Graduate Student Financial Aid (GSFA)
The GSFA, or Graduate Student Financial Aid is the GSS’s new fund to support graduate students at UBC Vancouver, who are experiencing unforeseen financial hardship.
WHAT DOES THE FUND COVER?
The fund can cover a wide range of expenses directly arising from unforeseen circumstances, which may include but not be limited to:
- Rent and living expenses
- Prescription medication not covered by MSP, Pharmacare, and the AMS / GSS Health and Dental Plan
- Moving and related expenses
- The UBC Leave of Absence fee
Am I eligible?
To be eligible to apply for the GSFA, you need to:
Eligibility Criteria:
- Be a currently enrolled graduate student in a program of the UBC Vancouver Campus
- "Reside in Canada (students who reside in Canada but are temporarily outside of the country are eligible to apply)"
- Be in a recent unforeseen financial hardship and be able to provide documentations
How do I apply?
You’ll need four things for your application:
- Proof of enrolment, it can be downloaded from SSC account
- Cover letter, delineating a recent “unforeseen” / “unexpected” financial hardship
a: The panel needs any form of documentations to verify the unexpected nature of issues brought up in the cover letter
b: Cover letter needs to include the total amount of household income, the spending /expense, and the amount of funding that the situation requires. Please note that declaring the required amount will merely provide a general overview of the unexpected situation to the panel and hence is not guaranteed.
c: The cover letter needs to answer the question if the unexpected situation is ongoing, in what way/ how this one-time funding will assist the applicant with the situation
- Support Letter by any academic / non-academic office to back up and provide details on student’s financial hardship. These offices need to have sufficient knowledge of the student’s financial situation.
a: The offices includes but not limited to departments, enrolment centre, Ombudspersons, Equity and Inclusion, The Accessibility centre, etc.
b: The letter can similarly be provided by supervisor / advisor
- Letter from Enrolment Centre, mentioning whether the student has received emergency fund, stating the amount, and the date. The approval letter of award provided by enrolment centre would suffice for this purpose as well. If not eligible for this fund, a letter indicating the ineligibility is needed.
If enrollment services has awarded aid, the applicant will need to show how fund has been spent; and clarify in the cover letter if the application to the GSFA is for the same issue.
The panel invites the applicant to provide any additional supporting documentations that may provide clarity and insight into the situation.
All this documentation should be scanned and sent by email to gsfa@gss.ubc.ca.
Hard copies may also be requested during the application review process.
How is the decision made?
A panel made up of the GSS Peer Support Specialists, the GSS General Manager, and two GSS Academic and External Committee representatives will review all applications to determine whether applicants meet the criteria and to decide the value of any award.
Funds are subject to availability, so not every application meeting the requirements shall be approved or shall receive the full amount they requested.
When will I hear if my application is successful?
The GSS Peer Support Coordinators will let every applicant know the outcome of their decision within four weeks of receiving a completed application.
The decision of the GSFA Adjudication Panel shall be final and there shall be no appeal to any other body of the Society.
Health Plan Premium Assistance Fund
WHAT DOES THE FUND COVER?
The AMS/GSS Health Plan Premium Assistance Fund provides a partial or up to a full reimbursement of the fee for the AMS/GSS Health & Dental Plan based on financial need.
Am I Eligible?
This fund is available to students at UBC Vancouver who:
- Are current or new students at UBC Vancouver
- Have not opted out of the AMS/GSS Health & Dental Plan
How do I apply?
Students can apply for this fund online - there are two application periods each year, in September and January.
- Current & new students: Applications are accepted and due in September each year.
- New students starting in January: Applications are accepted and due in January.
Can I use this fund for my spouse and/or my dependent(s)?
If your spouse or dependent(s) are also enrolled in the Plan, their premiums are not eligible for reimbursement. If they attend UBC, VST, St. Mark’s, or Regent College, they should apply for the fund separately.