Financing your university education

By choosing to attend UNBC, you’ve chosen to invest in your future. The Awards and Financial Aid department can assist you in finding the resources you need to finance your education. We provide information and guidance on applying for government financial assistance, university scholarships, and bursaries.

The actual costs depend on you; how many courses you take, where you live, how much you earn, and so-on. The following costs are an estimate based on 2023-2024 amounts to give you an indication of how much it will cost for one year of study at UNBC.

Estimated costs per academic year

Undergraduate students

2 semesters = 1 academic year

Per course (3 credit hours)
Tuition and fees: $931
Books and supplies: $200
Total: $1,131

8 courses (24 credit hours)
Tuition and fees: $5,955
Books and supplies: $1,600
Total: $7,555

10 courses (30 credit hours)
Tuition and fees: $7,217
Books and supplies: $2,000
Total: $9,217

Graduate students

3 semesters = 1 academic year

Note: Some graduate programs have different program tuition and fees than those listed below. Please visit the tuition and fees web page for a more specific cost breakdown.

Part-time students
Tuition and fees: $4.389
Books and supplies: $1,500
Total: $5,888

Full-time students
Tuition and fees: $7,013
Books and supplies: $3,000
Total: $10,013

Estimated living costs

Undergraduate students

Academic year - over 8 months

Costs are based on B.C. Government Moderate Standard of Living.

Note: For students staying in the UNBC residences, please visit Housing and Residence Life for residence rental and meal plan costs.

Single, living at home
Shelter: $0
Food: $2,504
Miscellaneous: $2,744
Public transit: $1,184
Total: $6,432

Single, living away
Shelter: $8,288
Food: $2,656
Miscellaneous: $3,256
Public transit: $1,024
Total: $15,244

Married student and spouse (excluding costs of child)
Shelter: $16,768
Food: $4,904
Miscellaneous: $5,016
Public transit: $1,888
Total: $28,576

Single-parent student (excluding costs of child) 
Shelter: $11,896
Food: $2,440
Miscellaneous: $3,408
Public transit: $928
Total: $18,672

Costs of each child (wholly dependent relative): $6,624

Graduate students

Academic year - over 12 months

Costs are based on B.C. Government Moderate Standard of Living.

Single, living at home
Rent: $0
Food: $3,756
Miscellaneous: $4,116
Public transit: $1,776
Total: $9,648

Single, living away
Rent: $12,432
Food: $3,984
Miscellaneous: $4,884
Public transit: $1,536
Total: $22,836

Married student and spouse (excluding costs for child)
Rent: $25,152
Food: $7,356
Miscellaneous: $7,524
Public transit: $2,832
Total: $42,864

Single-parent student (excluding costs for child)
Rent: $17,844
Food: $3,660
Miscellaneous: $5,112
Public transit: $1,392
Total: $28,008

Costs for each child (wholly dependent relative): $9,936

Estimated total costs per academic year

Undergraduate students (8 courses)
Single, living at home: $13,987
Single, living away: $22,779
Married student and spouse (excluding costs for child): $36,131
Single-parent student (excluding cost for child): $26,227

Undergraduate students (10 courses)
Single, living at home: $15,649
Single, living away: $24,461
Married student and spouse (excluding costs for child): $37,793
Single- parent student (excluding costs for child): $27,889

Graduate students (part-time)
Single, living at home: $15,536
Single, living away: $28,724
Married student and spouse (excluding costs for child): $
Single-parent student (excluding costs for spouse: $33,896

Graduate students (full-time)
Single, living at home: $19,661
Single, living away: $32,849
Married student and spouse (excluding costs for child): $52,877
Single-parent student (excluding costs for child): $38,021

Funding sources for education

There are four main sources of funding for students who wish to pursue post-secondary education:

  1. You - Your savings, part-time employment earnings, summer jobs, and assets.
  2. Your family - If you have been out of high school for less than four years, your parents will be expected to contribute to your education.
  3. Your government - Both the federal and provincial governments offer student loans and grants.
  4. Your university - UNBC awards a number of scholarships, bursaries and awards each year.

Government financial assistance

Full-time students

The federal and provincial governments cooperate in offering interest-free loans to eligible students.  The basis of this program, Canada Student Loans (CSL), is supplemented by the province in which you are a resident (i.e. B.C. residents will apply to StudentAid B.C.). StudentAid B.C. will review the student’s application and extend funding to eligible students. 

Students may receive:

  1. A Canada student loan (repayable) and/or
  2. A B.C. student loan (repayable) and/or
  3. Canada/B.C. grants (not repayable)

Students cannot receive a grant by itself, it is always awarded in conjunction with a loan. Government loan programs are intended to supplement the other sources of funding that students should have and are extended on the basis of demonstrated financial need.  The maximum amounts eligible for 2023-2024 listed below.

Student, no dependants
Canada loan or grant: $10,200
B.C. loan or grant: $7,480
Total: $17,680

Student, maximum* with dependants
Canada loan or grant: $10,200
B.C. loan or grant: $9,520
Total: $25,160

StudentAid B.C. application procedure

Full-time studies

If you wish things to be in place prior to semester start, complete a loan application online with StudentAid B.C. at least six (6) weeks before classes start.  Applications can be started as late as six (6) weeks prior to the end of the semester. New academic year (September to August) forms are usually online by mid-June.

Loan applications can be completed before being officially accepted or registered at an institution.

Undergraduate students must plan to register in at least nine (9) credit hours per semester (60% full course load), and graduate students must plan to register in at least six (6) credit hours per semester.  Full time loans will include costs for tuition and fees, books, and living expenses.

Learn more on YouTube:

Part-time studies

Part-time Canada student loans and Canada study grants are available to students who are enrolled in less than 60% of a full course load (3-8 credits for undergraduate students and 3-5 credits for graduate students) and will include costs for tuition, fees, and books.

Applications are completed on-line at the StudentAid B.C. website.

 

Contact information:  StudentAid B.C. or call 1-800-561-1818.

Scholarships and bursaries

Scholarships and bursaries are awarded to both new and continuing students at the undergraduate and graduate level.  Student may receive awards for academic achievement, athletic ability, community service, extra-curricular activities, and for financial need.

Note: A limited number of undergraduate admission awards are based solely on academic standing and are provisionally offered to those applying for early admission. To be considered for early entrance awards*, please apply for admission by January 15.

Online award applications must be done with a new application submitted for each new academic year (and award competition) as they are not carried forward. 

Review the list of awards available and check to see if you meet individual award eligibility/criteria via the online Scholarship, Bursary and Award Guide.

Award application deadlines

President’s Silver Anniversary and Leadership Awards

Application deadline: January 15

*President’s Silver Anniversary and Leadership Award applications must include an online UNBC Leadership Award application as well as additional supporting documentation.

Student Leadership Awards

Small Fall Competition

Application period: September 15 to October 14

You must be registered in the September Semester to be eligible to apply for this competition.

Graduate awards

Open to both Masters and PhD graduate students.

Application period: October 15 to April 1

Undergraduate entrance awards

Application period: October 15 to April 1

In-course undergraduate awards

For 2nd to 4th-year students.

Application period: October 15 to April 1

General awards

Open to both undergraduate and graduate students.

Application period: October 15 to April 1