International Student Funding in BC 2025-2026: Complete Guide for Newcomers

Understanding your funding options as an international student in BC

International students in BC have a fundamentally different funding landscape than Canadian citizens and permanent residents. The federal and provincial student aid systems — Canada Student Grants, Canada Student Loans, and StudentAid BC — are not available to study permit holders. That means the standard playbook for Canadian students does not apply.

Instead, international students must build a funding strategy from four sources: scholarships and merit-based awards from their institution, external scholarships from private foundations and governments, income from authorized off-campus and on-campus work, and personal or family resources. Each of these has its own rules, timelines, and limits.

For international students at KPU, UBC, SFU, and other BC institutions in the Surrey-Cloverdale-Langley (SCL) area, the right approach depends on your school, your program, and your academic profile. Some awards are renewable year after year. Others are one-time. And some — like work income — require careful planning around study permit conditions.

UBC International Scholars Program and other top university awards

UBC offers the most generous suite of need-and-merit-based awards for international undergraduate students of any BC institution. The International Scholars Program is the centrepiece, comprising two flagship awards that cover a significant portion of tuition and living costs.

The Donald A. Wehrung International Student Award recognizes outstanding international students from impoverished or war-torn areas who have achieved academic excellence under challenging circumstances and who would be unable to attend university without significant financial assistance. Recipients are assessed based on academic achievement, leadership potential, and financial need.

The Karen McKellin International Leader of Tomorrow Award recognizes international students who demonstrate superior academic achievement and exemplary leadership skills — students who have made a positive impact through school and community service, collaboration, and initiative.

Beyond the International Scholars Program, UBC awards the International Major Entrance Scholarship (IMES) to exceptional international students entering directly from secondary school. For the 2026/2027 academic year, IMES awards are valued at $10,000 to $25,000 per year and are renewable for up to three additional years of study. Students are considered automatically upon applying to UBC by the admissions deadline — no separate application for IMES is required.

UBC also offers the Outstanding International Student Award (OISA), a one-time award of varying amounts for international students who demonstrate strong academic achievement and extracurricular involvement, and the Vantage One Excellence Award for students entering through UBC's Vantage College program.

These awards are competitive. The number and level of scholarships awarded each year depends on available funding. International students applying to UBC should submit their application by the early December admissions deadline to be considered for all merit-based awards.

• Donald A. Wehrung International Student Award — for students from impoverished or war-torn areas; need-based + merit
• Karen McKellin International Leader of Tomorrow Award — for students with exceptional leadership and community impact
• International Major Entrance Scholarship (IMES) — $10,000 to $25,000/year, renewable up to 4 years, automatic consideration
• Outstanding International Student Award (OISA) — one-time merit award, varying amounts
• Vantage One Excellence Award — for students entering UBC Vantage College programs

KPU and BC college scholarships for international students

Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) — with campuses in Surrey, Cloverdale, Langley, and Richmond — offers several scholarships specifically for international students. KPU reports awarding nearly $2 million in scholarships annually, with approximately $265,000 set aside for new students.

The KPU International Accommodation Relief Grant provides up to $500 to eligible international students to help offset housing and accommodation costs. This grant recognizes the higher cost of living that international students face, particularly in the Metro Vancouver area, and does not need to be repaid.

KPU also awards Regional Entrance Scholarships of up to $5,000 to international students from key emerging markets who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and intellectual promise. These are one-time awards applied as a tuition credit.

Additionally, KPU offers International Merit Scholarships of $5,000 to current international students who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement in their KPU program. These scholarships are intended to recognize and encourage academic excellence throughout a student's studies.

Other BC colleges serving the SCL area — including Langara College, Douglas College, and Vancouver Community College — also maintain their own international student award programs. The key is to check each institution's international student scholarship portal directly, as these awards are rarely listed on national aggregator sites.

• KPU International Accommodation Relief Grant — up to $500, for housing cost relief
• KPU Regional Entrance Scholarship — up to $5,000, for students from emerging markets
• KPU International Merit Scholarship — $5,000, for current students with strong academic records
• KPU total: nearly $2 million in annual scholarships, $265,000 for new students

Working while studying in Canada — off-campus work rules

For many international students, authorized work is the most reliable source of ongoing funding. Canada's off-campus work rules have been updated for 2025-2026, and understanding them is essential for financial planning.

As of 2025, eligible international students can work up to 24 hours per week off campus during regular academic terms or semesters. This is an increase from the previous 20-hour limit and applies even if your study permit still states the old 20-hour condition. You can hold more than one job as long as the combined hours do not exceed 24 per week.

During scheduled breaks — including summer holidays, winter holidays, and reading weeks — you can work unlimited hours off campus. This is a significant opportunity to earn more during the months when classes are not in session.

To work off campus, your study permit must include a condition that authorizes off-campus work. Most standard study permits issued since 2014 include this condition automatically. If yours does not, you may need to apply to amend your permit.

On-campus work — for example, working at the university library, student union, or campus bookstore — does not count toward the 24-hour off-campus limit. There is no hourly cap for on-campus employment as long as you remain a full-time student.

• 24 hours per week off campus during regular academic terms (up from 20 hours)
• Unlimited hours off campus during scheduled breaks (summer, winter, reading weeks)
• On-campus work has no hourly cap and does not count toward the off-campus limit
• Standard study permits since 2014 include automatic off-campus work authorization

Planning for after graduation — the PGWP pathway

The Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) is one of the most valuable features of studying in Canada as an international student. It allows graduates to work in Canada for up to three years after completing their program, and the work experience gained through the PGWP is a critical step toward applying for permanent residence.

To qualify for a PGWP, you must have graduated from a designated learning institution (DLI) in a program that is at least eight months long and leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate. The program must be academic, vocational, or professional. As of 2025-2026, PGWP eligibility has been updated with new field-of-study requirements tied to labour market needs.

Graduates whose program of study is in a field with demonstrated labour shortages — such as health care, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), trades, transportation, and agriculture — may be eligible for extended or expedited PGWP processing. Programs outside these priority fields still qualify for a PGWP but may have shorter validity periods.

The PGWP is typically valid for the same length as your study program, up to a maximum of three years. For example, a two-year diploma qualifies for a two-year PGWP, while a four-year degree qualifies for a three-year PGWP.

International students who intend to work and eventually apply for permanent residence in Canada should choose their program of study carefully. Programs listed on IRCC's eligible program list — approximately 178 eligible programs across BC institutions — offer the clearest PGWP pathway.

• PGWP allows up to 3 years of post-graduation work in Canada
• Eligibility tied to DLI program of 8+ months leading to degree, diploma, or certificate
• Priority fields: health care, STEM, trades, transportation, agriculture
• PGWP duration matches program length (max 3 years)
• Work experience gained on PGWP supports PR applications through Express Entry and BC PNP

What international students cannot access — and why that matters for planning

Understanding what you cannot access is just as important as knowing what you can. International students on study permits are not eligible for any of the following funding sources, no matter how long they have lived in BC or how much they have paid in tuition.

StudentAid BC — the province's integrated student financial aid program — is available only to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and protected persons. This means no BC Student Loan, no BC Access Grant, and no provincial student financial aid of any kind.

Canada Student Grants and Loans — the federal component of student aid — are also unavailable to international students. This includes the Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students (up to $375 per month), the Canada Student Grant for Students with Dependants, the Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities, and the Canada Student Loan program.

This exclusion has a major practical consequence: international students cannot rely on the government student aid safety net that Canadian students use to cover gaps between tuition, living costs, and other funding. Your entire funding plan must be built from the four sources discussed above — institutional awards, external scholarships, work income, and personal resources.

One small bright spot: international students in BC can access free settlement and referral services through the BC Newcomer Services Program (BC NSP), delivered by community organizations like DIVERSEcity, Options Community Services, and PICS in Surrey and the surrounding area. These services do not provide financial aid but can help with orientation, financial literacy, and referrals to other community resources.

• StudentAid BC — not available (no BC Student Loan, no BC Access Grant)
• Canada Student Grants — not available (no full-time, part-time, or disability grants)
• Canada Student Loans — not available (no federal student loan program access)
• BC Newcomer Services Program — available; provides orientation and referrals but not funding