A: You do not need to ask BCIT to confirm your enrolment; we will get the request directly from Student Aid BC. Make sure you have read your Notification of Assessment letter from Student Aid BC and completed your Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement (MSFAA) if it is requested, as we will not be able to confirm your enrolment if you do not have a valid MSFAA.
A: Funds are disbursed after confirmation of enrolment, and typically arrive within the first 1-2 weeks of your study period start date. Students will never receive funding before the start of the term.
A: If you anticipate that you will not be successfully completing all your classes, we recommend that you contact our office to discuss potential impacts to your funding.
A: Repayment of previous loans starts 6 months after your study ends. To avoid entering repayment, you should apply for payment-free status if you have previous loans, are studying part-time or full-time, and do not wish to apply for Student Aid BC funding for the term. If you are applying for SABC funding, a separate Payment-Free Status application is not required. Please note that part-time studies will not pause payments on previous full-time funding.
A: For courses to be eligible for funding, they must be part of an eligible program, and you must be accepted/declared into that program. Courses taken prior to your program admission/start term are not eligible for funding.
A: Yes, you are welcome (and encouraged) to pay your fees upfront if you are able. Paying your fees out-of-pocket does not impact your eligibility for Student Aid BC funding; if your tuition is paid already, any approved loan/grant funding would be sent directly to you.
A: If you don’t have your funds 3 days before your fees are due, we recommend you request a Tuition Fee Deferral. Typically, Student Aid BC funds arrive within the first 5-10 days after your term start date. If you receive your funds on time, a Tuition Fee Deferral is typically not required if your fees are due 10 days after term start.
A: Yes, you can. When you receive your first disbursement, make sure to pay at least 50% of your BCIT tuition/fees. After that, you may request an extension of Fee Deferral so that you can pay the second half of your fees with your second disbursement.
A: We are only able to approve a Tuition Fee Deferral up to the amount of your total approved funding. If you pay the difference first, you may submit a Tuition Fee Deferral request for the remainder of your balance.
A: See here for information on tuition payment.
A: BCIT Bursaries are available for eligible students once per calendar year. You must have completed at least one term/level of full-time study in your program before you can apply for a bursary. A full list of eligible programs is posted during each bursary application period, so please check if your program/term is eligible before you apply. More information on bursaries can be found here.
A: Once you are approved for a bursary, a cheque will be mailed by BCIT to the address you have on file. Please make sure your address is up to date through myBCIT, and allow time for the mailing of the cheque.
A: International students in full-time programs are eligible for some academic awards, however these awards are not application driven, so there is no need to apply. You would be notified if you were selected. Unfortunately, international students are not currently eligible for BCIT Bursaries or Student Aid BC funding. If you are experiencing a financial emergency due to unexpected circumstances beyond your control, please contact our office.