Scholarships and Loans
Attending post-secondary school can require a serious financial commitment. This page provides links to resources for those in need of financial assistance.
Scholarships and Bursaries
StudentAid BC is an initiative run by the Ministry of Advanced Education that provides loans, grants, bursaries, scholarships and special programs for eligible students.
Most StudentAid BC programs provide financial assistance where students and their immediate families do not have the resources to meet the costs of post-secondary education and basic living expenses. Some of these options include:
- several grants and bursaries available to B.C. students based on financial need and other criteria
- numerous scholarships based on various criteria such as academic achievement or community involvement
- programs for students with a permanent disability
- financial assistance for students with dependents
- apprenticeship scholarships for secondary school students
- the Student Bursary Program of the First Citizens' Fund, which provides financial assistance to Aboriginal students enrolled in post-secondary programs
Student Loans
Students in B.C. can apply for three types of loans:
- British Columbia student loans
- Canada student loans
- Part-time Canada student loans
Have a look at How to Apply for a Student Loan from StudentAid BC for strategies on finding out how much money you’ll need to attend school.
As of January 1, 2012, part-time students will no longer pay interest on new or existing loans while they are taking courses.
For more information about the different types of loans, visit the National Student Loans Service Centre (see the section titled: Student Loans, Grants and Scholarships).
Supporting Schooling Through Work and Co-op
Whenever possible you should try to reduce your dependency on loans. One of the best ways to accomplish this and to get experience in your chosen career at the same time is through a co-op program. Co-op allows you to work in the industry as part of your program of study, while enabling you to get paid for the work you do.
When enrolling in a post secondary program, ask the institution if the program of study includes a period of co-op work. For a list of institutions that have co-op programs visit The Association for Co-operative Education in British Columbia/Yukon (ACE).
If co-op is not available, then getting a job between periods of study will be your best alternative for reducing your dependency on loans.