Part-time funding for British Columbia students

Changes to StudentAid BC Student Information Management System

StudentAid BC is transitioning to the BC Services Card App, and applications for part-time loans will move online. Set up your BC Services Card App as soon as possible to avoid system issues.

Part-time applications will be paper-based until the launch of the new system.

Funding overview

The part-time student loan program covers:

  • tuition
  • books
  • supplies
  • transportation
  • child care (up to the funding maximums)

Part-time funding does not cover living costs. If you need additional financial support for living costs, please contact your Enrolment Services Advisors to discuss your financial plan.

Eligibility to apply

To receive part-time student financial assistance from StudentAid BC, you must be a resident of British Columbia (BC). 

You are considered a resident of BC if you meet one of the following requirements:

  • You lived in BC for 12 continuous months before starting your studies, excluding any time spent in full-time post-secondary education
     
  • You are an independent permanent resident or designated as a protected person living in BC at the time of your application, you will spend your study period in BC, and you have not lived in any province for 12 continuous months before your study start date.

    For example, if you are an independent student who arrived in Canada as a permanent resident less than 12 months before the start date of classes and intend to study in BC, you would be considered a resident of BC for student financial assistance purposes.

How to apply

You should 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. 

On paper

Follow these steps to fill out a paper loan application: 

  1. Download and fill out the application form.

  2. Contact Enrolment Services for instructions on how to submit your application.

  3. Review your Notice of Assessment (NOA) from the loan provider to find out what type of funding you will receive and when you will receive it.

  4. Check your bank account. Your loan provider will send your funding to you via direct deposit after UBC has confirmed your enrolment. 

Online

After the launch of the new Student Information Management System, follow these steps to submit an online application:

  1. Determine your course load and loan-eligible study dates. If you’re unsure, speak to your Enrolment Services Advisor.

    Students with a Permanent Disability (PD) or Persistentor Prolonged Disability (PPD) status are encouraged to apply for a full-time loan, as a part-time loan does not cover living costs.
  2. Visit the StudentAid BC website and create an account. You will be prompted to log in with your B.C. Services Card app.
  3. Find your program and study dates. If you cannot locate your program or study dates, select “program not found.” This will trigger a Program Information Request (PIR) to UBC.

    You cannot submit your application to StudentAid BC until UBC has approved the request. UBC will respond to your request by email to the UBC email address in your student records. Please complete the action in the email you receive from UBC.
  4. Submit your application online through StudentAid BC to be considered for federal loans and federal and provincial grants. You must consent to a StudentAid BC Declaration and Canada Revenue Agency Income Verification when applying for student financial assistance.

  5. Review your Notice of Assessment (NOA) on your StudentAid BC dashboard when available. You will be prompted to accept your Notice of Assessment (NOA) before your application can continue in the new StudentAid BC Student Information Management System.

    ​​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

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

    When a student is approved for part-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 online MSFAA if you are applying for a part-time student loan for the first time or have taken a leave from your studies for 2 or more years.
  7. Check your application status and inbox for emails from StudentAid BC. You are strongly encouraged to log into 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 have questions

If you're an undergraduate student, please contact your Enrolment Services Advisor directly. To find your advisor’s contact information, log into your Student Service Centre (SSC) and select “UBC Contacts” under Personal Info.

Graduate, postgraduate, and all other students can contact an Enrolment Services Advisor by calling 604 822 9836 or submitting a question through the online form.

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