Official Guidelines Updated: March 2026
Key Facts for 2025–2026:
The B.C. Access Grant (Full-Time) provides up to $4,000 per year for programs under two years, and up to $1,000 per year for programs of two years or longer. There is no separate application — you are automatically assessed when you apply for a B.C. student loan. The grant is available at B.C. public post-secondary institutions only.
The B.C. Access Grant (Full-Time) is a non-repayable provincial grant that provides upfront financial support to low- and middle-income students enrolled in full-time studies at B.C. public post-secondary institutions. It was introduced in 2020 — the first new B.C. student grant program in 15 years — to help reduce financial barriers to post-secondary education and training.
The grant is awarded based on financial need and family income. As family income increases, the grant amount decreases. Funding can be used for tuition, living expenses, or any eligible education-related costs.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the B.C. Access Grant (Full-Time), you must meet all of the following:
- Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
- Be a resident of British Columbia. To qualify as a BC resident, you must have lived in the province for at least 12 consecutive months before starting your program if you are an independent student, or one of your parents or guardians must have resided in BC for at least 12 months prior if you are a dependent student. Protected persons are exempt from the residency requirement.
- Have a valid Canadian Social Insurance Number (SIN).
- Be enrolled full-time in an undergraduate degree, diploma, or certificate program at a B.C. public post-secondary institution. Students in Master’s or PhD programs, or enrolled in unclassified studies, are not eligible.
- Demonstrate financial need, with family income falling within the income thresholds set by the provincial government (see below).
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress in your program.
- Not have defaulted on previous student loans.
Income Thresholds
The B.C. Access Grant uses two separate income threshold tables depending on your program length. Your family income is based on Line 15000 of your most recent tax return. As family income increases, the grant amount decreases.
Programs Less Than Two Years in Length — up to $4,000/year
| Family Size (number of people) | Maximum Grant Gross family income below this amount qualifies for the maximum grant |
Grant Cut-Off Gross family income at or above this amount does not qualify |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $37,701 | $79,718 |
| 2 | $53,318 | $111,458 |
| 3 | $65,302 | $132,870 |
| 4 | $75,405 | $145,828 |
| 5 | $84,304 | $157,833 |
| 6 | $92,351 | $169,274 |
| 7+ | $99,751 | $179,116 |
Programs Two Years or More in Length — up to $1,000/year
| Family Size (number of people) | Maximum Grant Gross family income below this amount qualifies for the maximum grant |
Grant Cut-Off Gross family income at or above this amount does not qualify |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $37,701 | $48,205 |
| 2 | $53,318 | $67,853 |
| 3 | $65,302 | $82,194 |
| 4 | $75,405 | $93,011 |
| 5 | $84,304 | $102,686 |
| 6 | $92,351 | $111,582 |
| 7+ | $99,751 | $119,592 |
Pro Tip:
Your grant eligibility is based on your previous year’s income (Line 15000 of your tax return). If your current-year income is expected to be significantly lower, you may still be assessed using prior-year figures — check with StudentAid BC if your circumstances have changed.
How Much Can You Get?
Grant amounts depend on your program length and assessed financial need:
- Programs less than two years — up to $4,000 per eight-month school year (up to $117.65 per week of study)
- Programs two years or longer — up to $1,000 per eight-month school year (up to $29.41 per week of study)
Students in a longer study period (up to 52 weeks of grant eligibility) may receive more; students in a shorter study period may receive less. You can receive the B.C. Access Grant each year of your studies, as long as you continue to meet the eligibility criteria.
How the Grant Is Paid
If approved, your grant is paid by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) through the National Student Loans Service Centre:
- If your study period is 17 weeks or less, you receive 100% of your funding at the start of your study period.
- If your study period is longer than 17 weeks, you receive 50% at the start and 50% at the midpoint of your study period.
How to Apply
There is no separate application for the B.C. Access Grant (Full-Time). You are automatically assessed for this grant when you apply for B.C. student financial assistance through StudentAid BC.
To apply for student aid, you will need a BC Services Card to log in to the StudentAid BC system. If you are registering for the first time, your identity will need to be verified by Services BC — this can be done via a video call or in-person appointment. Once your identity is verified and your card is set up, you can access your StudentAid BC account online.
When completing your application, you will need your Social Insurance Number, details about your post-secondary program (institution name, start and end dates), your family’s income information from your most recent tax return (Line 15000), and details about any other financial assistance you are receiving. StudentAid BC will automatically determine whether you qualify for the B.C. Access Grant as part of the overall assessment.
Apply as early as possible — StudentAid BC recommends applying at least six weeks before your program begins to ensure adequate processing time.
Other Financial Aid Options
If you don’t qualify for the B.C. Access Grant for Full-Time Students, or want to explore additional support alongside it, the following programs may be available:
- B.C. Adult Upgrading Grant — non-repayable support for students in adult basic education, ESL, and academic upgrading programs
- B.C. Access Grant for Students with Disabilities — additional support for students with a permanent or prolonged disability
- Canada Student Grants — federal non-repayable grants automatically assessed through your StudentAid BC application
- Canada Student Loans — permanently interest-free federal loans assessed through the same application
Ready to find a program? Explore eligible schools today.
