Education funding tips

Financial planning lets you know and plan for the costs of achieving your goals.

Audio: Accessing financial aid services (1 minute) – Quinn at Financial Aid

Budgeting

Look into all types of financial assistance: Talk to Financial Aid & Awards about your eligibility for College bursaries, government loans or grants for full- or part-time post-secondary programs, trades, or upgrading and other access programs, and other funding, like Bursaries, Scholarships & Awards or child care subsidies.
If you receive student financial assistance, always check with Financial Aid & Awards before changing your program or course credit load, as changes can affect your eligibility for different kinds and amounts of funding.
Assess your current expenses and develop a detailed budget with education, living, and potential emergency expenses, and review it with family or friends. Online tools are available at www.canlearn.ca.
Get used to your budget and see if it is practical by living within your limits before starting school.
Consider studying part-time if your program allows, if full-time costs are too high.
Look for money-saving ideas: second-hand books and clothing, discounted groceries, taking the bus, low-cost entertainment, etc.

Audio: Camosun's Student Employment Services and online postings (2 minutes) – Cathy at Student Employment Services

Work smart to avoid limiting your study time and scholastic success.

Check your program information for out-of-class study requirements before arranging work.
Don't work any more than you have to! Look into Financial Aid & Awards and follow a budget.
Try to find work related to your studies or career goal and thats supports your learning. Co-operative Education offers paid work experience for credit.
Try to find work close to home or college so you don't lose more study time for travel to work. Take the bus and use the time to study.
Talk to your employer early if you'll need time off for assignments or exams; check if co-workers will cover for you in advance.
Ask your employer about reading at work during slow times if that's a possibility.
Work as much as you can during Christmas or summer breaks so you can work less when classes are in session.
Check out on-campus student work through Student Employment Services