Financial aid FAQ

Review frequently asked questions below about Douglas College financial aid.

Awards, Bursaries, and Scholarships 

Visit Douglas College Awards, Bursaries, and Scholarships administered by Douglas College to find out about eligibility criteria and deadlines.

You may be eligible if you:

  • Are graduating from a high school in Metro Vancouver.
  • Are entering Douglas College in the Fall semester.
  • Have a minimum 3.5 GPA (scholarship) or 3.0 GPA (award).

Visit Entrance Awards and Scholarships for more information regarding the entrance awards and  scholarships.

Visit Douglas College Awards, Bursaries, and Scholarships for listings of the funds available.

Visit External Awards, Bursaries, and Scholarships for more financial assistance options that are offered outside Douglas College.

Check in your local community, credit unions, businesses, organizations, and agencies for possible sources of funds.

 

Student Loans and Grants

Visit Financial Tools for tools to plan your funding for education.

 

  • Investigate funding options and try to minimize your borrowing.
  • Plan your finances now to avoid stress and uncertainty while you are a student.
  • Live simply and inexpensively so that you can look forward to graduating without a huge debt.

 

Loans

  • SABC offers Canada-BC integrated loans which are administered as a single loan
  • BC and Canada Students Loans are interest-free
  • Repayment starts six months after your studies end 

Grants

  • Special grants are available for students with dependants and students with disabilities and for students from low- or middle-income families.
  • Considered taxable income.
  • Not repayable unless you withdraw early or your financial need changes.

 

* Enrolled in minimum 60% course load (9 credits) or 40% course load (6 credits) for students with an approved permanent disability status with StudentAid BC.

The loans and grants process page has all the information you'll need on how to apply for full-time and part-time student funding.

BC students can apply through StudentAid BC and out of province students may need to apply through their home province. 

 

 

Visit Manage your loan for information on how to stay in touch with your student loan provider and maintain proof of your ongoing studies.

Visit Repay your loan for information on repayment of student loans. 

 

  • Douglas College will need to confirm your enrolment in order for your student loan funds to be disbursed
  • Register in at least 9 credits of post-secondary level courses for Full-time loans. 
    • Not eligible for a student loan:
      • Upgrading courses such as ENGU/ELLA and MATU.
      • Courses that start with a zero (e.g., HUMD 0130). 
      • Repeating courses that you have passed with a grade of "P" or higher. (Unless approved repeat course appeal by SABC)
      • Courses that you are auditing.
      • Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) students
 
  • Ensure your program is correct and that it matches on the Douglas College registration system (check your myPath) and your student loan application. 
    • If your program on the student record system does not match the program on your student loan application, your course enrolment cannot be confirmed so your funding will be delayed.

Full-time student loan funding

Apply early to receive your funding to be disbursed at the start of the semester. The application deadline is six weeks before the end of the semester and check out dates and deadlines. 

Part-time funding - Apply early as processing time is six to eight weeks. The application deadline is six weeks before the end of the semester and check out dates and deadlines.

Adult Upgrading Grant

Apply by the deadline in order to have your application processed before the fee payment deadline and note that funding is limited. 

Check if your fee deferral is in place by logging in to your myAccount > Registration > Registration and Schedule > Prepare for Registration > Select a term.

View eligibility requirements to receive a fee deferral on the Fee Deferral Page.

If you do not meet BC residency requirements to apply for a BC student loan, you will need to apply for a student loan or grant funding through your "home" province or territory. Once you have been approved for funding, you will need to ensure a fee deferral has been placed on your account to prevent you from being dropped from classes since you will not receive the funds by the tuition payment deadline date.

  • Check if your fee deferral is in place by logging in to your myAccount > Registration > Registration and Schedule > Prepare for Registration > Select a term.

    View eligibility requirements to receive a fee deferral on the Fee Deferral Page.

NOTE: If you decide not to attend one or more of your courses, or if you are disqualified, from receiving loans at any time after the fee payment deadline, you are responsible for dropping your courses.

See the dates and deadlines for current deadline dates.

Adult Upgrading Grant funding is available for the following programs and courses:

  • 3rd and 4th level English and Mathematics Upgrading (ENGU and MATU)
  • 2nd and 3rd level English Language Learning and Acquisition (ELLA)
  • Career and Employment Preparation (CAEP)
  • Customer Service and Cashier Training (CSCT)
  • Local Industry Skills Training (LIST)

Apply early in order to have your application processed before the fee payment deadline. 

Funding is available for part-time students enrolled in a loan-eligible program. Only approved programs listed on the Program Cost page at Douglas College are eligible for student loan/grant funding.

Students must be enrolled in 3 to 8.5 credits in order to apply for a part-time student loan and grant funding. The Part-time studies application only covers educational costs such as tuition, books, transportation and unsubsidized child care costs.

To apply for B.C. and Canada student financial aid as a part-time student, follow the steps below:

  • To create your Student Account, you must first set up a BC Services Card account as your digital ID. During the setup, you will need to verify your identity. Go to the Student Account for part-time students and click the "Log in/Register" button and it will guide you through the process. Download and set up a BC Services Card App. 

  • Complete and submit your online application through the Student Account for part-time students. To submit your application, you will need to read and accept the terms and conditions of the StudentAid BC Declaration and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Consent for income verification.

    Start your part-time application now
     
  • If you are a student with a disability, learn how to apply for part-time student funding for students with disabilities.

More information regarding part-time applications is available on SABC's site: "How to Apply as Part-time Student" 

Funding: If approved, you will be required to complete your Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement (MSFAA) which will be sent to you via email approximately 2 weeks after submitting your loan application.

Who qualifies: If you are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or convention refugee whose income is low and are registered part time in an eligible program, you may qualify if you meet all other eligibility requirements.

You may 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.

Find more information here: https://studentaidbc.ca/help-centre/applying-loans/why-do-i-have-overaward

For repayment of an overaward: https://studentaidbc.ca/help-centre/loan-repayment/how-do-i-repay-my-overaward 

 

If you are a returning student and are not receiving further full-time student financial assistance, you must apply to maintain your "in-study payment-free" status so that your Canada-BC integrated student loan does not go into repayment while you are in study.

Apply for in-study payment0free status through the StudentAid BC dashboard or the NSLSC portal.

 

Qualifying for funding while enrolled at more than one eligible school, is called "Split Enrolment." 

See information from StudentAid BC

Contact your Student Success Advisor (SSA) for further information. 

If Douglas, is not your home school (where you will graduate from), then please also contact the Financial Aid Office at your home school. 

To continue receiving financial aid, the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act, Canada Student Financial Assistance Program policy and StudentAid BC policy require you to maintain a satisfactory scholastic standing. 

More about this: https://studentaidbc.ca/maintain/responsibilities#scholastic-standing   

Study period dates are different from the class start and end dates. To ensure you are accurately funded, find study dates and program codes for each semester on the  Program Cost page. 

 

Other Funding Options

The Adult Upgrading Grant helps students based on financial need who are enrolled in upgrading courses and special education programs:

  • Local Industry Skills Training (LIST)
  • Career and Employment Preparation (CAEP)
  • Customer Service and Cashier Training (CSCT)
  • 3rd and 4th level English and Mathematics Upgrading (ENGU and MATU)
  • 2nd and 3rd level English Language Learning and Acquisition (ELLA)

Email Student Success Advising to talk to you Student Success Advisor to discuss available options.

  • Visit your banking institution to apply for a private student loan or line of credit. A co-signer may be required and interest is charged while you are in school.
  • Browse Employment and Social Development Canada for sponsorship or training assistance if you:
    • Are an unemployed person in receipt of Employment Insurance (EI) benefits,
    • Or have received benefits in the last three years,
    • Or have started a maternity or parental EI claim within the last five years
  • Earn while you learn by working part-time on or off-campus. Visit the Career Centre, where you’ll find free help and resources, including 1:1 coaching on how seek employment. 

Tuition for Former Youth in Care will be waived for B.C. students attending a B.C. public post-secondary institution who meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the application form below.  This program is open to students pursuing programs that lead to a certificate, diploma, or undergraduate degree.  Students enrolled in graduate programs or post-graduate courses are not eligible. Students registering in Continuing Education courses are also eligible.

Students who wish to be considered for the waiver while studying at Douglas College must complete the Provincial Tuition Waiver Application and return it to the Enrolment Services Office at either the Coquitlam (A1450) or New Westminster (S2700) Campus.

For more information, check out BC Government.