Section 3 - Personal Information
Q29. Are you a student with a permanent disability, or a persistent or prolonged disability that affects your studies on a daily basis? You must meet the definition of either permanent disability, or persistent or prolonged disability to be eligible to apply for StudentAid BC disability funding.
Permanent Disability is defined as “any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment - or a functional limitation - that restricts the ability of a person to perform the daily activities necessary to pursue studies at a post-secondary school level or to participate in the labour force and that is expected to remain with the person for the person’s expected life.”
Persistent or Prolonged Disability is defined as “any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment - or a functional limitation - that restricts the ability of a person to perform the daily activities necessary to pursue studies at a post-secondary school level or to participate in the labour force and has lasted, or is expected to last, for a period of at least 12 months but is not expected to remain with the person for the person’s expected life.”
If you answer ‘yes’ to this question, you must complete an Appendix 8 – Disability Programs Application to verify your permanent, or persistent or prolonged disability, and have your disability approved by StudentAid BC. You are only required to submit your medical documentation once unless otherwise requested.
Note: Students with a permanent disability, or a persistent or prolonged disability may qualify for other programs. Contact the Accessibility Services Coordinator or financial aid office at your school, or visit www.StudentAidBC.ca or the National Student Loans Service Centre.
Q30. During your study period, provide total income assistance/social assistance (welfare) and/or B.C. income assistance for persons with disabilities that you will be receiving:
You are not usually eligible to receive income assistance (welfare) while attending post-secondary studies, unless you are a student with a disability in receipt of disability assistance. If you are currently receiving income assistance, you must contact your employment and assistance worker or social worker and advise them of your intention to take full-time post-secondary studies. Your worker will determine whether you can continue to receive income assistance during your study period based on Employment and Income Assistance criteria, or whether your income assistance will stop while you are in full-time studies. If you have a disability and you are receiving disability assistance from the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, contact your local office to find out if you will be eligible to continue receiving disability assistance during your study period. If you will be receiving income assistance or B.C. Income Assistance for Persons with Disabilities equal to or exceeding $1,500 over the course of your study period, you are subject to an agreement between our ministries. Under the agreement, the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction continues to provide maintenance (shelter, food, etc.) while StudentAid BC considers the cost of your program. Program costs are limited to:
- tuition
- books/supplies
- disability allowance
- transportation costs
- unsubsidized day-care costs, if you have dependant children
- specialized equipment and services.
Do not include on this question the income assistance/B.C. Income Assistance for Persons with Disabilities amount claimed by your spouse on Appendix 2 or you will be assessed twice for these funds.
Q31. Have you ever declared bankruptcy that included student financial assistance?
- If you had outstanding student loans at the time you declared bankruptcy, you must answer ‘YES’ to this question unless any of the following conditions apply:
- When you filed your Bankruptcy Related Event (BRE) it had already been seven years from your last period of studies end date (PSED) and since that time three years have elapsed;
- Your BRE was filed while you were a full-time student. Since then, you have remained a full-time student over consecutive terms and have not switched fields of studies (you may be eligible for up to three academic years);
- You have received clearance in writing from Canada Student Financial Assistance Program (CSFA Program) to have your bankruptcy restrictions removed for your eligibility for student loans through StudentAid BC;
- CSFA Program has sent you a bankruptcy clearance letter.
If one of the above conditions apply, you may answer “NO” to this question. Keep documentation of your clearance through CSFA Program.
- If you did not have student loans at the time you declared bankruptcy, and are discharged
from that bankruptcy, answer “NO” to this question.
- If you or your spouse are currently in an undischarged bankruptcy, you must have your trustee agree that any funds you may be eligible to receive are not seized to pay for debts involved in your bankruptcy.
Student loan borrowers who have undergone a BRE and who do not meet any of the criteria in #1 above, must pay their student loans in full before being eligible for more student loans.
Q32. This question is not required for program year 2025/26.
Q33. Will you have been out of high school for more than 48 months (4 years) when classes start?
Did you complete your Grade 12 equivalency after leaving high school? If you did, calculate the number of months by using the date you originally left high school, not the date of your equivalency.
Q34. What is your Marital Status?
Marital Status is defined below. Please read the definitions carefully.
- Single: If you are not married and have no dependent child(ren).
- Single Parent: If you have custody of your child(ren), or your child(ren) live with you at least two days per week during your entire study period.
- Married: If you are married as of the first day of classes.
- Common-law: You and your partner are considered to be common-law if you meet both of the following:
- you are currently living together in a marriage-like relationship; and
- you will have been living together for at least 12 consecutive months before the first day of classes.
- Separated/Divorced/Widowed: If you are separated, divorced or widowed before the first day of classes and have dependent children, select “Single Parent.”
- Married/Common-law and unable to provide partner income due to domestic abuse: If you are married or common-law, and are unable to provide partner income due to experiencing domestic abuse (intimate partner violence) which includes, but is not limited to, physical, financial, emotional, and/or sexual abuse you must provide:
- A written attestation outlining the nature of the circumstances; and
- A letter from a professional third party confirming your circumstances. A professional ‘third party’ includes, but is not limited to: counselor, psychologist, religious advisor, doctor, teacher, police, and/or staff at a social service agency, such as an organization supporting those experiencing abuse or violence.
Q35. In the time since you left high school to your first day of classes, have you spent two periods of 12 continuous months each, in the full-time labour force as defined within the "help"?
Time spent in the full-time labour force may include periods of unemployment. You may be asked to provide documents that show you received Employment Insurance (EI) benefits or documents that show you were looking for work. This can include letters of rejection, confirmation of interviews, etc.
Q36 A. Are you, or were you ever considered a child or youth under government care?
(ie. Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) or Indigenous Child and Family Service Agency [ICFSA] care, care through the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction [SDPR] Child in the Home of Relative Program or government care through a Canadian province or territory outside of B.C.)
For a variety of reasons, the government may provide care or guardianship for a child. Answer ‘YES’ to this question if you were ever considered a child or youth under government care (this includes out of care and temporary care statuses as well as continuing custody orders both in B.C. and in Canadian provinces or territories outside of B.C.). If you indicate ‘YES’ to this question, are attending an eligible B.C. institution and you received care or guardianship from the B.C. government for 24 months (730 days) or at the time you turned 19, you may be eligible for the Provincial Tuition Waiver Program for Former Youth in Care and $3,500 of non-repayable grant assistance through the Learning for Future Grant annually. If you indicate ‘YES’ to this question, the B.C. Ministry of Children and Family Development will be asked to verify your status as a former youth in care and your time in care through the B.C. government for the purpose of assessing your eligibility for the Provincial Tuition Waiver Program and the Learning for Future Grant. The Learning for Future Grant will be available starting August 1, 2023, for programs that begin on or after August 1, 2023.
Q36 B. Are you, or were you at the time of your 19th birthday a youth in continuing care or custody of a director of child welfare in B.C.?
(This means that either now or at the time of your 19th birthday the provincial government is/was your legal guardian.)
For a variety of reasons, the B.C. government may become the legal guardian for a child. If you are currently, or were a youth in continuing care/custody of a director of child welfare in B.C. on your 19th birthday, answer ‘YES’ to this question. If you indicate ‘YES’ to this question the B.C. Ministry of Children and Family Development may be asked to verify your status as a current or former youth in continuing care or custody of a director of child welfare in B.C. If you are currently, or were a youth in continuing care or custody of a director of child welfare on your 19th birthday from a province other than B.C., answer ‘NO’ to this question and submit an Appeal Request Form with appropriate documentation to apply for Modified Independent status.
Q37. My parents are deceased and I do not have a legal guardian. If both conditions apply, read the "help".
If both your parents are deceased, and you do not have a legal guardian enter “YES."
Q37b. Is your parent(s) / step-parent / sponsor / legal guardian a resident of B.C. as defined within the "help"?
As an independent student you are a resident of B.C. if:
- you have lived in B.C. all your life; or
- 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 arrived in B.C. as a permanent resident or protected person, and will attend school in B.C., and you have not lived in any other province for 12 continuous months.
As a dependent student, you are a resident of the province in which your parent(s), step-parent, sponsor or legal guardian have most recently lived for 12 continuous months as of your first day of classes. If they do not live in B.C., you must apply for financial assistance from the province or territory in which they lived for 12 consecutive months as of your first day of classes. If you are a permanent resident under sponsorship, your sponsor must complete Appendix 1. Residency is based on where your sponsor lives.
If you are not a B.C. resident as defined above, you are not eligible for financial assistance through StudentAid BC. You must apply for assistance through your home province or territory. You may only apply for funding from one province or territory.
Q37c. Does your parent(s)/step-parent/sponsor/legal guardian have a valid Canadian social insurance number?
A valid Canadian social insurance number does not start with 0 or 8 (these social insurance numbers are not eligible for StudentAid BC.
Q38. Are you a resident of B.C. as defined within the “help”?
As an independent student 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 an independent 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 an independent 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.
As a dependent student, you are a resident of the province in which your parent(s), step-parent, sponsor or legal guardian have most recently lived for 12 continuous months as of your first day of classes. If they do not live in B.C., you must apply for financial assistance from the province or territory in which they lived for 12 consecutive months as of your first day of classes. If you are a permanent resident under sponsorship, your sponsor must complete Appendix 1. Residency is based on where your sponsor lives.
If you are not a B.C. resident as defined above, you are not eligible for financial assistance through StudentAid BC. You must apply for assistance through your home province or territory. You can only apply to one province or territory. Applying to more than one province will result in a restriction and verification of your application. Any funding you are eligible for will be delayed.
Q39. What is your citizenship status?
If you are a protected person as defined in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and have a Social Insurance Number beginning with a ‘9,’ visit www.StudentAidBC.ca for further information regarding documentation you will need to submit with your application.
If you are not a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person, you are not eligible for StudentAid BC funding. You are a permanent resident if you have a permanent resident card or a valid Confirmation of Permanent Resident document.
You are not eligible for StudentAid BC funding if you are in Canada on a student visa or ministerial permit. If this situation applies to you, do not complete the application.
Q40. Do you identify yourself as an Indigenous person; that is, First Nations, Métis or Inuit?
If you identify yourself as an Indigenous person; that is, First Nations, Metis or Inuit, please complete these questions. Providing this information is voluntary and optional, and will allow StudentAid BC to determine whether you are eligible to be exempted from making an expected fixed contribution toward your study.
Q42. Date you graduated from or left secondary (high) school. (YYYY-MM)
Enter the date you graduated from or left secondary (high) school (whichever is later).
- This is the date you graduated from secondary (high) school.
- If you left secondary (high) school and later earned your secondary school credential, enter the date you originally graduated.
- If you never attended secondary (high) school, enter the date you would have graduated had you continued through to the end of secondary (high) school.
Q43. How many months of full-time post-secondary studies have you taken to date in BC, Canada, and outside of Canada? Include co-op work terms. To convert part-time studies, read the “help.” Enter “0” if none.
Include all previous full-time post-secondary studies of at least three months (12 weeks) in length. This includes courses and activities taken at public or private universities, colleges or training schools in any country. This includes British Columbia or any other province/territory in Canada and in any country outside Canada. You must count all time spent in activities for credit (e.g., attending classes, online learning, etc.) at a public or private institution. Include co-op work terms.
Do not include college preparatory (high school level) courses or apprenticeship training. Do not include the study period for which you are now applying. If you have more than 99 months of previous post-secondary studies, put ‘99’ in the box.
Some schools use units instead of credits. Check with your school to be sure of the correct calculation. Include all previous post-secondary months up to the start date of this application, including non-funded post-secondary months.
Previous Part-time Post-Secondary Studies
If you have completed post-secondary courses on a part-time basis, you will need to convert your part-time studies, to full-time studies. For example, for many academic programs, 15 credits (usually five courses) equals one semester of full-time study. For trades and vocational programs, 129 contact (instructional) hours usually equals one month of full-time study.
Prior Learning Assessment/Course Challenge
If you received credit for a prior learning assessment or course challenge, you must include this in your calculation of previous post-secondary studies. For example, if you received credit for two semesters towards your degree or diploma, enter eight months previous post-secondary study in this question.
