Student Awards and Financial Assistance

Provincial Tuition Waiver Program (PTWP)

The Provincial Tuition Waiver Program (PTWP) provides eligible current and former child or youth in care in B.C. the opportunity to study at no cost by waiving domestic tuition and applicable fees for part-time or full-time studies at B.C. public post-secondary institutions, the Native Education College, or an approved union-based trades training organization.

On August 1, 2023, StudentAid BC implemented the following enhancements to the PTWP:

• The program is now open to current and former children or youth in care of any age.
• Enhanced eligibility for those on any care status when they turned 19 regardless of their time in care.
• Introduction of the new annual $3,500 Learning for Future Grant to help students who meet the eligibility requirements for PTWP pay for additional education-related costs not covered by PTWP like textbooks and a computer.

Visit Provincial Tuition Waiver Program for the most current information and full list of eligibility criteria.

How to Apply for Provincial Tuition Waiver Program (PTWP)

1. Apply for Admissions to Kwantlen Polytechnic University on Education Planner BC (EPBC).
2. Self-identify as a current or former child or youth in care in B.C. on your EPBC application.
3. Student Awards & Financial Assistance (SAFA) office will reach out to you to review the eligibility criteria and begin the application process for PTWP.
4. You may also reach out to finaid@kpu.ca, mention that you have self-identified as a current or former child in care in B.C. on your EPBC application and set up an appointment with a Financial Aid Advisor to review the PTWP eligibility criteria and application process.
5. The Financial Aid Advisor will submit your Provincial Tuition Waiver Program and Learning for Future Grant Application to StudentAid BC (SABC). SABC will verify your time in care with the B.C. Ministry of Children and Family Development or delegated agency. The verification process can take up to 6 weeks.
6. Should you wish to determine your eligibility for the PTWP prior to applying to KPU, please reach out to us at finaid@kpu.ca and book an appointment with a Financial Aid Advisor.

Learning for Future Grant (LFG)

The Learning for Future Grant (LFG) is available to full-time or part-time students who meet the eligibility criteria for the Provincial Tuition Waiver Program and are enrolled in a program or course below the graduate level that leads, or will lead, to a credential (citation, certificate, diploma or degree).

The LFG provides an annual grant of $3,500 per program year (August 1 to July 31) to assist with additional education-related costs not covered by the PTWP (e.g. textbooks, computers, supplies, etc.).

How to Apply for Learning for Future Grant (LFG)

1. Students who have met all the eligibility criteria for the Provincial Tuition Waiver Program are eligible to receive the annual $3,500 Learning for Future Grant.
2. Students must submit a Learning for Future Grant Declaration form annually through KPU’s Student Awards and Financial Assistance (SAFA) office.
3. If eligible, students will receive the $3,500 Learning for Future Grant for the program year (August 1 – July 31). The LFG cheques will be mailed to the student’s address on their KPU records.

For more information about the PTWP and the LFG, refer to the following Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

• Provincial Tuition Waiver Program FAQs
• Learning for Future Grant FAQs

Provided by United Way BC, the Youth Futures Education Fund (YFEF) supports current and former youth in care under the Provincial Tuition Waiver Program with wrap-around financial supports for their post-secondary education such as rent, food, technology, textbooks, school supplies, transportation and other essential expenses.

• YFEF application is available to tuition-waiver students during the Spring (January to April) and Summer (May to August) semesters.
• YFEF is shared among all tuition-waiver students and each request is reviewed individually.
• Students may apply for the amount they need and the request will be assessed based on number of applications received and available YFEF budget.

Visit Youth Futures Education Fund - United Way British Columbia for more information about YFEF.

Learning fund for young adults (LFYA)

The Learning fund for young adults (LFYA) supports eligible young adults with care experience with a one-time $1,500 grant to contribute to the costs of participating in a program, course, or activity in the areas of: education, employment, training or life skills.

Check your LFYA Eligibility to see if you qualify.

To apply for LFYA, you may access the application at: Learning Fund for Young Adults (LFYA) Grant Application Form.

For more information, you may contact: LYFA@gov.bc.ca or 1-866-623-3001 (toll-free in British Columbia).

StudentAid BC provides financial support to eligible students pursuing post-secondary studies. It offers access to provincial aid and also manages the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program for the federal government. Through a combination of loans, grants, scholarships, bursaries, and debt-relief options, SABC helps reduce the financial barriers students may face as they work toward their educational goals.

Students funded under the Provincial Tuition Waiver Program are eligible to apply for SABC funding.

Visit StudentAid BC or contact KPU Student Awards & Financial Assistance (SAFA) at finaid@kpu.ca to book an appointment with a Financial Aid Advisor.

KPU Bursary Program

KPU, together with donors, has established a bursary for full-time undergraduate students demonstrating high financial need. Bursary amounts are determined by student financial need, the number of eligible applicants, program of study, and other factors.

• Fall semester: application opens August 20, closes September 20
• Spring semester: application opens December 20, closes January 20
• Summer semester: application opens April 20, closes May 20

To apply, visit KPU Bursary.

Open to ALL students who are enrolled full-time in Spring semester, and who plan to attend in the Fall semester, the annual KPU General Awards is the institution’s largest award program with close to 500 awards funded through the generosity of KPU’s Donor Partners.

Application opens: January 15; Closes: March 31 (Spring semester)

To apply, visit: KPU General Awards.

Strengthening Abilities and Journeys of Empowerment (SAJE)

The SAJE program provides support to youth and young adults (ages 19 to 27) who have been in government care in British Columbia.

Eligible youth and young adults can access a range of supports through the SAJE program, including:

• Pre- and Post-19 Planning Supports through SAJE Navigators and Guides
• Income Supports
• Housing Supports
• Health, Wellness and Counselling Supports
• Life-skills, Training, and Cultural Connections Funding

To be eligible for the SAJE program, young adults between the ages of 19 to 26 (up to their 27th birthday) are eligible if:

• You reached your 19th birthday while on a Youth Agreement, a Continuing Custody Order or were under the personal guardianship of a director, OR
• You achieved permanency between the ages of 12–19 (i.e., adoption after being in care), OR
• You have 24 months of cumulative time in care between the ages of 12–19, in a range of in- and out-of-care statuses, OR
• You were in a comparable arrangement under Indigenous law.

Use the SAJE Eligibility Check Form to learn which supports you may be eligible for.

Contact a SAJE Guide or MCFD’s SAJE Provincial Support Services (SPSS) to find out more information about SAJE support funding:

• Phone: 1-866-623-3001
• Email: MCF.SAJE@gov.bc.ca

Indigenous Child and Family Service Agencies (ICFSAs) may also have dedicated workers to assist Indigenous youth with planning for their transition to adulthood and accessing the SAJE program. If you are looking for an ICFSA, visit Indigenous Child and Family Service Agencies/Delegated Aboriginal Agencies in BC.

SAJE Resources:

• SAJE Benefits and Supports
• Working with a SAJE Navigator
• SAJE Life-skills, Training and Cultural Connections FAQ
• SAJE Mental Health and Counselling Benefit FAQ
• SAJE Medical Benefits FAQ

This guide is for current and former youth in care students who would like to learn about financial supports for post-secondary studies. It is also a resource guide for social workers, support workers, parents, siblings, professionals, and post-secondary school representatives.

• Financial Guide to Post-Secondary for B.C. Former Youth in Care Students (external)

External Scholarships and Bursaries

There are external scholarships and bursaries specific to current and former youth in care, which are not associated with KPU. Refer to the link below for a detailed list. The list outlines the funding for your age group (Under 19 years old, 19–24 years old, Over 24 years old) and care status.

• AgedOut Scholarships and Bursaries
• The Federation Youth Education Bursary – up to a maximum of $2,000 per academic year (two semesters)
• The Belonging Network: BC Orca Bursary Program – up to an average of $3,000 per recipient
• The Belonging Network: Joy MacPhail Bursary – one $3,000 bursary awarded each year
• Dream Fund - Federation of BC Youth in Care Networks – up to $1,500 towards attending post-secondary education
• BC Foster Parents Association – several bursaries available for current and former youth in care to assist them with the costs of post-secondary education

AgedOut

AgedOut is an online platform created to support young people in British Columbia who are transitioning out of government care. It acts as a central place to find reliable information, practical guidance, and useful resources for building independence.

AgedOut offers clear information, practical tools and support in several key areas, including:

• Education: Scholarships, bursaries, student loans, and school completion.
• Housing: Finding a place to live and understanding rental basics.
• Money & Work: Banking, job searching, interview prep, and budgeting.
• Health & Wellness: Physical and mental health resources, plus crisis support.
• Life Skills & ID: Getting ID, insurance, phone plans, and navigating daily life and relationships.

• Alberta: Advancing Futures
• Manitoba: Paying for Post-Secondary School – Futures Forward
• Nova Scotia: PCTWP-Application-2024-2025
• Ontario: Ontario Postsecondary Application Fee Reimbursement Program
• Ontario: OSAP for under-represented learners
• Saskatchewan: The National Youth in Care Network: Youth in Care Canada