Financing Your University Education

By choosing to attend UNBC, you’ve chosen to invest in your future.

The Awards & Financial Aid Unit can assist you in finding the resources you need to finance your education.

Awards & Financial Aid provides information and guidance on applying for government financial assistance and 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 costs for one year of study at UNBC.

Estimated Costs for Attending UNBC

Education Funding Sources

Government Financial Assistance

StudentAid BC Applications

UNBC Scholarships and Bursaries

UNBC Award Application Deadlines

Estimated Costs per Academic Year

Undergraduate Students

2 Semesters = Academic Year

Per Course (3 credit hours)
Tuition and Fees: $914
Books: $200
Total Cost: $1,114

8 Courses (24 credit hours)
Tuition and Fees: $5,693
Books: $1,600
Total Cost: $7,293

10 Courses (30 credit hours)
Tuition and Fees: $6,901
Books: $2,000
Total Cost: $8,901

Graduate Students

3 Semesters = Academic Year
NOTE:  Some Graduate Programs have different Program tuition/fees amounts associated with them than are listed below, go to http://www.unbc.ca/finance/accounts-receivable/fees-unbc for a more specific breakdown.

Part-time Students
Tuition and Fees: $4,045
Books: $1,500
Total: $5,545

Full-time Students
Tuition and Fees: $6,619
Books: $3,000
Total: $9,619

Estimated Living Costs

Undergraduate Students

Academic Year - over 8 months
Costs are based on BC Government Moderate Standard of Living.  NOTE: Students staying in the UNBC Residences should go to www.unbc.ca/housing for Residence/Meal Plan costs for Rent/Food Semester amounts.

Single, living at home
Rent: $0
Food: $2,408
Miscellaneous: $2,640
Public Transit: $1,136
Total: $6,184

Single, living away
Rent: $7,976
Food: $2,560
Miscellaneous: $3,136
Public Transit: $984
Total: $14,656

Married, no dependents
Rent: $16,136
Food: $4,720
Miscellaneous: $4,824
Public Transit: $1,816
Total: $27,496

Single, one dependent
Rent: $13,832
Food: $4,296
Miscellaneous: $4,432
Public Transit: $1,792
Total: $24,352

Graduate Students

Academic Year - over 12 months
Costs are based on BC Government Moderate Standard of Living

Single, living at home
Rent: $0
Food: $3,612
Miscellaneous: $3,960
Public Transit: $1,704
Total: $9,276

Single, living away
Rent: $11,964
Food: $3,840
Miscellaneous: $4,704
Public Transit: $1,476
Total: $21,984

Married, no dependents
Rent: $24,204
Food: $7,080
Miscellaneous: $7,236
Public Transit: $2,724
Total: $41,244

Single, one dependent
Rent: $20,748
Food: $6,444
Miscellaneous: $6,648
Public Transit: $2,688
Total: $36,528

Estimated Total Costs per Academic Year

Undergraduate Students (8 Courses)
Single, living at home: $13.477
Single, living away: $21,949
Married, no dependents: $34,789
Single, one dependent: $31,645

Undergraduate Students (10 courses)
Single, living at home: $15,085
Single, living away: $23,557
Married, no dependents: $36,397
Single, one dependent: $33,253

Graduate Students (Part-time)
Single, living at home: $14,821
Single, living away: $27,529
Married, no dependents: $46,789
Single, one dependent: $42,073

Graduate Students (Full-time)
Single, living at home: $18,895
Single, living away: $31,603
Married, no dependents: $50,863
Single, one dependent: $46,147

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. BC residents will apply to StudentAid BC).  StudentAid BC 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 BC Student Loan (repayable) and/or
  3. Canada/BC 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 dependents
Canada Loan or Grant: $10,200
BC Loan or Grant: $7,480
Total: $17,680

Student, maximum* with dependents
Canada Loan or Grant: $10,200
BC Loan or Grant: $9,520
Total: $25,160

StudentAid BC Application Procedures

Full-time Studies

  1. If you wish things to be in place prior to semester start, complete a loan application online via www.studentaidbc.ca 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 (Sep-Aug) forms are usually online by mid-June.
  2. Loan applications can be completed before being officially accepted or registered at an institution.
  3. The student must plan to register in at least nine (9) credit hours per semester (60% full course load).
    What is StudentAid BC?
    Before you apply to StudentAid BC
    How to create your StudentAid BC account
    How much student funding can I get
    How repayment works for StudentAid BC loans
    Subscribe to the StudentAid BC YouTube Channel

Part-time Studies

  1. 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 (1-2 courses) and covers tuition/fees/books.
  2. Application forms can be downloaded from StudentAid BC website (see below for the link).
  3. Once completed, applications for part-time study MUST BE RETURNED to the UNBC Awards & Financial Aid Unit for processing via awards@unbc.ca.

For more information visit www.studentaidbc.ca or call 1-800-561-1818.

UNBC Scholarships & 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 15th.

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 at: www.unbc.ca/financial-aid

UNBC Award Application Deadlines

President’s Silver Anniversary & Leadership Awards * - January 15th

Small Fall Competition - September 15th to October 14th (must be registered in the September Semester to be eligible to apply for this competition)

Graduate Awards (Master’s & PhD) - October 15th to April 1st

Undergraduate Entrance Awards - October 15th to April 1st

In-Course Undergraduate Awards (2nd to 4th year) - October 15th to April 1st

General Awards (open to undergraduates and graduates) - October 15th to April 1st

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