There are many ways to fund your education at UBC. If you are an Indigenous student, you can request funds from several funding sources, depending on your situation.
First Nation, Band or community sponsorship
At UBC, some Indigenous students are eligible to receive support from their band to pay for their post-secondary education, including First Nations communities, Metis Associations, or community organizations like the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres. Depending on your band, they may be able to offer support with tuition and fees, as well as monthly living expenses.
Get in touch with your band early to determine if this is an option for you. You will be required to have your band fill out a Sponsorship Billing Agreement before the start of every academic year. You can also learn more about the process of Sponsorship billing.
Government student loans and grants
Government student loans are offered by every province and territory in Canada, and you apply through your province or territory of residence.
These loans remain interest-free while you are a full-time student. You are also not required to pay this loan back until you’re no longer in full-time studies. It’s the most ideal type of credit or loan for students, if you need to borrow funding to attend post-secondary. View types of student loans and how to apply.
When you apply for student loans, you’re also considered for government grant funding, depending on your family size, income, and more. Grants do not have to be paid back and you’re only eligible for them if you apply for government assistance.
Things to consider
- If applying for a student loan in British Columbia, the amount of sponsorship funding you receive will not impact your loan assessment. You are encouraged to apply for both sponsorship funding and student loan funding at the same time.
- Outside of British Columbia, sponsorship funding may be counted as an asset towards your loan calculation. Please verify this with your Provincial Loan Provider.
- If you are eligible for and are receiving government student loans, you are also eligible to apply for the UBC Bursary Program. If your application is successful, bursary funds do not need to be paid back.
- For students studying part-time, there are loan options and grant funding that can cover the cost of tuition, books, and classroom materials.
- A very common way that students finance their post-secondary course work is through government student loans. That said, it is also quite common for students to have negative opinions and/or fears around the idea of student loans and/or debt in general. Having these ideas and feelings is normal, and the Indigenous Student Support Team would love to talk with you about them!
UBC scholarships and bursaries for Indigenous students
There are many scholarships and awards available to all UBC students, awarded based on a number of different criteria, including academic standing, involvement in extracurricular activities, or financial need. See if you are eligible for:
You can also use the UBC Award Search Tool to explore the general awards and scholarships by faculty and year level.
Former youth in care waiver program
UBC is committed to supporting the academic and personal achievements of former and current youth in care. If you have been a youth in care within British Columbia, you may be eligible for the UBC Post-Care Tuition Waiver Program or the BC Provincial Tuition Waiver Program.
