Applying for Funding
If you are taking Flexible Learning courses, you will need to follow the below steps each term you wish to apply for funding:
To apply for funding, you will need to be declared/accepted into an eligible Flexible Learning Program. See here for information on eligible and ineligible programs.
If you haven’t already declared your program, you will need to do this before you can apply for funding. For information on how to declare or apply for your desired program, please see the “Entrance Requirements” tab of your program’s webpage.
As a Flexible Learning student, you will need to finalize your course selection and register before you can apply for funding. This will help to ensure that your funding application is completed correctly, and avoid delays to the release of funding. Please note that changes to your courses after submitting your loan application may cause delays to the release of your funding.
If you are not able to pay for your courses upon registration, you will need to complete steps 3-5 below right away after registration, so that you can request a Tuition Fee Deferral.
Flexible learning students can qualify for either part-time or full-time funding, depending on course dates and total credits. Use the chart below to help you determine whether you are full-time or part-time status.
| Determining Your Courseload (Full-Time Or Part-Time) | |||
| No. Of calendar*
Weeks in each term |
Part-time funding:
Credits required (20%-59% course load) |
Full-time funding:
Credits required (60% course load) |
Full-time funding for students with approved disability status: Credits required
(40% course load) |
| 6-11 | 3+ credits | Part-Time Funding Only | Part-time Funding Only |
| 12–15 | 3-11.5 credits | 12+ credits | 8+ credits |
| 16–19 | 6-15.5 credits | 16+ credits | 11+ credits |
| 20–25 | 7-19.5 credits | 20+ credits | 13+ credits |
| 26–30 | 9-26.5 credits | 26+ credits | 17+ credits |
| 31–38 | 11-30.5 credits | 31+ credits | 21+ credits |
| 39–44 | 13-38.5 credits | 39+ credits | 26+ credits |
| 45–52 | 15-44.5 credits | 45+ credits | 30+ credits |
*To determine the number of calendar weeks in your study period, use the earliest start date of all your classes and the latest end date. Within this study period, count every calendar week (Sunday-Saturday) that has at least one class. Do not rely on the BCIT website course information or external weeks calculators for calculating your study weeks. To request a copy of the Financial Aid Weeks Calculator Excel Document, please email us at finaid@bcit.ca.
When you apply for funding, BCIT Student Financial Aid and Awards will ensure that the correct study information is reported to StudentAid BC. Each term, you will need to complete a Specific Course Completion Contract (SCCC) to inform our office of your course plan so that correct study information can be reported.
Download the SCCC form here. The SCCC has important information on the first page, including your responsibilities, courseload criteria, and submission instructions. Once you complete the SCCC, you can submit it to our office via email (finaid@bcit.ca) or in-person.
Please apply for funding as soon as possible once you submit your SCCC.
- Part-time enrolment: Students registered in a part-time courseload will apply for funding through SABC’s Student Information Management System (SIMS). BCIT will complete the required Program Information Request (PIR) based on the information provided in your SCCC.
- Full-time enrolment: Students registered in a full-time courseload will apply for funding through the online SABC Dashboard.
- When selecting your “Available Program Dates” on the application, please ensure that you select the option that says: “NOT FOUND: My dates are not found/not listed.”. This will allow you to manually input your specific start and end dates based on your course selection. BCIT will complete the required Appendix 3 based on the information provided in your SCCC.
After you submit your application, make sure to follow all instructions from StudentAid BC, as additional forms or documents may be required depending on your application details. If steps are missed, your application may not be processed.
Once your complete application is submitted, StudentAid BC will assess your eligibility and send you a Notification of Assessment letter which will outline the types and amounts of funding you are approved for. Review this letter carefully and follow any instructions provided.
Confirmation of enrolment requests are processed approximately 1 week before your term starts. You do not need to request that we confirm your enrolment. If the course or program details on your application do not match your enrolment, BCIT Financial Aid & Awards will contact you with more information about next steps.
Approved funds are released after the confirmation of enrolment- typically within the first 1-2 weeks of the term.