Grants in British Columbia

BC participates in the federal Canada Student Grants program. Filing your StudentAid BC application automatically triggers federal grant assessment — no separate federal form is required.

• Full-Time Students Grant: up to $4,200/year, based on family income
• Part-Time Students Grant: up to $1,680/year
• Students with Disabilities Grant: up to $4,000/year
• Students with Dependants Grant: up to $200/week per child under 12

The BC Access Grant is BC's flagship provincial grant. Up to $4,000 per year for students from low- and middle-income families enrolled at BC public post-secondary institutions. Stackable with the federal Canada Student Grant.

• Up to $4,000/year, non-repayable
• Family income generally under $60,000 for the maximum amount
• Available at BC public colleges, universities, and institutes
• Automatically assessed — no separate application required

Beyond the Canada Student Grant and BC Access Grant, BC offers several specialized grant streams:

• Canada Student Grant for Students from Low-Income Families: targeted top-up for very low-income students
• BC Adult Graduation Diploma: tuition-free completion of grade 12 for adults
• Indigenous Emergency Assistance Fund: short-turnaround emergency grant
• Provincial Training Allowance (PTA): for adult literacy and skills training

Filing StudentAid BC is the single highest-leverage financial action a BC student can take. One form triggers federal and provincial grant assessment simultaneously.

• Step 1: Create a StudentAid BC account at studentaidbc.ca
• Step 2: File the application 6–8 weeks before classes start
• Step 3: Upload supporting documents (income, residency, enrolment)
• Step 4: Re-apply each academic year