UBC ams
Subsidies

Subsidies

Subsidies

The AMS offers hardship subsidies to students who are experiencing genuine financial hardship.

Students can apply for four kinds of Hardship Subsidies: Health and Dental Fee Subsidy, U-Pass Subsidy, SUB Renewal Fee Subsidy, and the AMS Fee Subsidy. Additionally, the AMS has recently released three new subsidies aimed at encouraging student involvement within the community: AMS Club Membership Fee Subsidy, Constituency Event Fee Subsidy, and the Child Care Bursary. The subsidies available for the current academic session are:

Summer 2023 Transit Subsidy

NOTE: You must apply for the Summer Transit Subsidy each month you qualify. Applications for June 2023 are open May 25 – June 5, 2023. Application open and close dates are:

  • June Subsidy: May 25 – June 5
  • July Subsidy: June 26 – July 6
  • August Subsidy: July 25 – August 5

If you’re working over the summer but not enrolled in any courses, the student U-Pass BC rates ($45.10/month) aren’t available to you. For some students, a regular Transit Pass is just too expensive ($102.55-$185.20), so the AMS is helping out. If a regular transit pass is negatively impacting your finances, you might qualify for a Summer Transit subsidy. To eligible for the subsidy you must:

  • Have a minimum 1 academic term left of courses
  • Are not taking summer courses 
  • Able to show financial hardship through loan statements or scholarship proof
  • Able to show proof of purchasing a monthly transit pass
  • Proof of work through contract/official work schedule submission
  • Be living and working in-person within the Metro-Vancouver area

AMS U-Pass Subsidy

The application period for Summer 2023 Term 1 U-Pass Subsidy is May 26th – June 5th, 2023.

The U-Pass Subsidy is offered to students who are eligible for a U-Pass in the current academic term and are experiencing financial hardship. This subsidy is not applicable to those who aren’t taking courses this term and therefore inelegible for a U-Pass. Please refer to the Summer 2023 Transit Subsidy instead if you are inelegible for a U-Pass but require transit subsidies.

For more information on AMS transit subsidies and exemptions, please refer to the U-Pass page.

AMS Fee and SUB Renewal Fee Subsidy

*Students can only apply during the first term of their academic year. Here are the dates:

  • Summer Term 1: To be confirmed
  • Summer Term 2: July 14th, 2023
  • 23/24′ Winter Term 1: September 5th – September 15th, 2023
  • 23/24′ Winter Term 2: January 8th – January 19th, 2024

Health & Dental Fee Subsidy (updates to come)

*Students can apply in any term

  • Summer Term: To be confirmed
  • Winter Term 1: August 22, 2022 – September 28, 2022
  • Winter Term 2: January 3, 2023 – January 27, 2023

AMS Club Membership Fee Subsidy

  • *This subsidy is not included in the AMS Fees
  • Dates & Deadlines: To be confirmed
  • Eligibility: any student wishing to participate in UBC student clubs
  • Purpose: alleviate financial hardship for students wishing to get involved in club activities

Constituency Event Fee Subsidy

  • *This subsidy is not included in the AMS Fees
  • Dates & Deadlines: Open All Year Round
  • Eligibility: any student wishing to participate in an event hosted by a UBC constituency (i.e. AUS, CUS)
  • Purpose: alleviate financial hardship for students wishing to participate in campus activities hosted by a UBC constituency (i.e. CUS Conference)

Child Care Bursary Subsidy

  • *This subsidy is not included in the AMS Fees
  • Dates & Deadlines: Open All Year Round
  • Eligibility: students experiencing financial hardship & supporting dependants (children)
  • Purpose: alleviate financial hardship for students with dependants
  • Requirements: submit the formal application and provide 2 support documentation to prove genuine financial hardship

Please email fundsandgrants@ams.ubc.ca and CC avpfunds@ams.ubc.ca for any questions regarding applying for hardship subsidies. For U-Pass questions, please email vpexternal@ams.ubc.ca