The Student Aid Estimator shows the amount of federal student aid you could receive from the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program. The actual grant and loan amounts are determined once you apply through your provincial student aid office.

The Canada Student Financial Assistance Program provides grants and loans to help full-time and part-time students cover post-secondary education costs.

Key Benefits:

• Apply through your province or territory with just one application.

• Grants do not need to be repaid.

• Loans must be repaid after you finish school.

• You may qualify for multiple grants, and eligibility is assessed automatically when you apply.

Canada Student Grants and Loans

The Government of Canada collaborates with most provinces and territories to offer financial assistance. The amount you receive depends on your application assessment.

Funding by Province/Territory:

British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Saskatchewan: Integrated federal and provincial grants and loans.

Alberta, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island: Federal grants and loans are available alongside provincial/territorial student aid.

Yukon: Only Canada Student Grants and Loans, along with territorial grants, are available.

Nunavut, Northwest Territories, Quebec: These jurisdictions offer their own student aid programs, and federal grants and loans are not available.

The Government of Canada collaborates with most provinces and territories to offer financial assistance. The amount you receive depends on your application assessment.

The amount of financial assistance you may be eligible for depends on several factors, including:

• Your province or territory of residence

• Your family income

• Whether you have dependents

• Your tuition fees and living expenses

• If you have a disability

To estimate how much you could receive in Canada Student Grants or Loans, you can use the federal student aid estimator.
Note: The estimator only accounts for federal aid and does not include provincial or territorial student grants and loans.

For full details, visit the official website of Canada > Benefits > Student Aid and Education Planning

Your eligibility for Canada Student Grants is determined when you apply through your province or territory.

The available grants include:

• Grant for full-time students

• Grant for part-time students

• Grant for full-time students with dependents

• Grant for part-time students with dependents

• Grant for students with disabilities

• Services and equipment for students with disabilities

There are limits to the number of weeks you can receive student aid, including any periods without payments or interest while you are in school. You must start repaying your loan six months after you graduate or finish your studies.

Full-time students can receive student aid for a maximum of 340 weeks, unless:

• Students in doctoral studies can receive aid for up to 400 weeks.

• Students with a disability may receive up to 520 weeks of educational assistance.

In addition to grants and loans, you can use funds from your Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) to help pay for your education.

You need to apply through your province or territory. Assistance with the application process is available through their contact service centre or by reaching out to your college directly. Alternatively, you can apply independently by following the step-by-step instructions and resources provided on your province's student aid website.

Once you’ve submitted your application, you will need to wait for the results, which will include a Student Award Letter. This letter will outline the breakdown of the approved student loans and grants you are eligible for. It will also provide information on the specific amounts granted for both provincial and federal aid.

The provincial breakdown of financial assistance can vary depending on your location, as each province or territory in Canada may have different eligibility criteria, available programs, and funding structures. For example, certain provinces may offer additional grants or loans that are not available through the federal program. It is important to carefully review both your provincial and federal award details to ensure you understand the full scope of your financial support.

If you need clarification on your eligibility or how the aid is calculated, contact your province’s student aid service centre or speak directly to the financial aid office at your college. They can provide guidance on how the provincial aid works in conjunction with the federal aid and help answer any questions you might have about repayment schedules, interest rates, or other program-specific details. Be sure to also check for any deadlines or conditions tied to the aid to avoid missing out on any funding opportunities.

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

After you apply, your provincial or territorial student aid service will be in touch with you for the steps that will follow.

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. You may also view information on your grants and loans by logging in to your NSLSC account.

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 or contact the NSLSC.

Student Aid Application

Understanding your Loans

The Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement (MSFAA) defines the terms for accepting and repaying your student loans. This agreement replaces previous federal and provincial loan agreements, and you only need to sign it once. It covers all current and future student loans you may receive.

Your MSFAA will not specify the exact grant or loan amounts. Instead, you will receive a Notice of Assessment from your province or territory, which details how much student aid you are eligible for.

You will only need to re-sign the MSFAA if you apply for financial aid after:

• Taking a break of two years or more from school, or

• Permanently relocating to another province or territory

To review the terms and conditions of your MSFAA, visit the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC) website.

Note: Some provinces or territories have their own student aid programs. If you're in one of these areas, you may need to consult them for additional details:

• Nunavut Student Funding

• Northwest Territories Student Financial Assistance

• Quebec Student Financial Assistance

No interest is charged on Canada Student Loans. You are still responsible for paying any interest that may have accrued on your loan before April 1, 2021.

If you have a provincial part to your loan, interest may still apply. Contact your province or territory for information about your rate or visit the NSLSC.

The Loan Repayment Estimator can help you estimate the monthly payments you will need to make when repaying your Canada Student Loan. Use the repayment estimator to see what your monthly payments would be.

You receive a 15% tax credit on any interest you pay on your government student loans each year. This credit applies to interest payments you make on both your federal and provincial or territorial student loans.

You can get your T4A documents and statements in your NSLSC account at the start of each calendar year.

To learn more, visit how to claim the interest paid on your tax return.

For questions about understanding your student loans, please visit the official website of Canada > Benefits > Student Aid and Education Planning > Repay a student loan

After you complete your studies, a 6-month non-repayment period begins. During this time, you are not required to make any payments on your student loan. However, once this period ends, you must start repaying your loan.

The 6-month non-repayment period starts after you:

• Finish your final school term

• Reduce your studies from full-time to part-time

• Leave school or take time off

Within 6 months of finishing school, you will receive a package from the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC) that outlines your repayment terms and options. For more details, review the terms and conditions of your loan or reach out to the NSLSC directly.

Paying your Student Loans

Once you have finished your studies, you will enter into repayment after a 6-month non-repayment period. At this time, you will have payment options to consider:

• interest rate

• increase or decrease your monthly payment

• your payment date and frequency

• choose the bank account for your payments

If you have a full-time student loan, you can manage your payments online through your NSLSC account. You can:

• Increase payments to pay off your loan faster

• Decrease payments for more affordability

• Extend your repayment period (up to 174 months) to reduce monthly payments

Note: Some provincial loans still accrue interest. Lowering payments or extending the term may increase the total interest paid. Part-time student loan borrowers can contact the NSLSC to adjust their payments.

You can change your payment due date or set up weekly or bi-weekly payments via your NSLSC account.

If you're struggling to make payments, you can apply for assistance through:

• Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP)

• Repayment Assistance Plan for Borrowers with Disabilities (RAP-D)

If you miss 9 months of payments, your loan will be sent to the CRA for collection. To restore eligibility for student aid, bring your loan up to date with the CRA. Missing payments can impact your credit. To avoid collections:

• Access your NSLSC account for repayment options

• Contact the NSLSC for support

• If you're from Alberta, Nova Scotia, or PEI, contact your province

To get your loan out of collection, you must make two monthly payments and either:

• Pay off any outstanding interest, or

• Add unpaid interest to the loan balance (this option is available once)

Contact the NSLSC to finalize the process.

If you file for bankruptcy within 7 years of finishing your studies, your Canada Student Loan will not be cancelled, and you must continue payments. Learn more about how bankruptcy affects your loan.

For questions about understanding your student loans, please visit the official website of Canada > Benefits > Student Aid and Education Planning > Repay a student loan