How am I going to pay for this?

Money is a major consideration for women who want to go to school. However, it is not the first consideration. First you figure out your goal, then you find out what institutions might provide the training you need. Then you're in a position to find out how to pay for it.

Some women have financed their return to school with money from their divorce settlement or the sale of the house. If you get a job with a college or university you can get a break on fees.

If you have to raise money to go to school, the two main sources of information about this are Employment and Immigration Canada (EIC) and the institution you are planning to attend (college or university, school board, private college).

Native women can also get information about money for training and education from their band or tribal council.

Disabled women can contact the Vocational Rehabilitation Services Branch of the Ministry of Advanced Education, Training and Technology. Look in the blue pages of the phone book for Government of BC/Advanced Education Training and Technology/Vocational Rehabilitation for the office nearest you.

The EIC also funds some training. For more information about this see Government funded training (page 25).

The first step in getting information from the school you wish to attend is to read the school calendar. School calendars have information about financial services which can help you focus your questions about how to get money.

Public colleges, universities and institutes have financial aid counsellors in their student services offices. You can contact them and tell them you are thinking of going back to school but you need help to finance it. They will tell you what the next step is. Some offices have information sessions, others will make an appointment for you to see a counsellor. Some will send you information in the mail.

Some private post-secondary institutions have financial aid services and others don't. If you are thinking of taking a course from a private college, tell them you will need financial aid and ask if there's any available. Private colleges will know about funding that is available to students taking their courses.

Because it takes time to gather information, start your financial planning well ahead of when you want to go to school. When you send in your financial aid application, the school will need time to process it. For example, the BC Institute of Technology (BCIT) has a July 30 deadline for many scholarship and bursary applications for programs starting in September.