Student Loans

StudentAid BC

StudentAid BC provides assistance in the form of Canada Student Loans, or a combination of Canada Student Loans, BC Student Loans, and possibly grant funding.The amount and type of assistance awarded is based on need as assessed by the Provincial Authority. Students are reminded that this is an assistance program aimed at complementing, not replacing, their own financial resources.

Apply

Quick links:

• Apply online for a student loan online or check your student loan status
• Set up the BC Services Card app on your mobile device (required if applying for student loans and grants for the first time)

For information on how to apply, download the information sheet for Full-Time or Part-Time students and watch these Student Aid BC videos. 

We recommend applying for student aid at least eight weeks before tuition is due to ensure your funding is in place before the tuition payment deadline. Processing time for Student Loan applications typically takes 4–6 weeks.

Eligibility

To be eligible for full time student aid, students must be registered in 60% of a full course load (nine credit hours) or 40% (six credit hours) for students with approved disabilities. To be eligible for part time student aid, students must be registered between a 20% to 40% course load. For questions on what program to apply to, based on your expected course load, please reach out to a Financial Aid advisor.

Should you withdraw to below 60% enrolment, the government will be informed and you may be put in a position of overpayment. You will be required to repay part of your student loan funding, prior to receipt of any future awards. If the withdrawal pattern is repeated, you may be advised that no further student loan funding will be forthcoming.

Payments

The BC Ministry of Education pays tuition and fees directly to Langara College from all approved BC/Canada Student Loan funds (daycare fees are exempt from this direct payment). There are maximum amounts that can be requested from term to term, so students are responsible for ensuring the amount sent to Langara College from the BC Ministry of Education is enough to cover their tuition and fees. Please make sure to check your account balance by logging into the Student Information System. If the student loan funding is insufficient to cover tuition and fees, students must pay the difference.

Students must also pay the College or be refunded, when there are subsequent changes to study costs, resulting from adding or dropping courses.

Out-of-Province Student Loan Program

If you are originally from a province or territory outside of British Columbia and do not meet the residency requirement for StudentAid BC, you may still be eligible to apply for government student loans and/or grants through your home province.

Please note that you can only apply for student financial assistance through one province or territory. Applying to multiple provinces will result in restrictions and verification of your application, which may delay any funding you are eligible to receive.

Provincial Loan Offices:

• Alberta Student Aid
• Manitoba Student Aid
• New Brunswick Student Financial Services
• Newfoundland and Labrador Student Aid
• Northwest Territories Student Financial Assistance
• Nova Scotia Student Assistance
• Nunavut Student Funding
• Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)
• PEI Student Financial Services
• Québec Aide financière aux études
• Saskatchewan Student Service Centre
• Yukon Student Financial Assistance

Important note: If you are enrolled in a program that requires designation, please be aware that obtaining approval for your funding may take longer, as additional documentation must be submitted before you can apply for funding. To ensure sufficient time for processing, we recommend that you apply for out-of-province funding at least two months prior to the start of the term.

For additional assistance, email finaid@langara.ca or contact your provincial student loan office directly.

Additional resources

Non-repayable financial supports

There are also several grants, scholarships, and other non-repayable financial support available to students. Visit the StudentAid BC website to learn more about each and determine your eligibility. If you are a student with an approved permanent, persistent or prolonged disability, you may also be eligible for grants and bursaries that can help cover the cost of tuition or equipment. For questions or help in applying for these supports, please reach out to a Financial Aid advisor.

Other lenders

As a full-time student, you may not be required to make loan payments or have interest accruing on your past loans.

Please see the Financial Aid Office for assistance and advice on how to keep past lenders informed of your current status. There are different processes and forms for different situations and types of student, provincial and federal loans.