Effective January 21, 2025, the Registrar of the Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit (PTIRU) has cancelled the designation certificate of Sterling College. This means that Sterling College must immediately stop providing the program in which you are enrolled.
PTIRU is working to support students impacted by the cancellation. If you were enrolled at the time of the cancellation, you may be eligible to file a claim against the Student Tuition Protection Fund ('the Fund'). You can claim up to the amount of tuition paid. Tuition does not include application fees or fees charged for textbooks or other course materials.
The Claim Form is available on the right side of this page and must be submitted within one year of the cancellation. The Claim Form must be completed, in full, for a claim to be processed.
The Trustee of the Student Tuition Protection Fund has requested students filing claims also complete the Additional Information Form which is also available on the right side of this page. If you don’t complete the Additional Information Form, your claim will still be processed. Information in both forms will be confirmed in video interviews to be held with each claimant.
PTIRU is arranging an information session for students affected by the closure. To make sure you get an invitation, please send your contact information to PTI.InstitutionClosure@gov.bc.ca.
If you have any questions, please email PTI.InstitutionClosure@gov.bc.ca and provide your name, email address, and a phone number where you can be reached during the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
I receive student financial assistance for my program. How does the cancellation affect my financial assistance?
In the event of an institution cancellation, every effort will be made by the relevant government agencies to limit the disruption to your studies.
StudentAid BC funding will only be affected if your studies are disrupted for a period of 21 days or more. This means that no more than three weeks may pass between the last date of attendance at the original post-secondary institution and the start date at a new institution.
However, you will be required to notify StudentAid BC if you transfer to a new institution, as well as if your studies are disrupted for 21 days or more.
For any SABC inquiries email: StudentAidBC@gov.bc.ca or phone: 1-888-561-1818.
Students receiving financial assistance from another jurisdiction should contact the government department responsible for financial assistance. If you are a student from Alberta receiving financial assistance from Alberta Student Aid, go to: Home | Alberta Student Aid. If you are a student from Saskatchewan receiving financial assistance from Saskatchewan Student Aid, go to: Saskatchewan Student Aid | Saskatchewan Education and Learning | Government of Saskatchewan
What are my options with regards to my StudentAid BC funding?
Should you enrol at a different institution within 21 days of your last date of attendance at your original institution, you may complete an Appendix 5 – Transfer of School form to avoid having an overaward assessed or having to reapply for StudentAid BC funding.
If you do not enrol at a new institution within 21 days of your last date of classes with your original institution, a withdrawal will be processed on your student loan record.
How do I notify StudentAid BC if I enrol at a different institution?
In the case that you enrol at a different institution and commence studies at the new institution within 21 days of your last date of attendance at your original institution, you are required to submit an Appendix 5 – Transfer of School form. PTIRU will complete Section 2 of the form, the new institution you have enrolled at will complete Section 3 of the form, and you are responsible to complete Section 1 of the form.
What happens to my StudentAid BC funding if I do not enrol at a different institution within 21 days of my last day in attendance at my original institution?
If you do not enrol at a new institution within 21 days of your last date of attendance at your original institution, a withdrawal will be processed on your student loan records. As your StudentAid BC funding was calculated based on the completion of your anticipated study period, a withdrawal may result in an overaward being assessed on the StudentAid BC funding you have received. An overaward can affect your future StudentAid BC funding. Please see https://studentaidbc.ca/apply/overaward for more information about what to do in the event of an overaward.
If you decide to return to full time studies within 6 months of your withdrawal date, you may submit an overaward appeal. This will initiate a review of your circumstances for consideration in having the overaward set aside until your loan is scheduled for repayment. Overaward appeals must be submitted within 90 days from the date of your overaward notification letter.
Is there a comparable program that I can transfer into?
The registrar has not appointed comparable programs. Students that intend to transfer to another institution to complete their program are responsible for determining whether the receiving institution has a prior learning assessment policy, for meeting admission requirements of the receiving institution and for payment of tuition and related fees.
Who decides whether I will receive a tuition refund?
Claims for a tuition refund are adjudicated by the Trustee of the Student Tuition Protection Fund.
When will I find out if I am going to receive a tuition refund?
To be adjudicated, a student must file a claim and may be required to provide supporting documentation. PTIRU staff provide the information that the Trustee requires for the adjudication, as outlined in the Claim Form and the Additional Information Form. The Trustee will then make a decision which will be communicated to the claimant and the institution. Given the steps involved and the number of anticipated claims, it may take several months for adjudication decisions to be made for all students. However, the sooner you submit your claim and other required information, the sooner you can expect an adjudication decision.
This FAQ will be updated regularly to address new questions and ensure the information stays current—check back often for the latest updates.
Additional information
For more information, contact PTIRU at PTI.InstitutionClosure@gov.bc.ca.