Media Contacts

Richelle D. Funk

Ministry of Advanced Education
250 356-7876

Backgrounders

Expanded program eligibility for three StudentAid BC grants

The following program eligibility takes effect as of August 1, 2016:

B.C. Access Grant for Labour Market Priorities

The additional programs now eligible under the B.C. Access Grant for Labour Market Priorities are:

  • Cooks/Chefs
  • Bakers

Programs that continue to be eligible under the B.C. Access Grant for Labour Market Priorities are:

  • Power Engineering
  • Heavy Mechanical Trades*
  • Industrial Mechanics (Millwright)
  • Mining Industry Certificate
  • Oil and Gas Field Operations
  • Plumbers
  • Steamfitters, Pipefitters, and Sprinkler System Installers
  • Welders and related Machine Operators
  • Carpenters
  • Industrial Electricians
  • Heavy Equipment Operators (except Crane Operators)
  • Ironworkers
  • Sheet Metal Workers
  • Gas Fitters

*Includes Heavy Duty Mechanic; Commercial Transport Mechanic; Diesel Engine Technician

B.C. Completion Grant for Graduates

The additional areas of study are now eligible under the B.C. Completion Grant for Graduates are:

  • Astronomy and astrophysics
  • Business operations support and assistant services
  • Computer and information sciences and support services, general
  • Computer/information technology administration and management
  • Computer systems analysis/analyst
  • Economics
  • Engineering science
  • Finance and financial management services
  • Health and medical administrative services
  • Housing and human environments
  • Insurance
  • Management information systems and service
  • Medical illustration and informatics

Programs that continue to be eligible under the B.C. Completion Grant for Graduates are:

  • Communication, general
  • Public relations, advertising and applied communication, general
  • Communication, journalism and related programs
  • Computer science
  • Teaching English or French as a second or foreign language
  • Engineering, general
  • Civil engineering
  • Computer engineering
  • Electrical, electronics and communications engineering
  • Engineering physics/applied physics
  • Environmental/environmental health engineering
  • Mechanical engineering
  • Architectural engineering technology/technician
  • Electrical and electronic engineering technologies/technicians
  • Electromechanical and instrumentation and maintenance technology
  • Computer engineering technologies/technicians
  • Drafting/design engineering technologies/technicians
  • Engineering technologies and engineering related fields, other
  • Human development, family studies and related services
  • Legal support services
  • English rhetoric and composition/writing studies
  • Parks, recreation and leisure facilities management
  • Psychology, general
  • Clinical, counselling and applied psychology
  • Criminal justice and corrections
  • Human services, general
  • Social work
  • Criminology
  • Design and applied arts
  • Mental and social health services and allied professions
  • Public health
  • Business/commerce, general
  • Business administration, management and operations
  • Accounting and related services
  • Hospitality administration/management
  • Human resources management and services
  • Marketing

B.C. Loan Forgiveness Program

For those working in a publicly-funded health-care facility in an underserved community, the additional occupations now eligible under the B.C. Loan Forgiveness Program are:

  • Respiratory therapist
  • Polysomnographer

Occupations in publicly-funded health-care facilities in underserved communities that continue to be eligible under the B.C. Loan Forgiveness Program are:

  • Audiologist
  • Diagnostic medical sonographer
  • Medical laboratory technologist
  • Midwife
  • Nurses (includes Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses)
  • Occupational therapist
  • Physiotherapist
  • Speech language pathologist
  • Physician, including Residents

Occupations working with children in publicly-funded facilities that continue to be eligible under the B.C. Loan Forgiveness Program are:

  • Speech language pathologist
  • Audiologist
  • Occupational therapist
  • Physiotherapist
  • School psychologist
  • Teacher of the deaf/hard of hearing or visually impaired
  • Technology education teacher

Pharmacist programs have been removed from B.C. Loan Forgiveness Program eligibility.