Pay tuition and other required fees first
The money provided by StudentAid BC is for your education. Your first responsibility is to pay the tuition fees and other required fees to your school. That has priority over all other costs for which you may have received funding.
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Your school may have part of your StudentAid BC funding sent directly to them, as payment towards your tuition. |
Continue in full-time studies
To stay eligible for StudentAid BC loans or grants, you must attend school full-time for the entire study period for which  you have received funding.
If you drop below the required course load during your first semester/term but plan to attend full-time in the second semester/term, you must submit a new application for student assistance. Your new application will be assessed once the withdrawal process at your school is complete.
If you stop attending classes, drop below your required course load, or fail to maintain the minimum number of weekly instructional hours for non-academic programs for your entire study period, but you do not formally withdraw from school, you may still be considered withdrawn for student assistance purposes.
If you miss 10 consecutive days of classes, or 20 per cent of your study program, you will be considered withdrawn.
If you withdraw from school two times while receiving B.C. student financial assistance, you will be denied further funding by StudentAid BC.
Maintain a satisfactory scholastic standing (successful completion)
To continue receiving financial aid, the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act and StudentAid BC policy require you to maintain a satisfactory scholastic standing.
Withdrawing from school or failing to progress at school
You will not be able to receive more student assistance, and you will be disqualified for interest-free status on any previous student loans if:
- You withdraw from a full-time course load on two separate occasions while receiving student assistance or interest-free loan status.
- You fail to achieve satisfactory marks in 68 weeks or more of full-time study while receiving student assistance or interest-free loan status.
If you withdraw from full-time studies:
- Your school will automatically notify us that you no longer meet requirements for assistance.
- Your funding will be re-calculated based on the number of weeks you actually attended school.
- We will explain to you in writing how your withdrawal decision affects your student loan or grant.
- Any tuition refund you are eligible for will be applied to your outstanding loan balance if your school received tuition from your student loans.
Requalifying for student assistance depends on several conditions, including successfully completing full-time studies for two semesters or one academic year without StudentAid BC assistance.
Maintain interest-free status
You do not have to make payments on any of your Canada or British Columbia student loans if you are enrolled in an approved full-time study program at least 12 weeks long that leads to a certificate, diploma or degree. This program must be at a post-secondary school that is designated by the provincial government.
Maintaining your interest-free status for Canada student loans
If you will not be cashing a Canada student loan certificate, you must apply to the National Student Loans Service Centre (if you hold a direct lend Canada student loan) or your bank (if you hold either a guaranteed or risk-sharing Canada student loan) to continue or reinstate your interest-free status.
Maintaining your interest-free status for B.C. student loans
If you will not be cashing a B.C. student loan, you must apply to the B.C. Student Loan Service Bureau (if you hold a direct lend B.C. loan) or your bank (if you hold either a guaranteed or risk-sharing B.C. loan) to continue or reinstate your interest-free status.
How to apply
If you are attending a B.C. public post-secondary school, you may be able to apply online for interest-free status. Click here to access the online application.
If you cannot apply online:
Submit a Schedule 2 confirmation of enrolment form to maintain your interest-free status on previous Canada student loans.
Submit a Certificate 2 confirmation of enrolment form to maintain your interest-free status on previous B.C. student loans.
If you have a grant overaward, read about Certificate 3, which will help you stay interest-free while in school.
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