Loans for full-time students from British Columbia

If you are a resident of British Columbia enrolled in full- or part-time undergraduate or graduate studies at UBC, you may be eligible for government student loan assistance. StudentAid BC funding exists to supplement, not replace, funds available to students through individual and family financial resources, savings, and income.

The program evaluates a student’s income and other financial resources against the costs of post-secondary study, including educational costs and typical living costs associated with a moderate standard of living. Since StudentAid BC funding is intended to supplement other available financial resources, federal and provincial student financial assistance programs have weekly and lifetime in-study payment-free funding maximums. Not all students receive the maximum amount. Refer to StudentAid BC for more information. 

The province of British Columbia offers Canada-BC integrated loans to students studying full-time. An integrated student loan has two lenders, the governments of Canada and British Columbia. However, it is administered as a single loan, which streamlines service delivery as students sign a joint federal-provincial loan agreement and have a single point of contact for managing their loans. Residents of BC apply for a student loan through StudentAid BC.

If you’re a part-time student living in BC, please review your specific eligibility requirements and assessments.

Students are classified as dependent or independent to determine residency and financial need.

Independent

You are considered "independent" if you meet at least 1 of the following criteria:​

• You are married by the first day of classes, separated, divorced, widowed, a parent, or a single parent.
• You have been out of secondary school for 4 years (48 months) as of the first day of classes.
• You have spent 2 periods of 12 consecutive months each in the full-time labor force (a minimum of 32 hours per week) while not concurrently being a full-time student receiving funding through the Canada Student Loans Program.
• You have no parents (e.g., your parents have passed away).
• You have been declared a ward of the court.
• You have cohabited with a person in a marriage-like relationship for a period of at least 12 consecutive months as of the first day of classes.

View eligibility details

Apply for a loan at least 2 months before classes start to receive your funding at the beginning of the term or up to 6 weeks before the end of your study period.

To apply for student loans, follow these steps:

1. Visit the StudentAid BC website and create an account. You will be prompted to log in with your BC Services Card app.
2. Determine your course load and loan-eligible study dates. Understanding your course load will help you determine whether you’re eligible for a part- or full-time loan. If you’re unsure, speak to your Enrolment Services Advisor.
   
   Students with a Permanent Disability (PD) or Persistent or Prolonged Disability (PPD) status must establish PD or PPD status with StudentAid BC to be considered full-time for government student loans with at least 40% of a full-time course load.

3. Find your program and study dates. Ensure you have selected the correct information before proceeding. If you don’t see your program and study dates, speak to your Enrolment Services Advisor.

4. Submit your application online through StudentAid BC to be considered for federal and provincial loans and grants. You must consent to a StudentAid BC Declaration and Canada Revenue Agency Income Verification when applying for student financial assistance.

5. If applicable, you will need to have your parent(s) and/or spouse provide correct information to StudentAid BC.

6. ​​​​​​Review your Notice of Assessment (NOA) on your StudentAid BC dashboard when available. You will need to accept your Notice of Assessment (NOA) to proceed with your application in the new StudetAid BC Student Information Management System (SIMs).
   
   The Notice of Assessment describes:

   • The type of funding you are eligible to receive

   • The amount of funding approved

   • When you will receive the funding

   • Where the funding will be sent

7. Submit the online Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement (MSFAA) in a timely manner. A late submission can delay your loan disbursement.

8. When a student is approved for full-time funding, the lender and the student enter into an agreement that provides the legal framework for funds to be disbursed to the student. You will be prompted to complete an e-MSFAA if you are applying for a student loan for the first time or have taken a leave from your studies for two or more years.
   
   Check your application status and inbox for emails from StudentAid BC. You are strongly encouraged to log in to your StudentAid BC account to view updates, changes to your assessment if applicable, and communications from the provincial lender. 
   
   UBC will contact you by email if your enrolment cannot be confirmed.

If you are receiving a full-time loan, we also recommend applying for the UBC Bursary.

Eligible graduate and undergraduate students will have fees deferred for one month after the tuition fee deadline in September or January. Deferrals don't apply to registration deposits.

You are eligible for automatic tuition deferral if you meet both requirements: 

• You submit a complete full time loan application by the following dates:

  • July 31 for a loan beginning in Term 1 (September)

  • November 15 for a loan beginning in Term 2 (January)

• You are eligible for funding to pay your tuition and fees.