Programs based on financial need
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Adult Upgrading Grant (AUG)
Please note, AUG (formerly ABESAP) processing may take up to 4 weeks - apply in advance!
This provincially funded grant program (administered by UFV Financial Aid and Awards) is to assist Canadian citizens, landed immigrants, or convention refugees. You must demonstrate financial need and be enrolling in Upgrading and University Preparation programs, ESL, Adult Basic Education (ABE), or TASK programs.
The Grant is for direct educational costs such as tuition, books, and supplies. Grants are awarded based on one semester of study. If you show evidence of satisfactory progress and attendance, you can submit grant applications for subsequent semesters.
Grant funding is for direct educational costs: tuition, books and supplies per semester. (Room and board costs are not funded). Awards are based on 16 weeks of study. If you continue beyond 16 weeks you can renew your awards if you show evidence of satisfactory progress and attendance.
What You Need To Do:
UFV Financial Aid & Awards requires the signed application with copies of all required documentation to process the Adult Upgrading Grant. Please see our Adult Upgrading Grant checklist for full instructions on completing and submitting your application.
- The application is a pdf fillable. Complete the application in Adobe Acrobat Reader. . Save the application once complete to ensure it saves your information.
- Email your completed application as a pdf attachment with scanned copies of all required documentation. Proof of income must accompany your application - a copy of your Notice of Assessment or if you have not filed income tax, a copy of T4 sips, pay stubs, ROE etc.
Photos (jpeg, png, etc) of applications/documentation and links to shared drives will not be accepted. - If the application is filled out correctly you will be notified of the results of the assessment approximately three weeks from the time the application is received. If the application is not filled out correctly, Financial Aid will contact you by phone or email.
- If you have been approved for funding:
- a sponsoring form for the tuition fees will be electronically entered into your student record in the Office of the Registrar.
- for books and supplies, if applicable, a cheque will be mailed to you once you are registered, but not before the first day of classes.
- a notification of all the above steps will be sent to your UFV student email address.
StudentAidBC Student Loan Program
StudentAidBC student loan program is a one-application process and is comprised of Canada Student Loan, B.C. Student Loan, Canada Student Grant for Persons with Dependents.
StudentAidBC exists to supplement, not replace, funds available to students through work, savings/assets and family resources/income. The Program is need-based, considering income and resources against basic educational costs and a moderate standard of living. StudentAidBC is designed to provide additional financial assistance to eligible students enrolled in at least 60% of a full-time post-secondary course load (9 credits or more), for credit by semester (40% for students with permanent disabilities), for a minimum of 12 weeks. You must attend a provincially designated post-secondary school, and your studies must lead towards a certificate, diploma, or degree.
You must also be a resident of British Columbia as defined under this program. Some students are required to apply to a different province by virtue of their residency status. Contact UFV Financial Aid and Awards for clarification. UFV Financial Aid and Awards often carry applications from the different provinces.
The amount of StudentAid BC you can receive depends upon your financial need as calculated under Federal and Provincial government assessment regulations. There is also a limit to the amount of funding available to you based on the number of weeks of study in an application period. In addition, both the federal and provincial programs have lifetime maximums.
Students in high-tuition programs or with significant financial commitments in addition to direct educational expenses, may need to seek alternate sources of funds.
It is essential that careful financial planning take place prior to any decision to pursue post-secondary studies, in order to ensure that sufficient resources are available to cover all costs.
In addition, it is your responsibility to review your financial situation on an on-going basis, to ensure that your obligation to repay the cumulative debt load can be met once full-time post-secondary studies cease.
In-Study Status
Canada Student Loans and B.C. Student Loans are interest-free and no payments are required while a student is attending 60% of a full-time course load (based on 9 credits each semester) in post-secondary studies. Payments on these student loans begin 6 months after you are no longer a full time student.
Once you have a student loan, it is your responsibility to ensure National Student Loan Service Centre (NSLSC) and/or StudentAid BC know you are still in school. This is done by either applying for and receiving full time funding or if not receiving funding, confirming full time enrolment through your NSLSC account.
Canada Student Grant for Persons with Dependents
This grant is designed to to assist low-income students with dependent children under the age of 12, or children with disabilities 12 years of age or older.
Students are eligible for this new grant for each year of their post-secondary studies as long as they meet the eligibility criteria. The grant is $200 per month per child under the age of 12. This is a flat amount and may exceed a student's assessed need.
Reassessments
If information on your application changes after you submit it, you must submit a Reassessment form (Appendix 7) to the Ministry to inform them of your change of circumstances. Reassessment forms are available at UFV Financial Aid and Awards. The deadline for submission is no later than six weeks before the study end date that is indicated on your application.
Appeals
You may request a special Appeal of your application when exceptional circumstances exist, which do not fall within standard program policy. Appeals are examined on an individual basis and may result in the setting aside or waiving standard program policy. All reviews that are not resolved with the Branch are referred for consideration by the Appeal Committee. Not all Appeals are approved.
If you wish to do an Appeal, contact UFV Financial Aid and Awards for an appointment with an advisor.
You do not have to wait for final acceptance into UFV or be registered into classes to apply for student loan funding.
Part-Time Studies
A federally-funded program to assist Canadian citizens, permanent resident/landed immigrants, convention refugees or a protected person living in Canada who can demonstrate financial need.
Five levels of assistance for qualified part-time students are:
- Canada Student Grants for Part-Time Studies (CSG-PT) -
- Canada Student Grant for Persons with Permanent Disabilities (CSG-PD) -
- BC Supplemental Bursary for Students with a Permanent Disability - up to $800
- Part-Time Canada Student Loans (PT-CSL)
- Canada Student Grant for Part-time Students with Dependants
To be eligible, you must be:
- Enrolled in, or planning to enrol in, 20-59% of a full time post-secondary course load (by credits per semester)
- Have a family income that falls below the maximum income limits for part-time eligibility
- If you have had previous funding from Canada Student Grants and Loans for part-time studies, you must have successfully completed those study periods.
- Not be in default of previous full or part-time Canada Student Loans.
Funding covers:
- Tuition and compulsory school fees
- Textbooks and supplies
- Miscellaneous allowance
- A small allowance for local transportation to and from classes
- An allowance for unsubsidized childcare costs incurred to attend classes.
NOTE: Room and Board costs are not funded
What You Need To Do:
November 2024 StudentAid BC Part time studies applications for Winter 2025 will be available online through www.StudentAidBC.ca in late November. A valid BC Services card and the BC Services app are required. Set up your BC Services Card App as soon as possible to avoid system issues and/or delays..
Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Persons with Permanent Disabilities
Part-time or full-time students with permanent disabilities in post-secondary programs may apply for up to $8,000 each year for adaptive equipment, supplies and/or services to assist them with their studies.
To be eligible you must apply for the StudentAidBC Program if you are full-time (40%-100% course load) or a High Need Part-Time application if you are part-time (20%-59%) to determine if you have financial need. If you are eligible you do not need to negotiate your loan documents in order to obtain your grant.
What You Need To Do:
- Application and advising for the Canada Student Grant with permanent disabilities may be obtained through UFV Centre for Accessibility Services (CAS). An Accessibility advisor will help you document your disability and determine what equipment, services and supplies for which you may be eligible.
- UFV Financial Aid and Awards will help you complete the remainder of the application process. (SABC or Canada Student Grant for High-Need Part -Time).
- Application and documentation will then be sent to Special Programs, Student Services Branch, Ministry of Advanced Education for processing.
- If funding is approved the grant will then be sent to Centre for Accessibility Services in approximately 6-8 weeks.
Student Lines of Credit
Most of Canada’s chartered banks offer lines of credit and special banking packages to Canadian students who have exhausted assistance possibilities through government and institutional sources. Monthly interest must be paid by the borrower while in school but payments on loan principal can be deferred until the student is out of school. A co-signer is often required.
For further details, contact a loans officer at the bank or credit union.
UFV Bursaries
If you can show genuine financial need, you may qualify for a non-repayable grant, called a bursary.
To apply for a bursary, you must:
- Demonstrate genuine financial need
- Be enrolled in a UFV program
- Show satisfactory academic achievement (2.0 GPA or better)
- Meet the criteria outlined in the bursary description
- Provide any required documentation with your bursary application
- Be a government citizen or landed immigrant
First, consideration is given to students who have exhausted all other types of funding (i.e., government financial aid programs). Students who have not accessed government funding may receive bursaries based on the availability of funds.
APPLY EARLY: You may apply for bursaries each semester you are a registered UFV student.
| SEMESTER | APPLICATION DATES (unless otherwise indicated) |
|---|---|
| Fall | Accepted between September 30 to November 30 |
| Winter | Accepted between January 15 to March 15 |
| Summer | Accepted between May 30 to June 30 |
| Trades | Accepted between September 15 to June 30 |
NOTE: To be eligible for UFV bursaries in the summer semester, students must be registered in the full Summer semester (May – August).
Bursaries may be subject to change.
UFV Emergency Student Funding
Emergency tuition deferrals:
Emergency tuition deferrals are available to UFV students who, due to some unforeseen emergency situation, are unable to pay tuition fees by the due date.
Who is Eligible for Emergency Deferral?
- Students who are waiting for approved, but delayed student loans.
- Students who can demonstrate that they will be able to pay the deferred fees through some other means by an agreed upon date.
What You Need To Do:
- Apply for a fee deferral through your student "MyUFV" account.
- You may be required to meet with the Financial Aid Officer.
- You will be notified by email of the decision.
- Upon approval, your student record will be flagged to indicate approval of the deferral of tuition fees.
- If a student loan was used as security, a consignment for payment may be placed on the student loan when it is disbursed.
- If a student loan was not used as security, students will be required to make payment at Admissions and Records, by the due date.
UFV Student Emergency Funds are available to assist students who are experiencing unforeseen financial difficulties that are beyond their control and prevent them from reaching their educational goals.
- Course load: Must be registered in good standing in a minimum of 2 courses
- Frequency: Lifetime maximum of 3 emergency disbursements
What You Need To Do:
- Download and complete the UFV Student Emergency Fund Application
- Submit the completed application and any supporting documentation to financial.aid@ufv.ca
- A Financial Aid & Awards advisor will contact you directly to discuss your application and other options available to you
- If you are approved, a cheque will be disbursed within 3 to 5 working days
Emergency Student Loans:
Emergency Student Loans are available to assist students who, because of some financial interruption or emergency, needs short-term loan assistance to meet study-related expenses. Loans are interest-free and are repayable in 30 to 90 days.
Who is Eligible for an Emergency Student Loan?
- Students who are waiting for an approved, but delayed student loan.
- Students who can demonstrate that they will be able to pay the emergency loan through some other means by an agreed upon date.
- Students who are progressing in their studies as indicated by a GPA of at least 2.0.
What You Need To Do:
- You must complete an Emergency Loan application and submit it to UFV Financial Aid and Awards.
- You will be required to meet with the Financial Aid Officer.
- If you are approved, a cheque will be produced within 2 to 3 working days.
- If a Canada or BC Student Loan was used as security, a consignment for payment will be placed on the student loan document.
- If a student loan was not used as security, students will be required to make payment to UFV at the UFV Financial Aid and Awards office, by the due date.