The Government of Canada created The Canada Student Loans Program to make postsecondary education accessible to students attending a University, College, Trade School, or Vocational School, with a financial need, in attempt to ensure Canadians have the opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills needed to participate in the economy and society.
Depending on the school or program, tuition can cost between $2,500 and $8,000 a year or more.
Determine Your Eligibility
Canada Student Loans are available for full-time and part-time study at designated schools (including certain postsecondary institutions outside of Canada). To find out more about student financial assistance available in your province or territory of permanent residence or visit CanLearn.ca.
To be eligible for a Canada Student Loan as a full-time student, you must meet all of the following conditions:
- You must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada, or be designated as a Protected Person.
- You must be a permanent resident of a province or territory that issues Canada Student Loans.
- You must demonstrate financial need.
- You must be enrolled in at least 60 percent of a full course load (students with permanent disabilities must enrol in at least 40 percent of a full course load).
- You must be enrolled in a degree, diploma or certificate program of at least 12 weeks of training and study within 15 consecutive weeks at a designated post-secondary educational institution.
- You must pass a credit check if you’re 22 years of age or older and applying for a Canada Student Loan for the first time.
- You must maintain a satisfactory scholastic standard if you’ve already applied for and received a Canada Student Loan.
Application Process
You must apply for the Canada Student Loan through your provincial or territorial student financial assistance office. Applications can be completed online in most provinces.
Applications are available through your high school, post-secondary institution or the Student Assistance Office of your province or territory of residence—many provinces and territories now offer online applications. In general, student loan applications are assessed within 4 to 6 weeks while online applications are often processed more quickly.
It is possible to obtain a full-time Canada Student Loan to attend a post-secondary institution outside of
Receiving Financial Assistance
A letter of assessment from the provincial or territorial student financial assistance office will be provided to you. Once you have received this assessment two things must happen:
1. Your school must confirm that you are enrolled.
The Certificate/Student Loan Agreement is valid for only 30 days from the date it is signed by your school and no later than the end of the month shown as the “Period of Study End Date”.
2. You must read, review, and sign your documents.
When you sign your loan document, you agree to be bound by those terms and conditions. They include important commitments, such as:
- you agree to repay your loan (plus interest) beginning 6 months after your studies have ended or after you have left school
- you agree to advise the NSLSC (for federal loans) of any change in contact information
- you acknowledge that for 6 months after you have completed your studies or left school, you will not be required to make payments. Interest, however, will start to accumulate on your loans.
Bring your completed document to the NSLSC at either a Designated Canada Post Outlet or an on-campus NSLSC kiosk.
Normally, your loan amounts will be disbursed twice througout the year depending on the time you applied. 1 during your first term, and 1 during your second term.
Interest
Full-time students: Government student loan programs don’t charge interest until you have left school. Interest accumulates from the month after you leave school, but payments are only required 6 months after.
Part-time students: Interest accrues and must be paid on part-time Canada Student Loans while you're in school.
Contact Information
- Newfoundland and
Student Aid Division
Tel.: 709-729-5849
Fax: 709-729-2298
Toll-free: 1-888-657-0800
www.edu.gov.nl.ca/studentaid/
- Prince Edward Island
Student Financial Services
Tel.: 902-368-4640
www.studentloan.pe.ca
- Nova Scotia
Student Assistance Office
Tel.: 902-424-8420
Toll-free: 1-800-565-8420 (within
TTY: 902-424-2058
www.studentloans.ednet.ns.ca
- New Brunswick
Student Financial Services
Tel.: 506-453-2577 (Fredricton area)
Toll-free: 1-800-667-5626
www.studentaid.gnb.ca
- *
Aide financière aux études (AFE) reception and enquiries desk
Tel.: 418-643-3750
Toll-free: 1-877-643-3750 (within Canada/US)
www.afe.gouv.qc.ca/en/index.asp
- Ontario
Student Support Branch
Tel.: 807-343-7260 (
Students attending a post-secondary institution in
Tel.: 1-866-330-3331 (automated telephone voice response system for status of application; available only in
TDD/TTY: 1-800-465-3958
http://osap.gov.on.ca
- Manitoba
Student Aid Branch
Tel.: 204-945-6321
Tel.: 204-945-2313 (outside
Toll-free: 1-800-204-1685 (within
TTY: 1-866-209-0696 (within
www.manitobastudentaid.ca
- Saskatchewan
Student Financial Assistance Branch
Tel.: 306-787-5620 (
Toll-free: 1-800-597-8278
www.student-loans.sk.ca
- Alberta
Student Funding Contact Centre
Tel.: 780-427-3722 (
Toll-free: 1-800-222-6485 (in
www.alis.gov.ab.ca/studentsfinance/main.asp
- British Columbia
Student
Tel.: 250-387-6100 (
Tel.: 604-660-2610 (Lower Mainland)
Toll-free: 1-800-561-1818 (anywhere else in Canada/US)
TTY: 250-952-6832
www.studentaidbc.ca
- Yukon
Students Financial Services
Tel.: 867-667-5929
Toll-free: 1-800-661-0408 local 5929 (within
www.education.gov.yk.ca/advanceded/sfa/
- *
Student Financial Assistance
Tel.: 867-873-7190
Toll-free: 1-800-661-0793
www.nwtsfa.gov.nt.ca
- *
Student Assistance Office
Toll-free: 1-877-860-0680 (can be used locally)
Tel.: 867-473-2600 (
Toll-free: 1-800-567-1514 (
Tel.: 867-645-5040 (Kivalliq)
Toll-free 1-800-953-8516 (Kivalliq)
Tel.: 867-983-4031 (
Toll-free: 1-800-661-0845 (
www.gov.nu.ca/education/eng
