Through the Emily Cares Student Emergency Fund, the university will provide up to $200 to students in urgent financial need.
These non-repayable bursaries are to help cover essential living expenses and can provide a modest buffer while you seek additional sources of support.
Emily Cares bursaries are available for domestic and international students, whether enrolled in a degree program or a Continuing Studies Certificate program.
Government Assistance for Students
Emergency Bursary Funding for BC Residents
The Province of British Columbia has made available emergency funding for both full-time and part-time, currently registered domestic students that are BC residents. This is non-repayable funding and eligibility will depend on each applicant’s unique situation. Please note that international and out of province students will not qualify for funding from this resource.
See our Emergency Bursary Funding for BC Residents page to download an application form.
Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) for Students
On April 22, 2020, the federal government announced an expansion of the CERB program to capture post-secondary students who may be struggling to make ends meet during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Students will be eligible for $1,250 a month from May through August
- That sum can go up to $1,750 if the student is taking care of someone or has a disability.
- The benefit is also available to students who have jobs but are making less than $1,000 a month.
- Additionally, students who volunteer for the fight against COVID-19 over the summer will be paid between $1,000 and $5,000, depending on the hours they work.
Visit the federal government’s how-to page for details on when to apply, how to apply, and who is eligible.
Additional Benefits for Post-Secondary Students
On April 22, 2020, the federal government announced the following:
- A doubling of student grants for eligible students — up to $6,000 for full-time students and up to $3,600 for part-time students.
- Raising the maximum weekly amount that can be provided through the Canada student loans program in 2020-2021 to $350 from $210.
- More than $75 million in additional supports for Indigenous post-secondary students.
- Another $291 million for federal granting councils to extend expiring federal graduate research scholarships and post-doctoral fellowships and supplement existing federal research grants.
Details on how these programs will be delivered (including how to apply) will be posted as soon as they are available.
Cover Image: Surviving Covid-19, Ruth Cuthand. Beadwork