Services

The services and benefits we offer to our members.

The Deals App

To help make your day to day life a little more affordable, the BC Federation of Students, the provincial students’ union, and your students’ society have partnered with businesses to provide student discounts through our mobile app Deals. Download the FREE Deals App and start saving money today: http://www.wearebcstudents.ca/deals

Health & Dental Plan

FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING THE GRADUATE STUDENT HEALTH AND DENTAL PLAN, PLEASE CONTACT STUDENTCARE, THE ORGANIZATION THAT ADMINISTERS THE PLAN, AT THEIR TOLL-FREE PHONE NUMBER +1-877-722-2583 OR VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.STUDENTCARE.CA

To help UNBC graduate students pay for the health services they need, the NBCGSS has partnered with Studentcare to provide students with extended health and dental coverage. The Plan is designed specifically to fill the gaps in provincial health care (the British Columbia Medical Services Plan) and other basic health-care programs.

Who’s Covered?

NBCGSS members registered in the Fall semester and paying NBCGSS fees are automatically covered by the Graduate Student Health & Dental Plan. This includes:

Full-time and part-time students
Internet-based students
Eligible international students

Certain exceptions exist. Please check your student account to confirm if you have been charged the Plan fees.

The following students may be eligible to enroll themselves in the Plan:

Regional campus graduate students

What’s Covered?

Among other benefits, the Plan covers:

Up to 80% for prescription drugs and prescription vaccinations
80% (up to $150 per policy year) for non-prescription vaccinations
Up to $4,000 for health practitioners (psychologists, massage therapists, physiotherapists, chiropractors, etc.)
Up to $350 in vision care (eye exams, eyeglasses and contact lenses, laser eye surgery)
Up to $750 in dental care (checkups, cleanings, fillings, extractions, endodontics, periodontics, etc.)
Travel health coverage (up to $5,000,000 per incident, 120 days per trip), trip cancellation, and trip interruption in the event of a medical emergency

Visit www.studentcare.ca for complete details.

How Can I Save More?

You can further enhance your benefits by visiting health professionals who are members of the Dental, Vision, Chiropractic, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Doctor, and Psychology Networks. You are covered for the insured portion regardless of the health professional you choose. By consulting a Network member, you will get additional coverage. For example, by visiting a Dental Network member, you will receive an additional 20% off dental services. Visit www.studentcare.ca for more information.

How Much Does It Cost?

The Plan fee for full-year coverage (Sept. 1, 2024 – Aug. 31, 2025) is $383.69. The cost of the Plan is part of your student fees if you are automatically assessed the fee. For the January 2025 Semester, the Plan fee is $246.10 for only new January graduate students for coverage from January 1, 2025, to August 31, 2025, if you are automatically assessed the fee.

Can I Change My Coverage?

If you are covered by another extended health and dental plan (e.g. a parent’s or spouse’s employee plan, not BC MSP), you can combine both plans to maximize your overall coverage and reduce or eliminate out-of-pocket costs.

Alternatively, if you have other equivalent coverage, you can opt out of the Plan during the Change-of-Coverage Period from Sept. 3 – 24, 2024, Jan. 2 – 23, 2025 (for new students starting in January), or within 2 weeks of your registration date, whichever is later. After your opt-out is completed and shortly after the end of the Change-of-Coverage Period, the NBCGSS Health & Dental Plan fee will be credited to your student account. You’re responsible for paying all university fees within the prescribed deadlines. If you don’t pay the NBCGSS Plan fee, you may be assessed late fees and interest. We recommend that you pay all university fees even if you’re opting out of the NBCGSS Health & Dental Plan.

Not Sure You Need a Plan? Weigh the Costs and Benefits. Click on the link Change of Coverage_Opt Outs to see what students consider before making a decision. Opt-Outs If you’re already covered by an equivalent health and dental plan (such as a parent or spouse’s employee benefit plan, or a plan provided by your band council or through Health Canada), you can opt out and receive a credit to your student account for the amount of the Plan.

Have More Questions?

Information is available online at www.studentcare.ca or by calling the Studentcare Member Services Centre at +1-877-722-2583, Mon. – Fri.

Graduate Computer Lab

The graduate student computer lab has restricted access located in the west wing of the Teaching and Learning Building (Building 10) in room 10–3032.

Option ONE: Because the NBCGSS has no access to any students’ accounts, e-mail gssoffice@unbc.ca with the following information:

Your name
Your student number
Your UNBC e-mail address
Your phone number
A copy of your graduate student registration status (screenshot or photo is acceptable)

The NBCGSS will fill out the form. The form will be sent to the UNBC Facilities Department, which completes the process of the student ID card activation. Once the UNBC Facilities Department grants approval, you need to have your student card encoded at the Facilities Department.

Option TWO: Visit the NBCGSS office during office hours with your UNBC student ID card to fill out the form. The form will be sent to the UNBC Facilities Department, which completes the process of the student ID card activation. Once the UNBC Facilities Department grants approval, you need to have your student card encoded at the Facilities Department.

Graduate Lounge

The NBCGSS maintains a restricted-access lounge for members located in the west wing of the Teaching and Learning Building in room 10-3016 at the Prince George campus.

Rules for the lounge:

The lounge is open to all NBCGSS members 24 hours per day
Clean up after yourself
Do not post unrelated material in the lounge

The lounge is accessed by swiping an activated student ID card.

Option ONE: Because the NBCGSS has no access to any students’ accounts, e-mail gssoffice@unbc.ca with the following information:

Your name
Your student number
Your UNBC e-mail address
Your phone number
A copy of your graduate student registration status (screenshot or photo is acceptable)

U-Pass

**UNLIMITED PRINCE GEORGE POOL AND TRANSIT BUS ACCESS**

The U-Pass fee was approved by UNBC graduate students via referendum. The U-Pass program allows students to unlimited access to the City of Prince George bus system, as well as the Four Seasons Leisure Pool and the Prince George Aquatic Centre. Once all fees have been paid to UNBC, a validation sticker can be collected from the UNBC Cashier’s Office each semester to be affixed to the student ID card. This sticker is nontransferable and the student must show their card to the bus driver or pool reception to receive services free of charge.

U-Pass Opt-In

If you are not automatically assessed the U-Pass fee, you are enrolled in courses that are classified as regional campus based, online, or field study. Under these circumstances, a graduate student is eligible to opt-in to the U-Pass program for the semester.

The U-Pass Special Circumstance Form to opt-in is located in the link below:
UNBC Graduate Student U Pass Opt In Form.pdf

U-Pass Opt-Out

If you are charged the U-Pass fee, UNBC classifies one of your courses you enrolled in as Prince George campus based. The City of Prince George only has certain criteria for graduate students to opt-out of the U-Pass.

If a graduate student is eligible to opt-out of the U-Pass fee, the graduate student must submit the U-Pass Special Circumstance Form by the end of the first month of the semester that the graduate student would like to opt-out of the U-Pass fee to the City of Prince George via e-mail only. A graduate student cannot submit a U-Pass Special Circumstance Opt-Out Form for multiple semesters. If the City of Prince George does not receive via e-mail the U-Pass Special Circumstance Form and supporting documentation by the end of the first month of the semester that the graduate student would like to opt-out of the U-Pass fee, the City of Prince George does not approve the U-Pass opt-out for that semester.

The U-Pass Form to opt-out is located in the link below:
Graduate-Student-U-Pass-Opt-Out

U-Pass Sticker

The U-Pass sticker is being phased out, it is now called the enrolment term sticker and is provided to students who are using the reloadable UMO card and would like access to municipal recreation services. The details are noted on this web page https://www.unbc.ca/finance/accounts-receivable/u-pass-and-municipal-recreation-facilities

Emergency Bursary Fund

NBCGSS funds the NBCGSS Emergency Bursary Fund for members that are administered by the UNBC Awards and Financial Aid Unit of the Office of the Registrar. Emergency aid can be awarded to qualified graduate student members to a maximum of $250 per student per academic year, depending on the amount remaining in the NBCGSS Emergency Bursary Fund. The NBCGSS Emergency Bursary Fund is available to members who demonstrate considerable need in meeting the necessities of life and have exhausted all other avenues of funding within UNBC. For more information or to obtain the forms, please contact the UNBC Awards and Financial Aid Unit at awards@unbc.ca

Legacy Scholarships

The NBCGSS Legacy Scholarships were established by the NBCGSS to support members who excel at UNBC. The goal of the $500 scholarships, which is available to two full-time graduate students – one graduate student from College of Arts, Social and Health Sciences, and the other from College of Science and Management, is to recognize and support academic excellence. In addition to academic excellence, contributions to the graduate student culture and graduate program in which the applicant is enrolled will also be evaluated.

For more information or to view the application deadline, please visit UNBC Awards and Financial Aid Unit

Welcome Kit

As a member of the NBCGSS, the free Welcome Kit is available to current UNBC graduate students. Items include: the annual handbook and dayplanner, pen, highlighter, sustainable bottle/Mug, and cellphone wallet. Visit our office during office hours to pick up some free swag!

Legal Assistance

Legal advice can cost hundreds of dollars per hour to speak to a lawyer.

As a member of the NBCGSS and BC Federation of Students, you are eligible for FREE, unlimited legal advice over the phone in the following areas of law: Family, Criminal, Civil litigation, Landlord and Tenant, Wills and Estates, Tax, Employment, Immigration, and Identity Theft Support.

You can call on the phone number 1 877-333-3884 anytime 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to speak to a customer service representative who can arrange for you to speak to a lawyer at no charge.

If you need to retain a lawyer, a referral to a local lawyer can be provided with a free initial 30 minute consultation and a 25% discount on their standard legal fees. The lawyer will be assigned based on your specific legal issue so you can rest assured they have the experience and knowledge to assist you.

Printing

UNBC auto-populates all current graduate students with a free $5 credit that NBCGSS funds.

The free credit in the graduate student PaperCut account states, “NBCGSS Print Credit”. Any unused NBCGSS Print Credit at the end of the semester will be topped up by UNBC to a maximum of $5 at the beginning of the semester for current graduate students who are members of the NBCGSS. For example, if you have $1 credit left at the end of the semester, your PaperCut account will be topped up with $4 at the beginning of the next semester, which will total to $5.

Please note that the NBCGSS does not have access to any graduate student PaperCut printing account. For questions about PaperCut, e-mail printaccess@unbc.ca

NBCGSS Food Bank

NBCGSS Food Bank for Graduate students

If you are a graduate student in need, NBCGSS offers confidential 1-on-1 food hamper services provided by our dedicated Food Bank Volunteer, Afton Zral.

How to Access:

Contact Afton: Email Afton at gssfoodbank@unbc.ca to set up a meeting time.
Stay Informed: Watch your UNBC emails closely for announcements from Afton about the availability of food hampers.

Questions or Feedback?

Feel free to reach out to:

Sophia Robinson, Director of Welfare: Sophia oversees the food bank operations and can address any concerns, questions, or feedback. Contact her at gsswelfare@unbc.ca.

Meanwhile check this Facebook group handled by UNBC Sustainability team, notifying where you can find free food around campus! https://www.facebook.com/groups/189218918201501