Academic Planning
Many options are available through the university to help students finance their education. These include internal and external scholarships and bursaries as well as the SFU Work Study Program, which provides part-time, on-campus jobs to help students earn money while getting career related experience.
SFU Awards and Financial Aid
To identify SFU-administered scholarships and bursaries targeted specifically for students with disabilities, we suggest you conduct an SFU financial aid database search. This provides an option for specifying your eligibility for disability related awards. A general list of scholarships, awards and bursaries is also available in the SFU Academic Calendar.
Minimum Credit Hour Waivers
University scholarships and bursaries set minimum units per term requirements for applicants. According to the current SFU Access Policy for Students with Disabilities, these may be modified or waived for applicants with documented disabilities. Contact us for more information and assistance in arranging the waiver.
External Financial Aid Resources
A large number of scholarships, grants and bursaries for students with disabilities are administered by the Canadian organization NEADS (National Educational Association of Disabled Students).
Other helpful websites that can get you started in your search for sources of financial aid include:
CanLearn
The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
Government of Canada, Persons with Disabilities
Government of Canada, Youth with Disabilities
Scholarships Canada
Studentawards.com
The BC Government's Student Services website contains complete information about Canada Student Loans, BC Student Loans, etc. This site also has a search option which can bring you to further information on the Canada Study Grant (CSG), Assistance Program for Students with Permanent Disabilities (APSD), Canada Access Grants (CAG), and the BC Permanent Disability Benefits Program.
Government Definition of a Permanent Disability
For the above programs, the government defines a permanent disability as "a functional limitation caused by a physical or mental impairment that restricts the ability of a person to perform the daily activities necessary to participate in studies at a post-secondary level or in the labour force and that is expected to remain for the person's expected natural life."