Canada Student Grants and Loans – What student grants and loans offer. The Canada Student Financial Assistance Program offers grants and loans to full-time and part-time students to help pay for their post-secondary education.
- Apply with 1 application, through your province or territory of residence
- You don’t need to pay back grants
- You do need to pay back loans after finishing school
- You may be eligible for more than 1 type of grant – when you apply with your province, they will assess your eligibility for all grants
Canada Student Grants and Loans – What student grants and loans offer
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How the funding works for Canada Student Grants and Loans
The Government of Canada works with most provincial or territorial governments to offer student grants and loans. In all situations, you apply with your province or territory of residence. The amount you can receive is calculated when you apply. Canada Student Grants and Loans – What student grants and loans offer
More detail on how the funding works
How much you can get
The amount you can receive depends on many factors, including:
- your province or territory of residence
- your family income
- if you have dependents
- your tuition fees and living expenses
- if you have a disability
To find out how much you might get in Canada Student Grants or Loans, use the federal student aid estimator.
Note: The estimator does not take into account the provincial and territorial student grants and loans. Canada Student Grants and Loans – What student grants and loans offer
List of federal student grants
Your eligibility for Canada Student Grants is calculated when you apply with your province or territory. Canada Student Grants and Loans – What student grants and loans offer
Maximum lifetime limit for student aid
There are lifetime limits on the number of weeks you can receive student aid. This includes interest-free periods while you are in school. Once a lifetime limit is reached, interest starts to accumulate. You will also have to start paying back the loan 6 months after you graduate or finish your studies. Canada Student Grants and Loans – What student grants and loans offer
Full-time students can receive student aid for no more than 340 weeks, except:
- students enrolled in doctoral studies can receive student aid for up to 400 weeks
- students with a disability may receive up to 520 weeks of educational assistance
Registered Education Savings Plan
In addition to grants and loans you can use funds from your Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) to help pay for your studies.
Canada Student Grants and Loans – What student grants and loans offer
Go to your province or territory to:
- find out if you’re eligible for student grants and loans
- know how much you could get
- apply for student grants and loans
Provincial and territorial student aid offices
- Alberta Student Aid
- British Columbia Student Aid
- Manitoba Student Aid
- New Brunswick Student Financial Services
- Newfoundland and Labrador Student Aid
- Northwest Territories Student Financial Assistance
- Nova Scotia Student Assistance
- Nunavut Student Funding
- Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)
- Prince Edward Island Student Financial Services
- Quebec Student Financial Aid
- Saskatchewan Student Loans
- Yukon Student Financial Assistance
After you apply, your provincial or territorial student aid service will be in touch with you for the steps that will follow. Canada Student Grants and Loans – What student grants and loans offer
Apply for part-time student grants and loans
To apply for part-time student aid in Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador or Yukon you will need to submit the following form. Canada Student Grants and Loans – What student grants and loans offer
For all other provinces or territory, visit their website to submit an application.
Confirm your enrolment
In order to receive your grant and/or loan money, you or your school will need to confirm that you are enrolled. Log in to your secure National Student Loans Service Centre account to confirm your enrolment. Canada Student Grants and Loans – What student grants and loans offer
Loan agreement
The Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement (MSFAA) outlines the terms of accepting and repaying your student loans. It replaces past federal and provincial loan agreements. You only have to sign this agreement once as it covers present and future student loans.
You will only have to re-sign a new MSFAA if you apply for financial assistance after:
- taking a 2-year break from school, or
- permanently moving to another province/territory
Your MSFAA will not show grant or loan amounts. You will receive a Notice of Assessment from your province or territory that tells you how much student aid you will receive. Canada Student Grants and Loans – What student grants and loans offer
Review the terms and conditions of your MSFAA on the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC) website.
Some borrowers need to check with their province or territory as they have their own student aid programs.
For questions about student aid, contact your province or territory. If you already have a grant or a loan, you can:
- log in to your NSLSC account to view information on your grants and loans
- contact the NSLSC