On this page:

2026-27 Academic Year

Applying for Student Aid

Students must login to apply, and check their application online at studentaid.alberta.ca.
Student Aid recommends applying at least 60 days in advance of their study period to ensure adequate processing time. Application processing times may exceed 45 days during periods of high volume.

  • Starting school on or after August 1, 2026 - apply on the 2026-27 application
  • Starting school on or before July 31, 2026 - apply on the 2025-26 application

Please note, students are advised to check with the school before applying to confirm whether the program they are taking is considered full- or part-time enrolment.

Student Aid Verified Accounts

All students need to have a verified Alberta.ca Account to access the Alberta Student Aid system. Getting a verified account can take up to 10 days. For more details, see: Student Aid Verified Accounts.

Alberta Scholarships and Awards

The 2026-27 scholarship and award applications will be available in early August.

New Beginnings Bursary

A significant increase of an extra $7 million dollars is allocated to the New Beginnings Bursary, bringing the total program budget available to $12 million. This increase will expand access and better support students with financial need, particularly those entering or transitioning into post-secondary education. The bursary is broadened to include additional high-demand programs in Technology, Health, and Energy, aligning with labour market needs and supporting workforce development in sectors experiencing skill shortages. 

Alberta Student Aid Changes

Unless otherwise indicated, the changes to Alberta Student Aid program, systems, and policies are for the upcoming loan year (August 1, 2026 to July 31, 2027).

Living Allowance

There are updates to the living allowances used to calculate eligibility for the 2026-27 academic year. This amount is used by Alberta Student Aid as part of the calculation of a student's total costs.

Learn more at Standard Living Costs

Student Contribution

There is an increase to the minimum student contribution from $1,500 to $3,000 per loan year. This amount is used by Alberta Student Aid as part of the calculation of your student resources.

For details, see Student Aid Policy - Student Resources.

Parental and Spousal Contributions

Expected parental and spousal contributions are reinstated to student resources, with specific amounts being calculated based on family income and family size. This helps ensure financial aid goes to those most in need of student supports.

Read more at Student Aid Policy - Student Resources.

Income Verification

Income information will now be collected once per loan year. After submitting an application for student aid, you must provide your income information and agree to a CRA consent statement online. Your spouse/partner must also verify their income information with Alberta Student Aid. You will receive a letter with instructions for how your family member can complete this process. This change enhances program integrity and reduces risk of potential fraud. For quality assurance purposes, you may be required to submit additional supporting documents. 

Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP)

The Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP) is recognized as an approved source of disability income for Alberta Student Aid.

Canada Student Financial Assistance Program Changes

There are several federal financial assistance program changes for the upcoming academic year. Unless otherwise indicated, the changes are applicable for the upcoming loan year (August 1, 2026 to July 31, 2027).

Income Thresholds | Grant Maximums and Cut-offs

The income thresholds as determined by the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program are increased in the 2026-27 school year. These income thresholds are used to help determine the student’s eligibility for the:

  • Canada Student Grant for Full-time Students
  • Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students with Dependants
  • Canada Student Grant for Part-time Studies
  • Canada Student Grant for Part-time Students with Dependants

This is also used to determine the federal student contribution and federal and provincial spouse/partner contribution.

Family Size Low Income Threshold/Income
Threshold for Maximum Grant (in $)		 Income Threshold at Which
Grant Eligibility is Cut-off (in $)
1 38,474 69,987
2 54,412 98,017
3 66,641 117,317
4 76,952 129,769
5 86,033 141,180
6 94,245 151,937
7 or more 101,797 161,321

For more information see, Types of Funding.

Canada Student Grants and Loans

The Canada Student Financial Assistance Program has adopted the following measures effective August 1, 2026:

  • Limit access to the Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students to students attending public educational institutions and not-for-profit private institutions within Canada. Eligible private for-profit institutions may apply for exemption.

  • Canada student financial assistance will no longer be provided to students attending private for-profit institutions outside of Canada. Continuing students are eligible to receive Canada student grants and loans until July 31, 2029.

Note: Eligible students attending private for-profit institutions within and outside Canada will continue to be assessed for Alberta student grants and loans.

For details, see Student Aid Policy - Types of Funding.

Canada Disability Benefit | Exempted from Income

The Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) is exempted from being assessed as income in a student’s calculation of resources on their Alberta Student Aid application and Repayment Assistance Program (RAP) application. Alberta Student Aid has aligned with this federal policy change. 

Alberta Student Aid Services           

There are number of service improvements to make it easier for students to manage their applications and protect their personal information associated with their applications.

  • Students with Disabilities
    Students with a confirmed disability who have an active Schedule 4 on file will automatically be eligible to study at a reduced course load. Students may need to coordinate their course load with an academic advisor and/or the Registrar’s Office. This change reduces red tape for both students and schools and improves application processing times.

  • Alberta.ca Account
    Alberta’s government has released a multi-factor authentication security feature called 2-Step Verification to protect and keep your data secure and prevent unauthorized access to your Alberta.ca Account. Turning on 2-Step Verification takes only a few minutes – just add your mobile phone to your account and allow a one‑time verification code to be sent to your device. 

Additional Resources

View program changes in the 2025-26 academic year below.

Please continue to visit this section to ensure you are getting up-to-date information. Information is subject to change.

2025-26 Academic Year

Applying for Student Aid

Students must login to apply and check their application online at studentaid.alberta.ca.
Student Aid recommends applying as early as possible to ensure adequate processing time. Application processing times may exceed 45 days during periods of high volume.

  • Starting school on or after August 1, 2025 - apply on the 2025-26 application
  • Starting school on or before July 31, 2025 - apply on the 2024-25 application

Please note, students are advised to check with the school before applying to confirm whether the program they are taking is considered full- or part-time enrolment.

Personal Information and Authorizing Others to Act on Your Behalf

As of June 11, 2025, the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP) was replaced with the Protection of Privacy Act (POPA). Learn more at Protection of Privacy Act.

Student Aid Verified Accounts

All students need to create or upgrade to a verified Alberta.ca Account to access the Alberta Student Aid system. Getting a verified account can take up to 10 days. For details, see: Student Aid Verified Accounts.

Alexander Rutherford Scholarship Application

The 2025-26 Alexander Rutherford High School Achievement Scholarship online application will be available in early August.

Alberta Scholarships and Awards

All scholarship and award applications will be available in early August.

Air Access Bursary | New Lifetime Maximum as of August 1, 2025

To help more Albertans pursue a career in aviation, Alberta’s Government will increase the lifetime maximum an individual can receive from one to two bursaries. This will allow students to receive one additional Air Access Bursary of $10,000 to complete high demand aviation programs within the province.

Jason Lang Scholarship

As of August 1, 2025, the required Grade Point Average to be eligible for the Jason Lang Scholarship will increase to a 3.5 on a 4.0 point scale, focusing the scholarship on students demonstrating academic excellence.

Alberta Student Aid Changes

Unless otherwise indicated, the changes to Alberta Student Aid program, systems, and policies are for the upcoming loan year (August 1, 2025 to July 31, 2026).

Living Allowance Increase

There is an increase to the living allowances used to calculate eligibility for the 2025-26 academic year. This amount is used by Alberta Student Aid as part of the calculation of your total costs.

Note: Students residing in Alberta who are enrolled in eligible full-time programs delivered exclusively online will now be assessed using Alberta living allowance costs. Previously, students were assessed based on the location of the institution to determine their provincial living allowance.

For more information, see Standard Living Costs

Alberta Student Grant for Full-time Students

There are no changes to this grant in the 2025-26 loan year. The amount of the grant is based on family income (Line 15000 of 2024 income tax form) and family size. The maximum monthly grant amount is $425 per month; the annual grant maximum is $5,100 per year. Eligible students will receive an average award of $3,400 per year.

For more information, see Alberta Student Grants.

Changes to When Receipts are Required for Child Care Cost Claims

Child care expenses are generally only allowed to be claimed for children under the age of 12. Students with dependent childcare expenses must provide receipts to claim expenses greater than $326 per month, $15 per day, per child. If you have higher actual costs, you can request additional funding up to $1,200 per month with the submission of receipts. This amount is used by Alberta Student Aid as part of the calculation of your total costs.

The province has aligned with the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. The Alberta Government also recently introduced a new flat-fee child care subsidy model making early learning more affordable for families.

For more information, see Monthly Child Care Costs.

Alberta Part-time Grant

The Alberta Part-time Grant will no longer be available in the 2025-26 academic year. Alberta’s Government will continue to support students financially as they progress through their programs. Students will continue to be assessed for eligibility for all other Alberta and Canada student grants and the maximum loan amount available for each year they are in school, if applicable.

Income Verification

Clarification of information required on the online application when a student or their family member (spouse/partner or parents) has not filed an income tax return. Students will now provide an estimate of total unreported income when they submit their application. This change reduces staff reviews to determine eligibility for student aid to improve processing times.

Schedule 4 and Disability Verification Forms | User Enhancements

A signature by an Accessibility Advisor is no longer required on the Schedule 4 form. Contact information from the school official is sufficient. Screen Reader Accessibility is also implemented on both the Schedule 4 and Disability Verification forms making them more accessible to the blind and visually impaired.

School/Program Eligibility | Revised Form Names

Request Designation Review is the new name of the Designation Review form. The renamed form collects the same information; the new name is more intuitive for students who need to submit this form. The same name change protocols impacted the Required-Info-Correspondence-E-learning-Distance-Study form. The new name is Request Designation for Correspondence/E-learning/Distance Study Program.

Canada Student Financial Assistance Program Changes

There are a number of program changes to increase eligibility for funding for students and families during the upcoming academic year.

New Secure Login for NSLSC.ca Account | Effective May 25, 2025

Students now need a My Service Canada Account (MSCA) to access their NSLSC account. Please register for an MSCA account today to ensure a seamless transition.

Learn more at NSLSC Access Updates.

Income Thresholds | New Grant Maximums and Cut-offs

The income thresholds as determined by the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program are increased in the 2025-26 school year. These income thresholds are used to help determine the student’s eligibility for the:

  • Canada Student Grant for Full-time Students
  • Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students with Dependants
  • Canada Student Grant for Part-time Studies
  • Canada Student Grant for Part-time Students with Dependants

This is also used to determine the Federal Student Contribution and Federal Spouse/Partner Contribution.

Family Size Low Income Threshold/Income
Threshold for Maximum Grant (in $)		 Income Threshold at Which
Grant Eligibility is Cut-off (in $)
1 37,701 69,214
2 53,318 96,923
3 65,302 115,978
4 75,405 128,222
5 84,304 139,451
6 92,351 150,043
7 or more 99,751 159,275

For more information see, Types of Funding.

Alberta Student Aid Services

There are number of service improvements to make it easier for students to manage their applications and submit documents with their applications.

  • Upload e-Documents
    Students are required to submit documents securely to Alberta Student Aid in their personal accounts. Newly revised submission categories and other internal enhancements will make processing documents faster and more efficient. Added clarity for students when uploading and completing fillable forms.

  • Reducing Duplication
    Students applying online can no longer submit applications with identical information found on an already submitted, pending application. This means more efficient processing of applications for student aid applicants.

Additional Resources

View program changes in the 2024-25 academic year below.

Please continue to visit this section to ensure you are getting up-to-date information. Information is subject to change.