Columbia College recognizes that students are being significantly affected by the impacts of COVID-19. We continue to take action to help our students.
Student Emergency Support Program (SESP)
The Columbia College Student Emergency Support Program (SESP) is intended to help students access funding in order to support their basic needs, including physiological and safety needs.
To receive funding students must meet all eligibility requirements noted below and apply for funding in at least one of the approved funding categories identified.
SESP funding is intended to help students get back on their feet when an urgent or unexpected need arises that they cannot meet themselves. It cannot be used to pay for non-essential needs, or to pay for basic needs on an ongoing basis. Students are encouraged to work with counsellors, or other members of Student Services, to create a realistic, long-term, and sustainable plan for meeting their own needs moving forward.
Students can apply for funding in the following categories:
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Food/groceries
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Clothing
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Transit
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Emergency health/medical expenses
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Accommodation
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Living costs
Funding cannot be requested for:
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Tuition fees (outstanding or upcoming)
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Previous debt obligations
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Financial support for others
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Non-essential expenses
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Basic needs on an ongoing basis
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Students must be registered either part-time or full-time in the semester of application and can be registered in any program
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Students must be currently living in the Greater Vancouver area
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Students must be able to demonstrate their need by submitting a written statement of need and, in some cases, documentation. Acceptable documentation could include:
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Medical documentation
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Eviction notice
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Bank statements
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Letter of termination
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Letter from employer, counsellor, support worker, or other professional
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Note: Documentation must be recent, relevant, and obtained locally (documentation from overseas is not accepted)
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Funding may be requested for an approved funding category, identified above
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The demonstrated need must be urgent or unexpected
After reading the information above you may complete the application below if you believe you meet all eligibility requirements.
The SESP application form is now open for the Fall 2022 term. You can access the form here:
Tuition Instalment Plan (TIP)
Full-time students may pay their Winter 2023 tuition fees in three instalments. Students without MSP (B.C. Medical Services Plan) coverage, will need to pay for Guard.me Medical Insurance in addition to the first tuition instalment.
Winter 2023 students must agree to pay their entire semester tuition fees by March 6, 2023.
It is important for students to read the criteria and detail of the TIP program.
Submission of the TIP form means that you agree with the terms and conditions of the program detailed below.
For payment methods, please visit: Paying School Fees.
The student applying to this program must be registered in
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a minimum of 9 University Transfer (UT) credits, with the exception of students in their graduating semester who have less than 9 credits remaining to complete their Associate Degree,
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a minimum of 3 Secondary (Sec) courses (or an equivalent combination of UT/Sec),
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a minimum of 3 ELC courses for a 12-week period (or an equivalent combination of ELC/UT, ELC/Sec).
The student accepted into this program, has a contractual agreement with Columbia College and agrees to pay their full Winter 2023 semester fee by March 6, 2023.
If full payment is not received by March 6, 2023, students will be withdrawn from their course(s) and the amount owing to the College will not be cancelled.
The current refund policy holds. This means that the full semester tuition fee is due even if a student withdraws from a course.
All fees paid are non-transferrable.
Students who default on the payment plan may not be permitted to complete their course(s), or register in the subsequent Summer 2023 semester.
INSTALMENT A
One third of Total Tuition (1) + $35 Student Activity Fee (2) + Guard.me Medical Insurance ($190 if no MSP) (3) + Other Tuition Fees (4). Instalment A must be paid before your registration.
For continuing students, early registration begins mid-December. Students who have applied for the TIP will be able to register in a full-time course load (9-14 credits) once Instalment A is paid-in-full.
Instalment A will be accepted until 5:00pm, Monday, January 16, 2023 (the last day to register).
INSTALMENT B
Second third of Total Tuition (1): Instalment B must be paid in full by 5:00pm, Monday, February 6, 2023.
INSTALMENT C
Remaining third of Total Tuition (1): Instalment C must be paid in full by 5:00pm, Monday, March 6, 2023.
*Please note that depending on the payment method utilized, it may take up to 5 business days for the college to receive your transmitted funds. Students are encouraged to submit their funds before the official instalment deadlines.
*If you have MSP coverage, you must show us before your registration date so that we do not charge you for this. To show us, e-mail a photo of the front and back of your card to [email protected].
Please contact Accounting at [email protected] if you require further clarification.
To be part of this program, students must fill out the TIP application form and pay your first instalment before registering in courses. Please complete the application form on the Student Portal.
You will not be allowed to pay by instalment if the form is not submitted prior to registration. For registration dates and deadlines, please click here.