Financial Aid and Awards

Eligibility for Financial Assistance

BC offers Canada-BC integrated loans that require only one application.  You are automatically assessed for any loan and grant you might be eligible for.

BC Residency Requirements

To receive student financial assistance through StudentAid BC, you must be a resident of BC according the criteria below.

For Independent students, residency is defined as the Canadian province you have most recently lived in for 12 continuous months (excluding time spent in full-time post-secondary study).

For Dependent students, residency is defined as the Canadian province in which your parent(s), step-parent(s), sponsor or legal guardian has most recently lived in for 12 continuous months.  If you parents are separated or divorced, or your parent is single, only one parent's financial information is required.  This is the parent who is your main financial supporter.

For more information, go to the BC Residency Requirement page

You must be enrolled in and attend a minimum of 60% course load (or 40% course load for students with permanent disabilities as approved by StudentAid BC) for the entire educational period covered by your application. The minimum 60% course load requirement as outlined by Okanagan College is:

• All university transfer, degree and diploma programs: 9 credits per semester
• All vocational, trades and health certificate programs: the full program as outlined in the Okanagan College Calendar
• NOTE: If you will be taking less than the full program, you must speak with a Financial Awards Assistant to ensure you are enrolled in right amount of course load

Previously passed courses and courses which are audited or waitlisted, Adult Academic and Career Preparation (upgrading), and Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) are NOT counted in the minimum course load requirement. It is your responsibility to ensure that the courses you are registered in meet the minimum course load requirement. Should you have any questions, please contact the Financial Aid & Awards Office.

You are eligible for in-study payment-free status if you:

• Are attending Okanagan College full-time in an eligible program
• Have started (or are within 30 days of starting), or have not finished your study period
• Have not received funding for your current study period
• Have student loan in good-standing

BC students apply online through your National Student Loan Service Centre (NSLSC) account.

For students from other Provinces/Territories, please apply through your home province/territory.  Links can be found on the Out-of-Province/Territory tab.

NOTE: If you are receiving a loan for the current study period, you DO NOT need to request in-study payment-free status as once funds are released your file will be marked as “in class" and if you are studying part-time you are not eligible for in-study payment-free status for your full-time loans.

• Effective April 1st 2023, the Government of Canada has permanently eliminated the accumulation of interest on Canada Student Loans.  No interest is charged on Canada Student Loans of the Newfoundland and Labrador, British Columbia, Manitoba and New Brunswick portion of Integrated Student Loans.  
• If you are not returning to school, interest will begin to accrue on the provincial portions of Canada-Ontario and Canada-Saskatchewan Integrated Student Loans during the six-month non-repayment period.
• Repayment will start on the seventh month after you leave school. Visit Paying Back your Canada Student Loan for more information.
• If you cannot afford the monthly payment on your student loan, there are Repayment Assistance plans available. Visit Repayment Assistance for more information.

If you are in a full-time student loan eligible program but taking the program on a part-time basis, you can apply for part-time funding. To receive student financial assistance through StudentAid BC, you must be a resident of BC.  Residency is defined as the Canadian province you have most recently lived in for 12 continuous months (excluding time spent in full-time post-secondary study).

Important updates to the Part-Time StudentAid BC Application Process:

• StudentAid BC is transitioning from paper/PDF-based part-time applications to an online portal on November 28, 2024.
• Paper/PDF part-time applications will no longer be accepted.  
• Students applying for part-time funding must apply through StudentAid BC's online application system (SIMS).
• To avoid delays in submitting your application through SIMS, set up your BC Services Card account as soon as possible.  You will be able to create your SIMS account, log in and apply for funding on November 28, 2024.
• For more information, please visit StudentAid BC.

Part-time students are enrolled in 20% to 59% course load (or 20% to 39% for students with permanent disabilities as approved by StudentAid BC). The 20% to 59% course load requirement as outlined by Okanagan College is:

• All University transfer, degree and diploma programs: 3 to 6 credits per semester
• All vocational, trades and health care certificate programs: please speak with a Financial Awards Assistant to ensure you are enrolled in right amount of course load

BC offers Canada-BC integrated loans that requires only one application.

You are eligible for in-study payment-free status if you:

• Are attending Okanagan College part-time in an eligible program
• Have started (or are within 30 days of starting), or have not finished your study period
• Have not received funding for your current study period
• Have student loan in good-standing

BC Students please apply online through your National Student Loan Service Centre (NSLSC) account.

For student from other Provinces/Territories, please apply through your home province/territory.  Links can be found on the Out-of-Province/Territory tab.

• Effective April 1st 2023, the Government of Canada has permanently eliminated the accumulation of interest on Canada Student Loans.  No interest is charged on Canada Student Loans of the Newfoundland and Labrador, British Columbia, Manitoba and New Brunswick portion of Integrated Student Loans.
• If you are not returning to school, interest will begin to accrue on the provincial portions of Canada-Ontario and Canada-Saskatchewan Integrated Student Loans during the six-month non-repayment period.
• Repayment will start on the seventh month after you leave school. Visit Paying Back your Canada Student Loan for more information.
• If you cannot afford the monthly payment on your student loan, there are Repayment Assistance plans available. Visit Repayment Assistance for more information.

Apprentices registered in a Red Seal trade apprenticeship program who meet the eligibility requirements for Canada Apprentice Loan (CAL) may receive up to $4000 in interest-free loans per period of technical training.

The purpose of the Canada Apprentice Loan is to provide apprentices registered in Red Seal trades with loans to assist with the costs of attending technical training.

The Apprenticeship Completion Grant (ACG) is a one-time taxable cash grant of $2,000 maximum available to registered apprentices who have successfully completed their apprenticeship training and obtained their journey-person certification in a designated Red Seal trade on or after January 1, 2009.

Apprenticeship grants are provided to increase access to apprenticeships in the Red Seal trades by helping apprentices cover expenses such as the purchase of tools and other materials required for learning on-the-job and travel expenses associated with classroom training.

There are three types of training tax credits:

• Basic credit for the first two levels of non-Red Seal training programs
• Completion credit for level 3 or level 4 for both Red Seal and non-Red Seal training programs
• Enhanced credit for First Nations individuals and persons with disabilities

The Apprentice Incentive Grant helps pay for expenses while you train as an apprentice in a designated Red Seal Trade. It is a taxable grant of $1,000.

The Apprentice Incentive Grant for Women is a taxable grant of $3,000 that helps pay for expenses while you train as an apprentice in a designated Red Seal Trade where women are underrepresented.