eligibility

B.C. residency requirement

To receive student financial aid, you must be a resident of B.C. according to the criteria described below. To determine residency, full-time students are classified either as Dependent or Independent. This classification is also used to determine financial need.

Note: All part-time students are classified as Independent.

Dependent

If you are classified as Dependent, your residency is defined as the Canadian province in which your parent(s), step-parent(s), sponsor or legal guardian have lived most recently for 12 continuous months.

If your parents are separated or divorced, or if your parent is single, only one parent's financial information is used to calculate financial need. This is the parent who is your main financial supporter.

Independent

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 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 aid purposes.

You can only apply to one province or territory for student financial assistance. 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.

B.C. residency requirement

Note: All part-time students are classified as Independent.

Dependent

Independent

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 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 aid purposes.

Basic eligibility requirements

To receive student financial aid, you must meet all of these basic eligibility criteria:

be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident or have protected person status
have a valid Canadian social insurance number
be a resident of British Columbia
be enrolled in an eligible program of study at an eligible post-secondary school
be able to demonstrate financial need
make academic progress and achieve satisfactory scholastic standing in each period of post-secondary study

Note:

All information submitted as part of your application, including information provided by your parents or spouse/common-law partner, is subject to verification.

Have you and/or your parent(s)/step parent/sponsor/legal guardian or spouse/common-law partner (if applicable) filed your Canadian income taxes? Income information from the Canada Revenue Agency is used to calculate your financial need when applying for StudentAid BC funding. Your previous year’s Canadian income tax information will be used in the assessment of your financial need. If you and/or your parent(s)/step parent/sponsor/legal guardian or spouse/common-law partner (if applicable) haven’t filed your previous year’s income taxes, processing of your StudentAid BC application may be delayed while your income is verified.

You can only apply to one province for funding.

You may not be eligible if you are:

Delinquent or in default of previous student loans.
Restricted from receiving StudentAid BC funding or have an overaward (in this case your funding may be withheld), or
Incarcerated or have any outstanding warrants for your arrest.

Basic eligibility requirements

To receive student financial aid, you must meet all of these basic eligibility criteria:

be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident or have protected person status
have a valid Canadian social insurance number
be a resident of British Columbia
be enrolled in an eligible program of study at an eligible post-secondary school
be able to demonstrate financial need
make academic progress and achieve satisfactory scholastic standing in each period of post-secondary study

Note:

All information submitted as part of your application, including information provided by your parents or spouse/common-law partner, is subject to verification.

You can only apply to one province for funding.

You may not be eligible if you are:

Delinquent or in default of previous student loans.
Restricted from receiving StudentAid BC funding or have an overaward (in this case your funding may be withheld), or
Incarcerated or have any outstanding warrants for your arrest.

Basic eligibility requirements

To receive student financial aid, you must meet all of these basic eligibility criteria:

be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident or have protected person status
have a valid Canadian social insurance number
be a resident of British Columbia
be enrolled in an eligible program of study at an eligible post-secondary school
be able to demonstrate financial need
make academic progress and achieve satisfactory scholastic standing in each period of post-secondary study

Note:

All information submitted as part of your application, including information provided by your parents or spouse/common-law partner, is subject to verification.

You can only apply to one province for funding.

You may not be eligible if you are:

Delinquent or in default of previous student loans.
Restricted from receiving StudentAid BC funding or have an overaward (in this case your funding may be withheld), or
Incarcerated or have any outstanding warrants for your arrest.

Determine your eligibility

Summary Description

StudentAid BC is for British Columbians who need help paying for their post-secondary education. StudentAid BC is a supplementary program meant to complement, not replace, your existing financial resources, such as individual and family resources, savings or income earned while studying.