Loans and Grants Process

Full-Time Student Funding 

• To receive student financial assistance through StudentAid BC, you must be a resident of BC.
• For more information, go to the BC Residency Requirement page.
• Available for education and living expenses.

Step 1: Before You Apply

Ensure you meet the eligibility requirements::

• You must be registered in at least 60% course load (9 credits) not including repeat or upgrading courses
• Or 40% course load (6 credits) for students with an approved permanent disability status with StudentAid BC

Note:

If you are registering in a course you have previously received a passing grade for, you will need to submit a repeat course form to SABC and get SABC's permission to repeat the course.

Step 2: Where to apply?

Applications are submitted through the Student Aid BC (SABC)Portal. Grants are assessed automatically at the time of loan processing by SABC.

Disclaimer:

Full-time students cannot apply for only a grant.

Step 3: How to Apply?

1. Visit StudentAidBC for instructions on how to apply for a Full-Time loan.

2. You must apply for a loan every semester. The program you are registered in at Douglas must match the one you enter on your loan application.

• Check myAccount to confirm the program you are in for the appropriate semester.
• Select the same program from the drop down menu on the loan application.

3. Once your application is processed by SABC, a Notice of Assessment (NOA)  will be posted to your SABC Dashboard, within 6 weeks.

• If it's your first time receiving funding or you have not received a loan/grant funding in over two years, you must complete a Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement (MSFAA). Follow the instructions in your SABC portal on how to submit the MSFAA.
• Once received, SABC will request Douglas College to confirm your full-time enrolment.

4. Confirmation of Enrolment:

• Douglas College will confirm your enrolment electronically close to the start date of classes.
• You must meet all eligibility requirements for confirmation.

5. Disbursment of Funds:

• After your MSFAA has been completed and processed and your enrolment is confirmed, your funds will be released.  
• Funds are sent after the confirmation of enrolment is completed and it may take 7 - 10 business days to arrive.
• Find more details here: https://studentaidbc.ca/apply/receive#full-time

Step 4: How to pay the Tuition with Loans and Grants?

The tuition amount will be paid directly to Douglas College and the remainder of your approved funds will be sent to your bank account or,  for some grants, through a cheque in the mail.

• To confirm that Douglas College has received payment, check your myAccount > Registration > View and Pay Tuition Fees.

Part-Time Student Funding

To receive student financial assistance through StudentAid BC, you must:

• Be a domestic applicant and meet all eligibility criteria
• Enrol into 3 to 8.5 academic credits in an eligible program (Find eligible programs and program codes)
• Demonstrate Financial Need

Note:

Part-time funding does not cover living costs but allows for tuition, books, supplies, transportation and child care. 

Step 1: Before You Apply

1. Ensure you meet eligibility requirements.

• The amount of funding you are eligible for depends on the number of credits you are enrolled in. Therefore, it is important that you finalize your courseload first (e.g. 3 credits or 6 credits) before submitting your Part-Time Studies Application. Any changes to your courseload later will require you to go through a reassessment process, which will eventually cause a delay to your funding.
• Do note that fee deferrals are only granted to students who submitted a Part-Time Studies Application to Douglas before the first fee payment deadline. Therefore, please plan ahead.

Step 2: How to Apply

1. Download the application form:

• British Columbia: StudentAidBC.
• Apply for a loan every semester.
• Part-Time Studies Application Tips - tips on how to fill out the part-time application form

2. Fill out your application form, sign the document in ink and email it to your Student Success Advisor (SSA) or enrolmentservices@douglascollege.ca.

• Tip: Study period dates are different from the class start and end dates. To ensure you are accurately funded, see study dates for each semester on the Program Cost page.
• Not sure who your SSA is? Email us at studentsuccess@douglascollege.ca

3. Once we process your application, you will receive a Notice of Assessment (NOA) from StudentAid BC detailing what kind of funding you will receive and when you will receive it.

• This usually arrives 2-4 weeks after submitting an accurately completed application.
• This letter will contain your 10-digit Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement (MSFAA) number.

4. Complete your MSFAA:

• If it's your first time, or it's been over two years since being approved for part-time funding through StudentAid BC, you need to complete and agree to the Terms and Conditions of the Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement (MSFAA). 

• https://studentaidbc.ca/help-centre/receive-funding/how-receive-part-time-funding 

5. Confirmation of Enrolment:

• Douglas College will confirm your enrolment after late registration, i.e. Week 3 of the new semester.
• You must meet all eligibility requirements for confirmation.

6. Funding is disbursed:

• After your MSFAA has been completed and processed and your enrolment is confirmed, your funds will be released by StudentAid BC. 
• Find more details here: https://studentaidbc.ca/apply/receive#part-time

Step 3: How to pay the Tuition with Loans and Grants

The tuition amount will be paid directly to Douglas College and the remainder of your approved funds will be sent to your bank account or through a cheque in the mail for some grants

• To confirm that Douglas College has received payment, check your myAccount > Registration > View and Pay Tuition Fees.

Have questions about your application? See our Financial Aid FAQs.

Out-of-Province Loans and Grants

If you live outside of BC, you must apply for assistance through your home province.

You must apply for a loan every semester.

The related website for each province and territory are listed below. Please read the details carefully because it is your responsibility to understand how your home province/territory operates.

Links to financial aid outside of BC:

• Alberta
• Manitoba
• New Brunswick
• Newfoundland & Labrador
• Northwest Territories
• Nova Scotia
• Ontario
• Prince Edward Island
• Quebec
• Saskatchewan
• Yukon

See our Fee deferrals page for Out-of-Province applicants.