumphs, and exactly how you plan to use your education to uplift others.