Official Guidelines Updated: March 2026
Key Facts for 2025–2026:
B.C. and Canada Student Loans are both interest-free. Full-time students without dependants can receive up to $520 per week in combined loan funding; students with dependants can receive up to $740 per week. Both loans are administered as a single integrated loan with one monthly repayment. Repayment begins six months after you leave school.
The Canada-B.C. Integrated Student Loan is a joint federal-provincial loan program that helps eligible full-time post-secondary students in British Columbia cover the cost of their education. Although the loan has two lenders — the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia — it is administered as a single loan with a single monthly repayment after graduation. Both the federal and provincial portions are interest-free.
Your total loan amount is calculated based on your assessed financial need: the difference between your educational and living costs and the resources available to you. The loan covers expenses such as tuition, books, supplies, and living costs while you study.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for a B.C. full-time student loan, you must meet all of the following:
- Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person.
- Have a valid Canadian Social Insurance Number (SIN).
- Be a resident of British Columbia.
- Be enrolled full-time — at least 60% of a full course load (or 40% if you have a permanent or persistent/prolonged disability).
- Be enrolled in an eligible program at a designated institution. You can check whether your school is designated through the StudentAid BC website.
- Demonstrate financial need — your educational costs must exceed the resources available to you.
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress in your program.
- Not be in default on any previous student loans, have an outstanding overaward, or be restricted from receiving StudentAid BC funding.
How Much Can You Get?
The maximum weekly loan funding you can receive depends on whether you have dependants. The amounts below reflect the temporary increase to the Canada Student Loan maximum in effect until July 31, 2026.
| Student Type | Max Canada Student Loan | Max B.C. Student Loan | Max Combined Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| Without dependants | $300/week | $220/week | $520/week |
| With dependants | $300/week | $280/week | $740/week* |
*The combined maximum for students with dependants includes a B.C. top-up of up to $160 if your total award falls below your assessed need, bringing the maximum to $740/week.
Your actual loan amount will be the lesser of your calculated financial need and the applicable weekly maximum, multiplied by the number of weeks in your study period. Students in shorter study periods will receive less than the annual maximums.
Important:
The Canada Student Loan maximum of $300/week is a temporary increase in effect until July 31, 2026. After this date, the maximum is scheduled to return to $210/week unless extended by the federal government.
Living Allowances
Your loan amount is calculated in part based on your living situation. StudentAid BC uses the following 2025-26 living allowances to determine your assessed costs. Note that these are the amounts used in the financial need calculation — they may not equal the exact dollar amount you receive.
| Living Situation | Monthly | Weekly |
|---|---|---|
| Single student living away from home | $2,423 | $563 |
| Single student living at home | $824 | $192 |
| Single parent (add child allowance × number of dependants) | $3,117 | $725 |
| Married/common-law student (add child allowance × number of dependants) | $4,582 | $1,066 |
| Child allowance (per child) | $951 | $221 |
How to Apply
Apply through your StudentAid BC Dashboard using your BC Services Card. If you are a new applicant without a BC Services Card, you can register through the BC Services Card app — first-time users will need to verify their identity with Services BC via a video call or in-person appointment.
Once logged in, provide your post-secondary institution, program details, and study period dates. You will also need to declare your family income (Line 15000 from your most recent tax return) and any other financial assistance you are receiving. StudentAid BC will automatically assess your eligibility for applicable grants — including the B.C. Access Grant — at the same time as your loan application.
Before your funding is released, you must complete and agree to the Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement (MSFAA), a legal contract with the provincial and federal governments outlining your repayment responsibilities. You must also have your enrolment confirmed by your institution.
Applications open in June each year for the upcoming program year. Submit your application at least six weeks before your study period ends to ensure your application can be processed in time.
Interest and Repayment
Both the B.C. and Canada portions of your integrated student loan are interest-free — permanently for the Canada Student Loan, and by provincial policy for the B.C. Student Loan.
Repayment begins six months after you leave school. You make a single monthly payment covering both the provincial and federal portions of your loan through the National Student Loans Service Centre.
If you have difficulty repaying, the B.C. Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) can reduce or pause your payments based on your income. Under the current plan, borrowers with a household income below $40,000 (indexed to inflation) are not required to make payments. For those above this threshold, monthly payments are capped at 10% of household income.
Pro Tip:
If you are experiencing short-term financial difficulty but do not yet qualify for the full Repayment Assistance Plan, you may be able to make temporary minimum payments of $20 per month ($10 per loan type) for periods of up to six months at a time, to a maximum of 12 months over your repayment period. Contact the National Student Loans Service Centre to discuss your options.
Other Financial Aid Options
When you apply for a B.C. student loan, you are automatically assessed for several grant programs at the same time, including the B.C. Access Grant for Full-Time Students (up to $4,000/year for programs under two years, or up to $1,000/year for longer programs) and the Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students (up to $525/month). You do not need to apply for these separately.
Additional programs you may want to explore include Federal Student Scholarships, Federal Student Bursaries, and the B.C. Adult Upgrading Grant if you are enrolled in an adult education program.
Ready to find a program? Explore eligible schools today.
