Frequently Asked Questions

1. Will the grant be offered beyond 2023?

The B.C. government has indicated new funding may be available for fall 2024 programs. Please sign up for our email list to receive updates on any future grant funding.

2. If I take single courses only, can I apply for the grant?

The grant applies to programs that result in a credential. So, to access the grant, you must apply and be enrolled into a program.

3. Will I be taxed on future skills grant funds?

Please consult the Canada Revenue Agency for tax advice. You will receive a T4A form from SFU for the future skills grant funding, along with a T2202 for tuition paid.

4. Can the grant be applied after I’ve already paid?

No, you need to apply to the grant before you register for courses or apply and pay for a program. Your tuition is then waived up to $3,500 (or the remaining benefit amount in your grant).

5. Why are some Continuing Studies programs not eligible for the grant?

The grant applies to short-term skills training. If the program hours are longer than the recommended maximum length (288 hours), it is not eligible for the grant.

6. Can the grant cover textbooks?

By default, the grant will be used to cover tuition costs. You may use the grant for textbooks if you have sufficient grant funds available and you submit a claim no later than five days after your program or course begins. Please email learn@sfu.ca to request the claim form. (You can purchase textbooks directly from publishers or bookstores.)

7. If the grant isn’t enough to cover my courses, when do I pay the difference?

Depending on your grant amount remaining and your course tuition, you may have a balance owing. After you register in a course, you’ll have five business days to pay the balance, or you may be withdrawn for non-payment.

8. When do I need to register for courses?

Grant funds are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. To prevent disappointment, we encourage you to register for eligible courses as soon as your application is approved.

9. What happens to the funds if I withdraw from a course or program?

We can provide refunds if requested at least five business days before a course starts. Once a course has started, we cannot provide refunds and any grant funds used to pay for the course will be forfeited. Please note that if you paid in advance for a full program, the entire tuition will be non-refundable after the first course’s start date.

10. Can the grant be used for courses that start later than December 31?

The grant is intended to cover only courses starting between September 1 and December 31, 2023. But if you’re enrolling in a program that can be completed within a year, you may have the option to use the grant to help pay for the entire program in advance, including courses that start after December 31, 2023. However, your first course must start between September 1 and December 31, 2023.

You would also need to prepay the full balance of your tuition (less any grant funds). In this case, refunds cannot be provided unless requested at least five days before the first course start date.

Only the following programs offer this prepayment option:

11. Can I use the grant at more than one institution?

Yes, but you’ll need to ensure you don’t exceed your maximum lifetime grant funding of $3,500. You can find more details on the B.C. government’s StrongerBC website.

12. If I didn’t use my full grant allowance in 2023, can I put it toward future courses?

You can apply your remaining grant funds toward courses in your program that start between January 1 and March 31, 2024. Please note the following requirements:

You must have started a future skills grant-funded program in fall 2023 and need to take more courses to complete the original program.
You must continue with the same program and study at the same institution where you began your program. You cannot switch to a different program or a different institution and retain access to your future skills grant funding. Funding may be available in fall 2024 if you wish to consider other programs or institutions in future.
You must not have already exceeded your future skills grant lifetime maximum allotment of $3,500.

Still have a question?

Contact us at learn@sfu.ca.

Continuing Studies