Requirements for Public Educational Institutions Outside of Alberta but Within Canada

In addition to meeting the General Program Designation Requirements and the Alberta designation requirements for the specific program or institution type above, a program delivered at an educational institution outside of Alberta but within Canada must be designated by the educational institution’s home province or territory to be designated for Alberta student loans and grants.

Recognition is given to designated post-secondary programs that are outside of Alberta but within Canada as a result of the Pan Canadian Designation Policy Framework. As part of the Framework, all participating jurisdictions have committed to including a number of common elements in their designation policies to ensure a degree of consistent quality programming in jurisdictions across Canada. Common elements are listed above in the section detailing the Pan Canadian Designation Policy Framework.

Students can check which institutions in Canada are designated by referring to the Master Designation List.

Requirements for Out of Province (OOP) Private Career Colleges

Effective August 1, 2024, Alberta Student Aid will not provide Alberta Student Aid funding to students attending Out of Province Private Career Colleges outside of Alberta but within Canada. Students may still be eligible for Canada student loans and grants.

Students who are in their final year of an Out of Province Private Career College program may continue to be provided both federal and provincial funding to complete their program, in the following circumstances:

• The student must have completed their first year of study and have received funding from Alberta Student Aid for this study period;
• The student must be attending the same Out of Province Private Career College;
• The student will have 12 months from the previous applications last attended full-time studies date, including amended registration, to apply for the final year of their program;
• The student must apply at least 30 calendar days prior to the last day of their study period; and
• The program the student is attending must remain designated in the Private Career College’s home province and in Alberta.

Out of Province Private Career College - Exemption Criteria

1. will help to meet high labour market demands or areas of labour shortage in Alberta; or
2. is training for a regulated profession in Alberta; or 
3. is not offered by any designated private career college in Alberta. 

• The PCC must be in good standing in its home jurisdiction (i.e., Retain designation status as well as any accreditation of a program in their home province or territory). 
  
  
• The PCC must continue to meet the COR amendment, tuition refund and minimum instruction hour policies of the Student Aid Operational Policy and Procedures Manual and all other applicable policy, guidelines, regulation and legislation. 

Private Career Colleges can contact Program Accountability and Compliance at piaunit@gov.ab.ca to request an exemption should they qualify based on the above criteria.

Note: All exemptions are decided on an individual program basis and at the discretion of Alberta Student Aid on a case-by-case basis. Students attending an of out-of-province institution in a program that has not been approved for exemption, may still be eligible to apply for and receive Canada loans and/or grants.

Requirements for Educational Institutions in the United States of America (USA)

In addition to meeting the General Program Designation Requirements and the Alberta designation requirements for the specific program or institution type above, a post-secondary program delivered at an educational institution in the USA must be approved for “Title IV” funding by the United States Department of Education to be designated for Alberta and Canada student loans and grants.

The Federal School Code Search tool can be found on the U.S. Department of Education website. If the institution is available in this database, it is approved for “Title IV” funding.

Requirements for Other International Educational Institutions

Institution and Program Designation Requirements

In addition to meeting the General Program Designation Requirements and the Alberta designation requirements for the specific program or institution type above, a program delivered at an international educational institution must also meet the following requirements to be designated for Alberta and Canada student loans grants:

1. The educational institution is approved for student financial assistance or accredited in its home country.
2. The educational institution must have been in continuous operation for at least two years prior to seeking designation status.
3. The educational institution is listed in one of the approved international educational references outlined below.

Effective August 1, 2024, in alignment with the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program, students will be ineligible to receive Alberta Student Aid and Canada Student Financial Assistance while studying at a Russian post-secondary institution.

Approved International Educational References

International post-secondary educational institutions must be listed in one of the following five references:

Online Resources:

• Association of Commonwealth Universities
• International Association of Universities
• The United States Department of Education, Title IV Funding

Print Resources:

• International Handbook of Universities (Palgrave MacMillan)
• Europa World of Learning (Routledge Publications)

Designation for Accredited International Medical Programs

Institution Designation Requirements

To be designated for Alberta and Canada student loans and grants, an educational institution must be:

1. approved for student financial assistance or accredited in home country,
2. listed in one of the approved international educational references noted above, and
3. listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools maintained by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Program Designation Requirements

To be designated for full-time Alberta and Canada student loans and grants, an international medical program must meet the following requirements:

1. be recognized by appropriate authorities or offered by a fully accredited educational institution,
   
   Students should check with the higher education authorities in the country the program is being offered if they have any questions.
2. be post-secondary in nature and result in a certificate, diploma or degree credential,
3. be a program of 12 weeks or more in length,
4. if the Minister considers the employment of graduates to be relevant, the potential for employment for graduates of the program is acceptable to the Minister, and
5. have been in continuous operation for at least ten years.