Awards, Loans, and Tuition FAQ on COVID-19

If I opted for a Credit/D/Fail in 2019 Winter Term 2, or if my grades dropped because I didn’t do as well in my classes as I’d hoped, will that impact my eligibility for 2020/21 awards?

Awards & scholarships

Enrolment Services will review each student’s situation on an individual basis and take this into consideration for all awards adjudicated through Enrolment Services.

Any student who falls below the GPA or credit load requirement has the option to submit an appeal to an Enrolment Services Advisor over the summer to explain their situation. Our main goal is to help students maintain, renew, or apply for a new award even if their studies were interrupted.

If you have questions, please contact an Enrolment Services Advisor at 604 822 9836, or submit your question online. 

How can I receive my UBC scholarship or award funding while Brock Hall is closed?

Awards & scholarships

Most scholarships and awards offered by UBC will pay towards your tuition fees you still owe first. To receive any remaining amount of the award directly, please sign up for direct deposit though your Student Services Centre (SSC) using your Canadian chequing account information. 

Will I need to repay my bursary if I didn’t spend the money as originally planned?

UBC Bursary

If you didn’t spend all of the money you received because you withdrew from your course or no longer have the same costs as before, you will not need to repay any part of your 2019 Winter Term 2 UBC Bursary. An example might be for childcare costs.

When applying for my Canadian Student Loan how should I answer any questions that ask if my program is an online program?

Student loans

For loan application from any province in Canada, questions in reference to your program being offered online should be answered as though there has been no change to the method your program is being offered as a result of Covid-19. For example, if your program has historically been offered in-person and has moved to online for term 1, please indicate that you are not studying in an online program. 

If your program was an online program before the university’s announcement that term 1 would primarily move to being offered online, please indicate that you study in an online program. 

Will I still be eligible for US Direct Loans if I take online courses or distance education?

Student loans

Under normal circumstances, students are not eligible to receive Direct Loans while taking distance education or online courses. Any violation of this would make them ineligible for Direct Loan funding for the duration of their degree.

The CARES Act temporarily allows US students to participate in typically ineligible courses, such as Distance Education, Online/Web Learning, and Flexible Learning classes. The Act has now been extended to June 2022 which will cover courses taken in the 2020 Winter Session (Sep 2020 – Apr 2021) and the 2021 Summer Session (May 2021 – August 2021) at UBC.

Under the CARES Act, students are allowed to take online courses without it having a negative impact on their eligibility for Direct Loans during the health crisis.

During regular sessions that are not covered by the CARES Act, students participating in any ineligible courses will lose Direct Loan eligibility for the duration of their degree. 

If you have further questions, please email the US Loans Team at usloans.inquiry@ubc.ca.

I lost my job due to COVID-19, and I unexpectedly can’t make my rent payment and other basic needs such as food or medication. What should I do?

Financial hardship

If you are facing financial challenges due to COVID-19, please contact an Enrolment Services Advisor at 604 822 9836 or submit your request online .

Enrolment Services Advisors can help you explore available options. They have the ability to provide urgent emergency funding if needed to get you through some immediate shortfall. Any potential funding offered to students through this source is highly dependent on a student’s individual circumstances. Advisors take a personalized approach to determining eligibility and recognize that no two student situations are exactly alike. 

This is available to international, domestic, undergraduate and graduate students.

Please also see  student resources available to you during this time.

What government resources are students eligible for?

financial hardship government supports

If you are applying for student loans in September 2020 through Student Aid BC, you will automatically be assessed for the BC Access grant.

The BC Government now offers free, open access for online textbooks. 

For other supports, please see the list of student resources and services available to you during this time.

What is the BC Access Grant and how can I apply for it?

financial hardship government supports student loans

The BC Access grant is a needs-based benefit issued by the BC government that provides students in undergraduate programs with additional funding for post-secondary education. 

You must be eligible to apply for and receive a student loan to access the grant. Once you apply for your loan, you will automatically be assessed for the grant. 

For more information, visit the StudentAid BC website.

If I have questions about my Canadian and US student loans, who can I speak with?

student loans

Enrolment Services Advisors are available to help you with questions around BC student loans, loans from all provinces in Canada, and US student loans.

Connect with an Enrolment Services Advisor at 604 822 9836 or submit your question online.

I can’t cover my tuition by the deadline. What should I do?

tuition & fees financial hardship

Enrolment Services Advisors can help you explore available options. Please contact an Enrolment Services Advisor at 604 822 9836 or submit your question online.

Will tuition be discounted when classes are primarily conducted online?

tuition & fees

UBC’s commitment to providing quality learning experiences and services has not changed as we adapt to current circumstances and offer new modalities of delivery to keep you, your fellow students, faculty, and staff safe during COVID-19. Given this and the commitment to increased student financial assistance, tuition rates will be assessed as approved by the Board of Governors in December 2019.

Tuition is vital to maintaining the academic continuity and operations of UBC and providing the range of supports students require now and when we are able to transition to more in-person learning.

UBC has worked closely with the provincial and federal governments on the new programs that have been introduced for students experiencing increased financial need. We have also increased funding to the university’s financial assistance programs to support students.

What support does UBC offer if I have additional costs due to classes being moved online, such as not having access to a computer or webcam and lack of internet access?

Financial hardship

Please contact Enrolment Services at 604 822 9836 or submit your request online and they will review your situation and let you know what is available for you.

If you have additional costs due to classes being moved online, an Enrolment Services Advisor can help you explore your financial options.

UBC may be able to provide some funding through the UBC Technology Bursary to help students who experience financial hardships and face difficulties accessing technology essential to learning online. Please reach out to an Enrolment Services Advisor for more information.