BC resident (full time)
StudentAid BC assists eligible BC residents with the cost of their post-secondary education through loans and grants. It is a partnership between the provincial and federal governments.
As a full-time post-secondary student, you have the primary responsibility of paying for your education. Most students meet their costs through employment income, savings, assets, support from family, scholarships, bursaries and/or awards. However, if this is not enough, StudentAid BC may be able to supplement (not replace) your own financial resources to help you reach your educational goals.
StudentAid BC is helping make post-secondary education more affordable for BC residents through their loans (repayable funding) and grants (non-repayable funding) programs. Students are automatically assessed for both BC student loans and grants (provided by the provincial government) and Canada student loans and grants (provided by the federal government) when they submit their applications for funding on a term-by-term basis. For more information and to apply, please visit StudentAid BC.
Families from other Provinces or Territories
If your family is not from BC, you apply through your home Province or Territory for funding.
When to Apply
We encourage students who require financial assistance to complete your online student loan application at least two months before classes start to receive your funding at the beginning of the term. At SFU, students submit their applications on a term-by-term basis even though they may be studying year round.
If you have not previously received funding from StudentAidBC, you are considered a new applicant. All new full-time student loan applicants will need to have their identity verified prior to accessing the student loan application via their online StudentAid BC dashboard.
The new application for classes starting after August 1, 2021 will be available in early June.
Full-time Status
Undergraduate students who are enrolled in at least 60% of a full-time course load, and in a student loan eligible program, are considered to be studying full-time. At SFU, this means a minimum of 9 units per term (15 units is considered a 100% courseload). Note: students with a recognized permanent disability (who have been approved through StudentAid BC) must be enrolled in at least 40% of a full-time course load, a minimum of 6 units per term. Your course load cannot include any courses for which you have received a passing grade previously.
Out of Province Residents
Definitions of full-time studies vary for each province. To determine the definition for your province of residence, please go to your province's student loans website. For a listing of these websites, see the Out of Province Residents (Full-time & Part-Time) section.
Part-time Status
If you are enrolled in less than 9 units, see the BC Residents (Part-Time) section. If you are enrolled in less than 3 units, you are ineligible for Government Student Loan funding.
StudentAid BC
StudentAid BC has created a series of YouTube videos to help students learn about the student financial assistance journey from start to finish.
Students can check out the complete playlist and subscribe to StudentAid BC’s YouTube channel to catch new videos added over time.
Apply for funding
- Determine your eligibility
- How to apply for loans and grants
- How to receive your loans and grants
- How to appeal your assessment
- What is an overaward?
Maintain your funding
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I maintain in-study, interest-free status?
How does split enrolment work if you are attending two schools?
How do I maintain a satisfactory scholastic standing?
To continue receiving student financial assistance, students are required to maintain a satisfactory scholastic standing. If you are considering dropping a course(s), you are encouraged to reach out and speak to a Financial Aid Advisor.
How does repayment work?
Repayment of your student loans starts 6 months after your last study period end date. This 6 month period is considered your "grace" period. Your grace period is a good time to review your National Student Loan Service Centre (NSLSC) secure account to review your payment information, and modify your repayment terms if needed. The NSLSC has a Learning Hub to help students learn more about the In-Study, Non-Repayment, and Repayment statuses of your student loans.
Students can enter into repayment and return back to full-time studies and in-study status multiple times during their academic career.
National Student Loan Service Centre (NSLSC) resources for repayment
The National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC) offers online presentations (webinars) on the student loan repayment process.
The NSLSC services Canada Student Loans (Federal) as well as provincially-integreted loans for the following provinces: BC, Saskatchewan, Manitoba (as of July 1, 2022), Ontario, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
The webinars will be beneficial for students, since they will assist students with their obligations when repaying their student loans, and will provide answers on:
- How to save money
- How to avoid repayment difficulties
- How to maintain your student loan
The webinars are 45 to 60 minutes long and can be viewed on a computer, tablet or Android/iPhone.
To view the Student Loan Repayment Webinars, click on the links below: