British Columbia residents who cannot finance their education without assistance can avail student loan programs especially designed for them. The amount of assistance is based on a standard means test developed by the federal and provincial governments. In most cases, assistance is in the form of a federal Canada Student Loan combined with a BC Student Loan.  

Applicants have to be Canadian citizens or permanent residents (landed immigrants) and residency in British Columbia must be established according to federal-provincial criteria.

In addition to residency, students must be registered in 60% of a full-time course load for their program (as indicated in the UBC calendar).
In order to receive funds in time for the beginning of the winter session in September, applications should be submitted to the Ministry of Advanced Education by the last working day in June. Students who apply after that date may not receive their BCSAP assistance until well into the winter session.

For students enrolled in 34 weeks of study or more, funding will be broken into two separate disbursements available at the beginning of the student's study period and again at the halfway point.

60% of funding will be in the form of Canada Student Loan, and available the first day of classes. 40% of funding will be in the form of BC Student Loan and available halfway through the student's study period.

Students enrolled in 17- or 13-week study periods will receive 100% of their funding in one disbursement available the first day of classes. Again, 60% of funding will be in the form of Canada Student Loan and 40% will be in the form of BC Student Loan.

Generally, only graduate students are eligible to apply for 52 weeks of assistance. Undergraduate students who plan to attend full-time in both the winter and summer session must submit a loan application for each session.