StrongerBC future skills grant
About the StrongerBC future skills grant
The StrongerBC future skills grant (FSG) is open to British Columbians aged 19 years or older regardless of financial need. The grant covers up to a lifetime maximum of $3,500 per learner for eligible course costs associated with short-term skills training at public universities and colleges in BC.
The StrongerBC future skills grant is only applicable to the eligible TRU programs listed below. New applications are not being accepted for Winter 2024. Fall 2024 funding and programs to be announced soon. Please check back for more details later this Spring.
Student Eligibility
To be eligible for the StrongerBC future skills grant, you:
- Must be a Canadian Citizen, Permanent Resident, or Protected Person entitled to study in Canada.
- Must be B.C. residents and currently live in BC.
- Must be 19 years or older or have graduated high school by the start of your course/program.
- Must provide consent for TRU to disclose your information to the Province.
- Must not be receiving duplicative and/or overlapping funding to cover eligible costs (i.e. grants, loans, scholarships, or other funding that covers the same program costs as the StrongerBC future skills grant)
You should also understand that:
- FSG benefits may have tax implications
- The FSG is subject to a lifetime maximum of $3,500
- Funding is limited and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis
- If you are receiving any federal or provincial benefit, such as Employment Insurance (EI) or BC Employment Assistance (BCEA), you must seek approval from the appropriate government body before participating in a program
- The amount of FSG funding you receive is subject to review and audit.
Eligible Programs - Fall 2023 only
The following Open Learning programs are approved for FSG funding:
Certificate in Entrepreneurial Skills 1
Certificate in Entrepreneurial Skills 2
Event Management Certificate
How to Apply
Applications to the eligible programs with FSG funding are currently closed. If FSG funding is still available, applications to the eligible programs will re-open at a later date.
StrongerBC future skills grant and Program FAQs
What if I have already applied to Certificate in Entrepreneurial Skills 1 or 2, or Event Management Certificate through EPBC?
If you have already applied to one of the eligible Open Learning programs, please let your Open Learning advisor know that you are interested in the FSG. Any new course registrations between September and December 2023 can take advantage of the grant, if funding is still available.
How many courses can I register in at one time?
We recommend you speak to your Open Learning advisor to help you decide how many courses to register in, as this is a personal decision based on workload.
What if I decide the program or course(s) is not for me? How do I cancel my registration?
You may cancel your registration by submitting the online Course Cancellation form within five weeks from the registration date, as long as an assignment has not been submitted or an examination has not been written. By cancelling your registration, the course does not appear on your transcript.
Students who submit their request within eligible deadlines receive a 100% refund of tuition fees. The course administration, technology and other course fees are non-refundable.
What if I need to apply for a course extension?
Please email your Open Learning Advisor to request an extension.
I'm not sure if I am eligible to receive this funding. Who do I ask to find out?
You can email futureskillsgrant@gov.bc.ca to find out if you are eligible.
Are any other TRU programs eligible for the StrongerBC future skills grant?
No, only the three programs listed above are currently eligible for the StrongerBC future skills grant.
Will these courses and programs appear on my official TRU transcript?
Yes, these courses are all transcriptable and will count towards your overall TRU GPA.
You can formally withdraw from your course(s) up to the end of week 13 of the course and receive a “W” (Withdrawal) grade, which will not impact your GPA.
If you do not formally withdraw within 13 weeks of your course start date, and you complete some but not all mandatory coursework by the course completion date, you will receive a final grade of “DNC” (Did Not Complete) as per Final Grades policy Grading Systems – ED 3-5.
If I'm in another program, and one of the FSG eligible programs would count as credit towards my program, am I still eligible for the future skills grant if I become admitted to both?
In short, yes. If you are in another program, you can still apply to one of the FSG eligible programs to use the credits towards your original program and the new program while receiving future skills grant funding. However, you are not eligible for the future skills grant in any semester where you will receive any Student Aid BC funding (including student loans). This is because you cannot be double funded (by the future skills grant and Student Aid BC) as the course costs can only be funded from one source.
Do the FSG eligible programs ladder into other TRU programs?
Yes, the FSG eligible programs do ladder into other TRU programs, and the courses can also be applied individually. Please contact your Open Learning advisor to learn more.
What if my tuition and fees total more than my StrongerBC future skills grant lifetime maximum of $3,500?
Once you are registered in your courses, if your tuition and fees total more than the StrongerBC future skills grant lifetime maximum of $3,500, you will be responsible for paying the remaining balance, in accordance with TRU tuition and fee payment deadlines.
I have questions about the StrongerBC future skills grant and possible tax implications. Who do I contact?
You can email futureskillsgrant@gov.bc.ca and they will be able to assist you with specific questions about the future skills grant.
Questions? We're here to help.
Email student@tru.ca
Call Enrolment Services at 250-852-7000 or 1-800-663-9711 (toll-free in Canada)
This project was funded by the Government of Canada through the Province of British Columbia.
