Assistance Programs
The Financial Aid Department administers a variety of assistance programs. Staff are available to help students complete several assistance forms, provide advice on general financial planning, and find solutions to financial problems. Students experiencing financial difficulties should visit the Registrar & Enrolment Services Office or contact Financial Aid directly to book an appointment with a Financial Aid advisor. A brief description of financial support programs available at Langara College follows.
For budgeting and financial planning information, please visit the RBC On Campus education center for students in the A Building or access rbc.com/oncampus.
StudentAid BC
StudentAid BC provides assistance in the form of Canada Student Loans, BC Student Loans, and possible grant funding. The amount and type of assistance awarded is based on need as assessed by the provincial authority. For information on how to apply, download this Full-Time/Part-Time Information Sheet and watch these Student Aid BC videos. We recommend applying for student aid at least eight weeks before tuition is due to ensure your funding is in place before the tuition payment deadline.
Students are reminded that this is an assistance program aimed at complementing, not replacing, their own financial resources. To be eligible for full time student aid, students must be registered in 60% of a full course load (nine credit hours) or 40% (six credit hours) for students with approved disabilities. To be eligible for part time student aid, students must be registered between a 20% to 40% course load. For questions on what program to apply to, based on your expected course load, please reach out to a Financial Aid advisor.
To apply for a student loan online or to check the status of a student loan, visit here. If you are applying for student loans and grants for the first time, you will need to start by setting up your BC Services Card application on your mobile device. For more information on how to do this, download this Setting up your BC Services Card.
There are several grants, scholarships, and other non-repayable financial support available to students. To learn more about each and determine your eligibility, please visit the StudentAid BC website. If you are a student with an approved permanent, persistent or prolonged disability, you may be eligible for grants and bursaries that can help cover the cost of tuition or equipment. For questions or help in applying for these supports, please reach out to a Financial Aid advisor.
Adult Upgrading Grant (AUG)
AUG (formerly ABESAP) is a provincially-funded program designed to fund the direct educational costs of students enrolled in programs such as:
- Academic Upgrading (when not repeating courses for better grades)
- Pre-Vocational courses
- English Language Training
- Adult Special Education
AUG is intended for students who have left the secondary school system without completion and who wish to pursue upgrading. The amount of the grant awarded to the student is based on a standard needs assessment procedure. The current courses eligible for AUG include:
- ENGL 1098, 1099, 1106, 1107, 1108, 1110, 1120, 1121
- MATH 1100, 1101, 1150
- CS LEAP Basics, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
For more information visit https://studentaidbc.ca/explore/grants-scholarships.
Deadline: Submit your completed application at least three weeks before the end of each term.
Out-of-Province Student Loan Program
If you are originally from a province or territory outside of British Columbia and do not meet the residency requirement for StudentAid BC, you may still be eligible to apply for government student loans and/or grants through your home province.
Please note that you can only apply for student financial assistance through one province or territory. Applying to multiple provinces will result in restrictions and verification of your application, which may delay any funding you are eligible to receive.
Provincial Loan Offices:
- Alberta Student Aid
- Manitoba Student Aid
- New Brunswick Student Financial Services
- Newfoundland and Labrador Student Aid
- Northwest Territories Student Financial Assistance
- Nova Scotia Student Assistance
- Nunavut Student Funding
- Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)
- PEI Student Financial Services
- Québec Aide financière aux études
- Saskatchewan Student Service Centre
- Yukon Student Financial Assistance
Important note: If you are enrolled in a program that requires designation, please be aware that obtaining approval for your funding may take longer, as additional documentation must be submitted before you can apply for funding. To ensure sufficient time for processing, we recommend that you apply for out-of-province funding at least two months prior to the start of the term.
For additional assistance, please email finaid@langara.ca or contact your provincial student loan office directly.
Emergency Loans
Emergency loans are used to assist students when student loans have been approved but are delayed. In some circumstances, other types of income are used as security for an emergency loan; each situation is considered separately. Students in emergency situations are advised to see the Registrar & Enrolment Services Office to set up an interview with an advisor.