Instructions

Below are the steps in applying for B.C. and Canada student loans if you are a full-time student.

1. 1 Create a StudentAid BC Account using a BC Services Card account as your digital ID. All applicants need to set up a BC Services Card account to access the student loan application via the StudentAid BC Dashboard. Go to the StudentAid BC Login page and click “Login with a BC Services Card account” and it will guide you through the process.
2. 2 Choose the post-secondary school you want to attend and determine the study period (registration period) for which you need funding.
3. 3 Check to make sure your school is designated for StudentAid BC funding.
4. 4 Figure out how much money you need to attend school:
   • Use the financial need formula
   • Complete a budget worksheet
   • Check your eligibility for the maximum funding limits
5. 5 Apply online through the StudentAid BC Dashboard. Log in with a BC Services Card account, complete and submit the online StudentAid BC application. Prior to submitting your application, you will be asked to read the terms and conditions of the StudentAid BC Declaration and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Consent for income verification then tick the consent boxes.
   
   You can check your application status from your dashboard. StudentAid BC will process your application within six weeks and notify you of the outcome on your dashboard account.

Application deadlines

The latest you can apply for full-time student loans is 6 weeks before your study program ends as long you have provided all the required documentation.

The earliest you can apply for full-time student loans is when applications for the upcoming program year are made available to the public, usually in early June .

You do not have to be accepted into your study program before applying for student assistance, but you will not receive any money until your school confirms you are enrolled in full-time studies and your study period has begun.

What happens after I submit an application?

After you submit your application for funding, it is assessed. StudentAid BC assesses your financial need considering allowable costs and resources and determines whether or not you will receive funding.

You will receive a notification of assessment that tells you how much funding you will get. If you applied for assistance for full-time studies you can also check the status of your application online.

The receive your funding section describes the steps you need to take to use your funding to pay for school.

If you do not receive funding, you can appeal your assessment.

If you are studying part-time at a designated post-secondary institution, you may be eligible to apply for part-time student funding.

Instructions

To apply for B.C. and Canada student financial aid as a part-time student, follow the steps below:

1. 1 To create your Student Account, you must first set up a BC Services Card account as your digital ID. During the setup, you will need to verify your identity. Go to the Student Account for part-time students and click the "Log in/Register" button and it will guide you through the process.
2. 2 Complete and submit your online application through the Student Account for part-time students. To submit your application, you will need to read and accept the terms and conditions of the StudentAid BC Declaration and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Consent for income verification.

If you are a student with a disability, learn how to apply for part-time student funding for students with disabilities.

What happens after I submit an application?

After you complete your application for funding and submit it with all the required information, it will be assessed by StudentAid BC. To be eligible for part-time grants and loans, your total family income for the previous calendar year (January 1 to December 31) must be less than the income cut-off amounts below.

The assessment usually takes between 3 to 6 days, when all required information has been submitted, but can sometimes take longer depending on your individual situation.

You will receive an email instructing you to go to your Student Account for part-time students to view your assessment that tells you how much funding you are eligible to receive. You will need to review and accept your assessment to receive your funding.

You can check online the status of your application through your Student Account for part-time students.

B.C. residency requirement

To receive part-time student financial assistance, you must be a resident of B.C. You are a resident of B.C. if:

• B.C. is the province where you last lived for 12 continuous months, as of your study start date, not including months of full-time post-secondary study; or
• you are a permanent resident, or designated as a protected person, living in B.C at the time of application and will spend the study period in B.C but have not lived in any one province for at least 12 continuous months. For example, if a student arrived in Canada as a permanent resident less than 12 months before the start date of classes, and intends to study in B.C., the student would be considered a resident of B.C. for student financial assistance purposes.

Students who are incarcerated or have an outstanding warrant for arrest are not eligible for funding.

Family income

To be eligible for federal part-time grants and loans, your total family income for the program year must be below the amounts shown on the following table:

Family Income Eligibility Thresholds for the 2024/25 Program Year

Application deadlines

The latest you can apply for part-time student loans is 6 weeks before your study period ends.

The earliest you can apply for part-time student loans is when applications for the upcoming program year are made available to the public, usually in June. You must be accepted and enrolled into your study program before your application can be completed.