Education costs

If you’ve been in foster care or had a Youth Agreement, you may qualify for the Agreements with a Young Adult (AYA) program — and receive up to $1,250 per month — to help cover the cost of things like housing, childcare, tuition and health care while you go to school or do job training, or attend rehabilitation, mental health, or life skills programs.

The Career Paths for Skilled Immigrants program can help you find skilled employment in BC. You can get help to build an action plan, get workplace experience, and receive financial support to help you upgrade.

A School Start-Up Supplement is provided to recipients of income assistance, disability assistance and hardship assistance to assist with extra costs associated with schooling for a person under 19 years of age.

If you are a former BC youth in care between the ages of 19-24 and you are a student, you may be able to get grants of up to $5,500 per program year.

This program contributes funding to a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP).

If you are 18 to 20 years old and you have not yet gotten the Canada Learning Bond (for example if your parents did not apply for you), you may be able to get up to $2,000 to help pay for the costs of your studies after high school. You do not have to spend this money right away.

This grant helps students with disabilities pay for each year of school.

The Canada Student Financial Assistance Program offers student grants and loans to full-time and part-time students. Grants and loans help students pay for your post-secondary education.

The repayment assistance plan can help you repay your student loan if you are having financial difficulty and cannot make your payments.

If you have a disability and are having difficulty paying your student loan, you may be eligible for the Repayment Assistance Plan for Borrowers with Disabilities (RAP-D).