apply

Application deadlines

The latest you can apply is 6 weeks before your study period ends.

The earliest you can apply is when applications open for the upcoming program year, usually in June.

You do not have to be accepted into your study program before applying for student aid, but you will not receive any funding until your school confirms you are enrolled in eligible studies.

Application deadlines

The latest you can apply is 6 weeks before your study period ends.

The earliest you can apply is when applications open for the upcoming program year, usually in June.

You do not have to be accepted into your study program before applying for student aid, but you will not receive any funding until your school confirms you are enrolled in eligible studies.

Application deadlines

The latest you can apply is 6 weeks before your study period ends.

The earliest you can apply is when applications open for the upcoming program year, usually in June.

You do not have to be accepted into your study program before applying for student aid, but you will not receive any funding until your school confirms you are enrolled in eligible studies.

Is your school designated?

StudentAid BC designates schools for both federal and provincial student aid. As outlined in the StudentAid BC policy manual.

  1. All public universities, colleges, and institutes in B.C. are designated
  2. Not all private training or out-of-province institutions have been designated by the government

How to check if your school is designated

  1. 1Open the list of designated schools (PDF, 1685KB)
  2. 2Search the document for your school name:
    • On Windows: press Ctrl + F
    • On Mac: press Command + F
  3. 3Type the full name of your school in the search box.
  4. 4Check that:
    • your school is listed, and
    • the correct campus or location is listed
  5. 5If both the school and location are listed, your school is designated.

Is your school designated?

StudentAid BC designates schools for both federal and provincial student aid. As outlined in the StudentAid BC policy manual.

  1. All public universities, colleges, and institutes in B.C. are designated
  2. Not all private training or out-of-province institutions have been designated by the government

How to check if your school is designated

  1. 1Open the list of designated schools (PDF, 1685KB)
  2. 2Search the document for your school name:
    • On Windows: press Ctrl + F
    • On Mac: press Command + F
  3. 3Type the full name of your school in the search box.
  4. 4Check that:
    • your school is listed, and
    • the correct campus or location is listed
  5. 5If both the school and location are listed, your school is designated.

Appeal categories for part-time students

Select an appeal category from the menu below to review the appeal criteria and instructions on how to submit your appeal. For appeals that require a PDF form, we recommend you download and open the form using the latest version of Adobe Reader.

Part-Time Appeal Categories

Deadline — Six weeks before your study period end date

If you are a part-time student who withdrew or failed to successfully complete your studies while receiving StudentAid BC funding, you will have a restriction placed on your file and will not be eligible for further funding until you have successfully completed one self-funded semester at a designated post-secondary institution.

Appeal Criteria

You can complete one self-funded semester at a designated post-secondary institution, or you can appeal your scholastic standing if you were otherwise on track to successfully complete your program, and one or more of the following criteria has impacted your ability to study:

Download Form

Deadline — Six weeks before your study period end date

Appeal Criteria

You can submit an appeal request to repeat your course when you have passed a course but did not obtain the grade required to proceed to the next level in your program of post-secondary study.

Note: You are not eligible for financial assistance if you are repeating courses solely to improve your grades.

Download Form

Deadline — Six weeks before your study period end date

Appeal Criteria

If you were denied B.C. student loan funding due to a previous bankruptcy that included B.C. student loans, you may appeal the denial if you can demonstrate that:

  • There were exceptional circumstances leading to your bankruptcy, such as medical reasons or marital breakdown
  • You filed for bankruptcy during your study or non-repayment period and you are continuing in the same program of study in which you were enrolled in at the date of bankruptcy or bankruptcy-related event
  • If student loans were involved in the bankruptcy, Canada Student Financial Assistance Program has provided clearance for your receipt of new loans
  • If student loans have been repaid or discharged, you are a good credit risk. Credit risk is determined by the reason for bankruptcy, your efforts to rehabilitate your credit and that your studies warrant further investment
  • If student loans were not involved in your bankruptcy, the debts have been discharged or that a trustee has stated they will not place any claim or your student loan

Note: If your Canada student loan is in default or was involved in your bankruptcy, you must contact Canada Student Financial Assistance Program to receive clearance for further funding. For more information on your federal loans, please contact the National Student Loans Service Centre at 1-888-815-4514 and ask to be transferred to the Case Review Unit of the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program.

Download Form

Appeal Criteria

You may submit an appeal request if one or more of the following criteria caused you to not meet the required submission deadline to receive funding before your study period end date.

  • Medical illness or injury;
  • Family emergency (e.g., death or injury)
  • Natural disaster
  • Layoff, strike, lockout, or other reduction in earnings beyond your control
  • Other exceptional circumstances

Download Form

Appeal Criteria

You can submit an appeal request if your request for rehabilitation of your defaulted B.C. student loan has been denied and you meet one of the exceptional circumstances listed below:

  • You have made every reasonable effort to rehabilitate your loan
  • You have experienced exceptional circumstances which reasonably impacted your ability to make the equivalent of two consecutive monthly payments and/or your outstanding interest payment, such as:
    • Medical illness or injury
    • Family emergency (e.g., death or injury)
    • Natural disaster
    • A dependant with a permanent disability
    • Layoff, strike, lockout or other reduction in earnings beyond your control
    • Divorce

Download Form

Deadline — Six weeks before your study period ends

Appeal Criteria

If you and/or your spouse/common-law partner or your parent(s), step-parent(s), sponsor(s) or legal guardian(s) have had, or anticipate having, a significant decrease in income due to an exceptional circumstance(s), you may request an appeal to have your student financial assistance application reassessed using income for the current program year that matches the year of your application number.

Exceptional circumstances include:

  • Medical illness or injury
  • Family emergency (e.g., death or injury)
  • Natural disaster
  • Layoff, strike, lockout, or other reduction in earnings beyond the family's control
  • Other exceptional circumstance

How to submit your appeal

This appeal can be completed and submitted directly in your Student Account.

Deadline — Six weeks before your study period ends

Appeal Criteria

You can submit an appeal request if you had exceptional expenses that created financial hardship that affected your ability to start or continue your studies, such as:

  • Medical illness or injury;
  • Family emergency (e.g., death or injury)
  • Natural disaster
  • Unforeseen legal expenses
  • Court-ordered payments
  • Expenses related to your or your dependant’s permanent disability that are not covered by another funding source (uninsured)

Disability-related goods or services not covered by any other funding source may qualify as an exceptional expense. Items that are not considered in the initial financial need assessment but may be appealed include, but are not limited to:

  • Disability-related medicine
  • Specialized footwear and eyewear
  • Special dietetic requirements
  • Specialized apparel
  • Attendant care and/or specialized transportation

Most B.C. post-secondary institutions stipulate that students must have medical/dental/health insurance coverage. A copy of your insurance plan is required in your appeal. To avoid receiving an overaward, make it clear if your insurance plan will be reimbursing you for any part of these costs.

How to submit your appeal

This appeal can be completed and submitted directly in your Student Account.

Appeal categories for part-time students

Select an appeal category from the menu below to review the appeal criteria and instructions on how to submit your appeal. For appeals that require a PDF form, we recommend you download and open the form using the latest version of Adobe Reader.

Part-Time Appeal Categories

Deadline — Six weeks before your study period end date

If you are a part-time student who withdrew or failed to successfully complete your studies while receiving StudentAid BC funding, you will have a restriction placed on your file and will not be eligible for further funding until you have successfully completed one self-funded semester at a designated post-secondary institution.

Appeal Criteria

You can complete one self-funded semester at a designated post-secondary institution, or you can appeal your scholastic standing if you were otherwise on track to successfully complete your program, and one or more of the following criteria has impacted your ability to study:

Download Form

Deadline — Six weeks before your study period end date

Appeal Criteria

You can submit an appeal request to repeat your course when you have passed a course but did not obtain the grade required to proceed to the next level in your program of post-secondary study.

Note: You are not eligible for financial assistance if you are repeating courses solely to improve your grades.

Download Form

Deadline — Six weeks before your study period end date

Appeal Criteria

If you were denied B.C. student loan funding due to a previous bankruptcy that included B.C. student loans, you may appeal the denial if you can demonstrate that:

  • There were exceptional circumstances leading to your bankruptcy, such as medical reasons or marital breakdown
  • You filed for bankruptcy during your study or non-repayment period and you are continuing in the same program of study in which you were enrolled in at the date of bankruptcy or bankruptcy-related event
  • If student loans were involved in the bankruptcy, Canada Student Financial Assistance Program has provided clearance for your receipt of new loans
  • If student loans have been repaid or discharged, you are a good credit risk. Credit risk is determined by the reason for bankruptcy, your efforts to rehabilitate your credit and that your studies warrant further investment
  • If student loans were not involved in your bankruptcy, the debts have been discharged or that a trustee has stated they will not place any claim or your student loan

Note: If your Canada student loan is in default or was involved in your bankruptcy, you must contact Canada Student Financial Assistance Program to receive clearance for further funding. For more information on your federal loans, please contact the National Student Loans Service Centre at 1-888-815-4514 and ask to be transferred to the Case Review Unit of the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program.

Download Form

Appeal Criteria

You may submit an appeal request if one or more of the following criteria caused you to not meet the required submission deadline to receive funding before your study period end date.

  • Medical illness or injury;
  • Family emergency (e.g., death or injury)
  • Natural disaster
  • Layoff, strike, lockout, or other reduction in earnings beyond your control
  • Other exceptional circumstances

Download Form

Appeal Criteria

You can submit an appeal request if your request for rehabilitation of your defaulted B.C. student loan has been denied and you meet one of the exceptional circumstances listed below:

  • You have made every reasonable effort to rehabilitate your loan
  • You have experienced exceptional circumstances which reasonably impacted your ability to make the equivalent of two consecutive monthly payments and/or your outstanding interest payment, such as:
    • Medical illness or injury
    • Family emergency (e.g., death or injury)
    • Natural disaster
    • A dependant with a permanent disability
    • Layoff, strike, lockout or other reduction in earnings beyond your control
    • Divorce

Download Form

Deadline — Six weeks before your study period ends

Appeal Criteria

If you and/or your spouse/common-law partner or your parent(s), step-parent(s), sponsor(s) or legal guardian(s) have had, or anticipate having, a significant decrease in income due to an exceptional circumstance(s), you may request an appeal to have your student financial assistance application reassessed using income for the current program year that matches the year of your application number.

Exceptional circumstances include:

  • Medical illness or injury
  • Family emergency (e.g., death or injury)
  • Natural disaster
  • Layoff, strike, lockout, or other reduction in earnings beyond the family's control
  • Other exceptional circumstance

How to submit your appeal

This appeal can be completed and submitted directly in your Student Account.

Deadline — Six weeks before your study period ends

Appeal Criteria

You can submit an appeal request if you had exceptional expenses that created financial hardship that affected your ability to start or continue your studies, such as:

  • Medical illness or injury;
  • Family emergency (e.g., death or injury)
  • Natural disaster
  • Unforeseen legal expenses
  • Court-ordered payments
  • Expenses related to your or your dependant’s permanent disability that are not covered by another funding source (uninsured)

Disability-related goods or services not covered by any other funding source may qualify as an exceptional expense. Items that are not considered in the initial financial need assessment but may be appealed include, but are not limited to:

  • Disability-related medicine
  • Specialized footwear and eyewear
  • Special dietetic requirements
  • Specialized apparel
  • Attendant care and/or specialized transportation

Most B.C. post-secondary institutions stipulate that students must have medical/dental/health insurance coverage. A copy of your insurance plan is required in your appeal. To avoid receiving an overaward, make it clear if your insurance plan will be reimbursing you for any part of these costs.

How to submit your appeal

This appeal can be completed and submitted directly in your Student Account.