Funding for Former Youth in Care
There are a number of financial supports available to students who were former youth in care in the Province of BC.
We have advisors in the Financial Aid + Awards office who can provide information and resources. Connect with Financial Aid + Awards staff by email or by booking an appointment with an advisor.
Former youth in care are also encouraged to check out other resources at agedout.com
Children's Aid Foundation of Canada post-secondary scholarship information: Educational Support - cafdn
Each year, education bursaries are available through the Public Guardian and Trustee Educational Assistance Fund. The bursaries are intended to help individuals who were formerly in the permanent care of the BC provincial government reach their educational goals: https://trustee.bc.ca/Pages/de...
Student Aid Alberta: Advancing Futures https://www.alberta.ca/advanci...
BC Provincial Tuition Waiver Program for Former Youth in Care
If you are living or have lived as a youth in care in BC, you may qualify for financial support to cover some of the costs of your education.
The BC government created the Provincial Tuition Waiver Program (PTWP) to improve access to education for former youth in care. The PTWP waives tuition and fees for BC students attending a BC public post-secondary institution, who are 19 to 26 years of age (inclusive) and who are former youth in care for a total of two years or more, consecutive or accumulated.
Visit the Provincial Tuition Waiver Program website to see if you meet the eligibility criteria for the program. If you are eligible, please contact the Financial Aid + Awards office at finawards@ecuad.ca for an application.
For more information:
Learning for Future Grant
The Learning for Future Grant is available to full-time or part-time students who meet the eligibility criteria requirements for the Provincial Tuition Waiver Program and are enrolled in a program or course that leads, or will lead, to a credential at the undergraduate level. This is an annual grant of $3,500 per program year (August 1 to July 31) available to eligible current or former youth in care students to assist with additional education related costs that are not covered by the Provincial Tuition Waiver Program (e.g. textbooks, computers, supplies, etc.). If you are eligible, please contact the Financial Aid + Awards office at finawards@ecuad.ca for further information.
Youth Futures Education Fund
The Youth Futures Education Fund has been established to provide bursaries to recipients of the Former Youth in Care Provincial Tuition Waiver, to assist with supplemental educational funding for expenses such as books, housing, utilities, or emergency situations. Please contact the Financial Aid + Awards office at finawards@ecuad.ca for further information about this program.
Storwell Self Storage Bursary Fund
This external bursary is available to former youth in care who are 24 years of age or younger. Information about this bursary can be found here. Application deadline is December 31st each year.