Financial Aid
Financial Aid
How will I receive my student loan once I have registered for classes?
Douglas College students receiving government loans through the Province of BC have their loan documents mailed directly to their home addresses.
Before this happens you must:
Register in at least 9 credits of post-secondary level courses (Upgrading courses such as DVST, EASL, or courses that start with a zero, for example HUMD 0130, are not considered eligible for student loan). Courses you are repeating are not counted if you passed the course.
Pay your fees or complete a Fee Deferral (pdf) or on-line until August 10 at the Admissions and Registration Services page under Financial Aid.
Update your address at Student Aid BC. Your loan documents will be mailed to this address.
More information on Financial Aid at Douglas College is available on-line. You can also call or visit the Financial Aid Office at either the New Westminster or Coquitlam Campuses:
New Westminster Campus, room 2740
Phone: 604-527-5487
David Lam Campus, Coquitlam, room A1030
Phone: 604-777-6189
Financial Aid Deadlines
Student Loans for Full-time Students:
We recommend you apply by July 1, 2009 to receive your funding at the start of the semester. The final deadline for applications is six weeks before the end of the semester.
ABESAP for Upgrading Students:
Apply by August 10, 2009 in order to have your application processed before the fee payment deadline. If you apply after that date, you will need to pay your fees yourself and if you qualify for funding you will receive a refund of fees for your eligible courses. The final deadline for applications is September 30, 2009.
Part Time Funding - Apply by July 1st, 2009.
Bursary & Scholarship applications
Apply by October 1, 2009 at http://registrar.douglas.bc.ca under "Financial Aid" in the "Other Online Services" column.
Do you qualify for a fee deferral?
If you have been approved for student loan funding and have received a Notification of Assessment from the Ministry of Advanced Education, you qualify for a fee deferral.
If you have been approved for student loan funding, please complete the Request for a Fee Deferral (pdf) or on-line until August 10, 2009 at the Admissions and Registration Services page under Financial Aid. The completed form, along with the Notification of Assessment, must be received no later than 1600 hours, August 17, 2009. In order to avoid long lineups, if you receive your Notification of Assessment before the final deadline, please submit your Fee Deferral Request package immediately to:
Cashier's Office, Douglas College
PO Box 2503, New Westminster, BC V3L 5B2
If you have not received a Notification of Assessment for your student loan in a timely manner, you may contact the Financial Aid Office. You will need a copy of your student loan approval in order to qualify for a fee deferral.
Normal fee payment deadlines also apply to students who are submitting completed Fee Deferral forms for fee payment. If these deadlines are not met, students may be deregistered from classes without notice.
Please note that you must enroll in a minimum 60% course load (i.e. nine credits) in order to qualify for student loan funding. Courses that start with a zero (0) are not eligible for student loan funding and can not be counted toward the nine (9) credit minimum course load. Repeated courses are not counted if you passed the course (P or higher).
Out-of-Province Students
If you have been approved for a student loan or grant funding through another province or territory (e.g. Yukon grant), you qualify for a fee deferral. Complete the Request for a Fee Deferral (pdf) or at the Admissions and Registration Services page under Financial Aid and forward proof of your funding. Proof of funding must be received no later than 1600 hours, August 17, 2009 by the:
Cashier's Office, Douglas College
PO Box 2503, New Westminster, BC V3L 5B2
Normal fee payment deadlines also apply to students who are submitting completed Fee Deferral forms for fee payment. If these deadlines are not met, students will be deregistered from classes without notice.
NOTE: If you submit a Fee Deferral and subsequently decide not to attend one or more of your courses for any reason or if you are subsequently disqualified at any time after the fee payment deadline, you must drop your courses yourself. You will be assessed all penalties as though fees were paid by cash.
Eligibility for ABESAP Funding
ABESAP funding is available for the following programs and courses:
- English as a Second Language (EASL)
- Developmental Studies (DVST)
- Basic Occupational Education (BOCE)
- Career and Employment Preparation (CAEP)
- New Directions
- Transitions to work
- Human Development courses which begin with "O"
- Customer Service and Cashier Training
- Light Warehouse Training
Apply by August 10, 2009 in order to have your application processed before the fee payment deadline. If you apply after that date you will need to pay your fees yourself and if you qualify for funding you will receive a refund of fees for your eligible courses. The final deadline for applications is September 30, 2009.
Part Time Funding - IMPORTANT CHANGES FOR FALL 2009
Funding is available for part-time students enrolled in eligible programs. Programs must be offered full-time and designated for student loan funding to be eligible. View a list of eligible programs.
Students enrolled in less than a 60 percent course load (less than 9 credits) may complete a part-time application form to access grant and part-time loan funding. This program covers educational costs such as tuition, books, transportation and unsubsidized child care costs. It does not cover living costs.
What's new for Fall 2009?
The Financial Aid Office will no longer be processing the funding for this program. We will assist you with the application process.
Processing Time: Will be approximately six to eight weeks. Apply early!
Application Process: Drop off your completed application form at the Financial Aid Office. We will check it for completeness and forward your application for processing to StudentAid BC. You will be notified of your eligibility by StudentAid BC.
One application is used for the following programs:
- Canada student grant for part-time students
- Canada student grant for students with permanent disabilities
- Supplemental bursary for students with disabilities
- Part-time Canada student loan
- Canada student grant for part-time students with dependants
Funding: If approved you will receive a document to take to the Post Office for processing. You will need two pieces of ID to cash the document including your SIN card and picture ID issued by either the provincial or federal government.
Who Qualifies: If you are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or convention refugee, your income is low and you are registered part-time in an eligible program, you may qualify if you meet all other eligibility requirements.
Fee Payment: In the past, the Financial Aid Office used part of your $1200 grant to pay your fees for you. We are no longer able to do this. You must pay your fees by the deadline date or you will be deregistered from your classes. To receive your funds you must be registered. Regular fee payment deadlines apply for students applying funding. Please pay your fees by the deadline date to avoid deregistration and/or late fees.