Student Loans, Grants and Scholarships

General Information
Student Loans
Student Grants

General Information

1. Q. What’s the average cost of tuition these days?

A. Depending on the school or program, tuition can cost between $2,500 and $8,000 a year or more. Residence fees can double or, in some cases, triple the total cost of post-secondary education.

2. Q. Can only students who ace their studies apply for scholarships, grants and bursaries?

A. While many scholarships are based on excellence in a particular area such as academics, entrepreneurialism or sports, some are not. Many grants and bursaries are awarded on the basis of financial need.

3. Q. What difference does it make if I get a grant or a loan?

A. When you receive a grant, you do not have to pay the money back. When you receive a loan, you have to begin paying the loan back six months after you complete or leave your studies. Interest will accumulate during that six-month period.

4. Q. If I qualify for a loan and a grant, but the grant covers all my expenses, do I need to take a student loan?

A. If the grant(s) you are awarded cover(s) more than your assessed financial need, only the grant will be provided.

5. Q. What happens if my financial situation changes while I'm in school?

A. If your financial circumstances change at any time during your pre-study or study period, you must provide the new information to your provincial or territorial student financial assistance office so that you're not awarded too much or too little.

To get an idea whether a change in your present situation would result in more or less assistance, or in a change in your eligibility for Canada Student Loans and Canada Student Grants, you can use the Student Financial Assistance Estimator at CanLearn.ca.

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Student Loans

1. Q. Will student loans cover all my schooling costs?

A. Government student loan programs are designed to help cover your costs while you are in school, but are awarded on the basis of financial need. Depending on your assessment, you may still need other sources of money (e.g., job earnings, parental contributions) to cover the costs of school.

2. Q. How do I apply for a government student loan?

A. Applying is easy:

Get an application, either through your high school, post-secondary institution or through the student financial assistance office of your province or territory of permanent residence. All provinces and territories now offer online applications.
Fill out and send the application along with any documentation requested to your province or territory of permanent residence. You are a permanent resident of the province or territory where you have most recently lived for at least 12 consecutive months without having been a full-time student at a post-secondary institution.

3. Q. Can all students at all post-secondary institutions qualify for government student loans?

A. The institution and program of study will affect your eligibility for government student loans. Check with your provincial or territorial student financial assistance office to determine if your school and/or program qualifies, or visit the List of Designated Educational Institutions.

4. Q. How do I know how much money I will receive in government student loans?

A. Take a look at the Student Financial Assistance Estimator to calculate an estimate of the amount of government student loans you may be eligible to receive.

5. Q. How much money does the government assume my parents or legal guardians will contribute to my education?

A. Use the Parental Contribution Calculator to get an idea of the amount that the government assumes your parents or legal guardians will contribute to your education.

6. Q. How long do applications for government student loans take to process?

A. Normally, it takes approximately four to six weeks for an application to be assessed by your province or territory of residence. Online applications are often processed more quickly.

7. Q. Am I eligible to receive government student loans if I'm planning to study abroad?

A. It is possible to obtain a Canada Student Loan for full-time studies if you are studying at a post-secondary institution outside of Canada. Check with your provincial or territorial student financial assistance office to determine if your school and/or program qualifies, or visit the List of Designated Educational Institutions.

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8. Q. Can I contest the amount that I've been evaluated for?

A. Most provinces and territories have a formal student loan reassessment process. Please contact your provincial or territorial student financial assistance office to find out how to contest your student loan assessment.

9. Q. Do I receive all my student loan money at the beginning of the school year?

A. No. While there are exceptions, you normally get two disbursements of money in a year, depending on when you apply: one at the beginning of your first term, and one at the beginning of your second term.

10. Q. Do I only apply once for a student loan while I'm at school?

A. No, for most programs, you must apply every year to be considered for a loan.

11. Q. Is interest charged on my loan while I'm in school?

A. 1. Full-time students: No, government student loan programs don't charge interest until you have left school. Interest accumulates from the month after you graduate or leave school, but payments are only required six months later. This is why it's important to tell your loan providers that you are returning to school each year. Otherwise, they may contact you to have you start repaying your loan before you have finished school.

2. Part-time students: Yes, interest accumulates while you're in school, but you are not required to make loan payments. Loan payments are only required six months after you graduate or leave school.

12. Q. What do I have to do to manage my loan during school?

A. It is important that you maintain contact with your provincial student financial assistance office to keep them informed of your enrolment status. This will ensure that your loans do not go into repayment if you are still studying.

It is also important to tell your loan providers about any changes in your contact information, program of study or educational institution.

13. Q. When do I have to start repaying my student loan?

A. Whether you graduate or not, you must pay back your student loan.

Full-time students: Payments are required six months after you graduate or leave school, but interest accumulates during this six-month period.

Part-time students: Interest accumulates while you're in school, but you are not required to make payments until six months after you graduate or leave school.

14. Q. Do I have to wait until the end of my schooling to start repaying my student loan?

A. No. You can start making payments while in school. These payments will go directly towards the principal of your student loan, which will bring down your overall debt.

15. Q. What happens if I have received loans but cannot finish my program?

A. You should notify your loan providers as soon as possible. You will have to start making payments on your student loans six months after you leave school, unless you qualify for repayment assistance. See the Can't Repay? section to find out about programs for students who are having difficulty repaying their students loans.

16. Q. I'm a Reservist. What do I need to know about my student loan?

A. If you are eligible and have been deployed on designated operations since January 1, 2008 or you are about to be deployed, you will not be charged interest or have to start paying back your student loan while you are away from your studies. You will be eligible for this benefit if you:

are in the Canadian Reserves;
are a full-time student;
have a federal student loan but have not started repayment; and
intend to return to school after your designated operations.

Depending on the province or territory that your loan is with, you may be required to make payments on the provincial/territorial portion of your loan. If payments are required, the Government of Canada will ensure that interest is paid on the provincial/territorial loan. For more information, please consult the Frequently Asked Questions for Reservists.

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Student Grants

1. Q. What are Canada Student Grants and how can I benefit from them?

A. Canada Student Grants help students pay for their education by providing money they do not need to pay back. Students who qualify for the grants will receive the money at the beginning and middle of the school year.

Canada Student Grants include:

Grant for Students from Low-Income Families
Grant for Students from Middle-Income Families
Grant for Students with Dependants
Grant for Part-Time Studies
Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities

2. Q. Who qualifies for a Canada Student Grant?

A. Students with a financial need who meet the eligibility requirements for a grant may receive assistance. A few examples of students who may qualify for one or more Canada Student Grants include:

students from low- or middle-income families pursuing full-time post-secondary studies for an undergraduate degree certificate or diploma that is at least two years (60 weeks) in duration;
students from low-income families with children under 12 years of age;
students with permanent disabilities; and
part-time students from low-income families.

All students who apply for a Canada Student Loan will be automatically assessed for a grant. A separate application is required for the Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Persons with Permanent Disabilities.

3. Q. Can I qualify for both a Canada Student Loan and a Canada Student Grant?

A. Yes. Students who qualify for a Canada Student Loan will be automatically assessed for a Canada Student Grant. In addition, students may be eligible to receive more than one grant simultaneously.

4. Q. How much money can I get from a grant?

A. The amount of grant assistance a student may receive depends on the grants they are eligible for. Students may be eligible to receive more than one type of grant simultaneously.

For example:

Full-time students from low-income families may be eligible for $250 per month of undergraduate studies, up to a maximum of $3,000 per academic year (12-month period; August 1 to July 31).
Full-time students from middle-income families may be eligible for $100 per month of undergraduate studies, up to a maximum of $1,200 per academic year.
Students from low-income families with children under 12 years of age may be eligible for $200 per month
Part-time students from low-income families may be eligible for up to $1,200 per academic year.
Part-time students with up to two children under 12 years of age may be eligible for $40 per week of study.
Part-time students with three or more children under 12 years of age may be eligible for $60 per week of study.
Students with permanent disabilities may be eligible for $2,000 per academic year.
Students with permanent disabilities who have exceptional education-related costs may receive $8,000 per academic year (August 1 to July 31).

5. Q. How do I apply for these grants and other student financial assistance programs?

A. You apply for student financial assistance through your province or territory of permanent residence. You will be automatically assessed for a Canada Student Grant when you apply for a Canada Student Loan. A separate application is required for the Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Persons with Permanent Disabilities.

6. Q. Why do I need to apply for a student loan to qualify for the grant?

A. Students who qualify for a Canada Student Loan will automatically be assessed for a Canada Student Grant. A single application for both loans and grants makes it easier for students to apply.

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7. Q. As a part-time student, am I eligible for the Canada Student Grants?

A. As a part-time student, you may be eligible for up to $10,000 in Canada Student Loans. You may also be eligible for the Canada Student Grant for Part-Time Studies, the Canada Student Grant for Part-time Students with Dependants, as well as the Canada Student Grant for Persons with Permanent Disabilities.

Part-time students from low-income families may qualify for up to $1,200 per year in grants, money that does not need to be paid back.
For part-time students with dependants:
- If you have one or two children under 12 years of age, you may be eligible for $40 per week of study.
- If you have three or more children under 12 years of age, you may be eligible for $60 per week of study.

The funding provided under these grants should not exceed a student's assessed need. For example, if a student demonstrates $800 of assessed need, the student should then receive a maximum grant of $800. Part-time students are not eligible for either the Grant for Students from Low-Income Families or the Grant for Students from Middle-Income Families.

Part-time students must begin repaying their student loan six months after they graduate or stop going to school. They are not required to make loan payments while they are studying, but interest will accumulate on their loan.

8. Q. At what point is the age of a dependant considered?

A. The age of a dependant is considered at the study period start date.

9. Q. If a student enrols in a one-year academic program after not being accepted into a multi-year program, but is accepted into a multi-year program the following year, can the student receive the Canada Student Grant for Persons from Low-Income Families or the Canada Student Grant for Persons from Middle-Income Families for the first year?

A. In this case, the student would not receive the grant in the first year because the student was enroled in a one-year program. But the student may qualify in the second year because he or she is now enroled in a two-year program.

10. Q. Are graduate students eligible for the Canada Student Grants?

A. Yes. Graduate students are eligible for the following grants:

Canada Student Grant for Persons with Dependants: Under this grant, students from low-income families with children may receive $200 in grant assistance per month of study for each child under 12 years of age.
Canada Student Grant for Part-Time Students with Dependants: Under this grant, part time students with up to two children under 12 years of age may be eligible for $40 per week of study, and part time students with three or more children may be eligible for $60 per week of study.
Canada Student Grant for Part-Time Studies: Under this grant, part-time students may be eligible for up to $1,200 per school year.
Canada Student Grant for Persons with Permanent Disabilities: Under this grant, students with permanent disabilities may receive $2,000 per academic year to help cover the costs of accommodation, tuition and books.
Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Persons with Permanent Disabilities: Under this grant, students with permanent disabilities who have exceptional education-related costs such as tutors, note-takers, interpreters, braillers or technical aids may receive up to $8,000 per academic year.

11. Q. What income will be used to determine eligibility for the grants?

A. Family income from the previous tax year will be used to determine eligibility for the grants. Please note that the definition of family income (for the purpose of assessing grants) varies by student category. For example:

For independent students and single parents, family income is the student's income
For dependent students, family income is parental income.
For married/common-law students, family income includes the student's income and the income of the student's spouse.

If the gross monthly family income of the applicant (and/or spouse) is zero, the applicant must provide a letter either from the family member who is supporting him or her (and his or her spouse), or from a third party. The letter must indicate how the applicant's living expenses are being met.

12. Q. What information from the income tax form will be used to determine income?

A. Line 150 from the income tax form will be used to determine income. Line 150 is the total income, which includes income from employment, Canada Pension Plan (CPP), social assistance payments, alimony, Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP), split income amounts, etc.

To ensure that the eligibility assessment does not double count split incomes, Line 210 (deduction for elected split pension amounts) will also be requested if applicable.

13. Q. How are the grants distributed?

A. The grants re distributed in two portions: one at the beginning and one in the middle of the school year.

14. Q. Who issues the grants, and are they included on the Certificate of Eligibility?

A. The grants are issued by the provinces and territories that participate in the Canada Student Loans Program through the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC). The grants are included on the Certificate of Eligibility.

Please note that students who are residents of Alberta will be issued a cheque for their Canada Student Grants. For further information, you can contact the Alberta Student Funding Contact Centre at 1-800-222-6485 (toll free) or 780-427-3722 (in Edmonton).

Quebec, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut offer their own student financial aid programs and do not participate in the Canada Student Loans Program To learn more about available student financial assistance programs in these jurisdictions, contact their student financial assistance office or visit their website.