Loans

Canada and Alberta Student Loans are forms of student aid that recipients are required to repay.

Student loans are non-taxable benefits.

Canada Student Loan (CSL)

To be eligible for Canada Student Loans, dependent students who apply must complete Part B of the Schedule 1 or Schedule 1C, providing parental financial information.

When a Canada Student Loan is approved, the minimum that will be issued is $100.

The maximum Canada Student Loan that can be issued is 60% of the student’s Canada calculated need, up to a maximum of $300 per week.

The National Student Loans Service Centre is the service provider for Canada Student Loans.

Alberta Student Loan (ASL)

Student Financial Assistance Act

Registered Alberta apprentices enrolled in classroom instruction (apprenticeship education programs) and students enrolled in approved pre-employment programs are eligible for Alberta student loans and grants.

When an Alberta Student Loan is approved, the minimum that will be issued is $100. The maximum Alberta Student Loan that can be issued is determined by Alberta annual and lifetime loan limits.

The Alberta Student Aid Service Centre is the service provider for Alberta Student Loans.

Grants

Grants are provided to students based on specific eligibility criteria. Grants are not repayable unless a student is later deemed ineligible for the grant and an overpayment is identified.

Alberta Student Aid issues tax forms (T4As) when a student receives more than $500 of grant funding per calendar year.

Students with questions about the tax implications of their awards should contact the Canada Revenue Agency.

Providing Information for Part B of the Parental Personal and Financial Information Form – For Dependent Students Only

To determine eligibility for Canada Student Loans, Canada Student Grants, and the Alberta Student Grant for Full-Time Students, information about the parent(s) must be provided on:

• Schedule 1 Part B of the Parental Personal and Financial Information form, or
• Schedule 1C Part B of the Confidential Parental Personal and Financial Information form.

If this additional information is not provided before the student’s application is processed, the student is only considered for Alberta Student Loans during the study period. Applications will not be reassessed if this additional information is provided after funding has been paid.

Determining Family Income

When the student initially applies, the Line 15000 (formerly Line 150) amount(s) provided on the student’s Application for Financial Assistance for Full-Time Post-Secondary Studies will help determine the student’s:

• eligibility for the:
  • Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students (CSG-FT)
  • Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students with Dependants (CSG-FTDEP)
• Federal Student Contribution
• Federal Parental Contribution
• Federal Spouse/Partner Contribution
• eligibility for the Alberta Student Grant for Full-Time Students (ASG-FT).

The family income for the study period is determined as follows:

• Dependent students: combined parental total income (i.e., Line 15000 amount(s)) from the requested tax year
• Single independent students: student’s total income (i.e., Line 15000 amount) from the requested tax year
• Married/common-law students: combined student and spouse/partner total income (i.e., Line 15000 amounts) from the requested tax year.

The tax year is listed on the Application for Financial Assistance for Full-Time Post-Secondary Studies and is determined based on the student’s study period start date.

If the student or a family member (spouse/partner or parents, if applicable) did not file taxes for the requested year, an estimate of total income for that year may be provided on the application when the student initially applies.

Students need to notify Alberta Student Aid of corrections to Line 15000 amounts or estimates as soon as possible.

After any portion of funding has been paid, federal and provincial grant eligibility and Federal Student Contribution, Federal Parental Contribution as well as Federal Spouse/Partner Contribution will not be adjusted to increase loan and/or grant amounts.

Expected Reduced Yearly Income

If the student or a family member (spouse/partner or parents, if applicable) expects their current year earnings to be lower than their prior year’s earnings (i.e., Line 15000 amount), an estimate of total income for the current year may be provided on the application when the student initially applies.

The lower of either the Line 15000 amount(s) or the Expected Reduced Yearly Income amount(s) provided on the application at the time the student initially applies will be used to determine federal grant eligibility and Federal Student Contribution, Federal Parental Contribution and Federal Spouse/Partner Contribution.

Income Thresholds for Canada Eligibility

The following Income Thresholds are determined by the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program and are used to help determine the student’s eligibility for the:

• Canada Student Grant for Full-time Students (CSG-FT)
• Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students with Dependants (CSG-FTDEP)
• Federal Student Contribution
• Federal Spousal/Partner Contribution
• Federal Parental Contribution

Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students (CSG-FT)

To be eligible the student must:

• be pursuing full-time post-secondary studies in a program that is more than one year in length
• have applied for full-time student aid
• demonstrate at least $1 of assessed Canada calculated need, and

have a family income that is below the Income Threshold at Which Grant Eligibility is Cut-off listed in the table below.

Dependent students must complete Part B of the Schedule 1 or have their parents complete Schedule 1C, providing parental financial information to be considered for this grant.

Students in graduate studies or one-year programs (including Open Studies) are not eligible to receive this grant.

Amount:

The grant amount is based on family income and family size. The maximum amount is $525 per month of studies for family incomes at or below the Income Threshold for Maximum Grant. The grant amount gradually decreases as income increases, with the rate of reduction varying by family size. When family income is equal to or greater than the Income Threshold at Which Grant Eligibility is Cut-off, students are not eligible to receive any grant funding.

The minimum grant amount is $100 per study period. 

Disbursements:

Students funded for one semester will receive 100% of their funding at the beginning of their study period.

For students funded for more than one semester:

• 50% is disbursed at the beginning of their study period
• 50% is disbursed at the midpoint of the study period

Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students with Dependants (CSG-FTDEP)

To be eligible the student must:

• have at least one dependant at the start date of studies that is:
  • under the age of 12,
  • 12 to 18 years of age with a permanent disability where documentation of care has been provided, or
  • a wholly dependent individual, such as disabled or elderly family for whom the post-secondary student is financially responsible
• have applied for full-time student aid
• demonstrate at least $1 of assessed Canada calculated need, and
• have a family income that is below the Income Threshold at Which Grant Eligibility is Cut-off listed in the table below.

The student does not have to receive the Canada Student Grant for Full-time Students to be eligible for the Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students with Dependants.

Unlike the Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students, the program need not be multi-year. Students in graduate studies, Open Studies and in one-year programs may be eligible.

Amount:

The grant amount is based on family income and family size. The maximum amount is $280 per month of studies per eligible dependant for family incomes at or below the Income Threshold for Maximum Grant. The grant amount gradually decreases as income increases, with the rate of reduction varying by family size. When family income is equal to or greater than the Income Threshold at Which Grant Eligibility is Cut-off, students are not eligible to receive any grant funding.

The minimum grant amount is $100 per study period. 

Disbursements:

Students funded for one semester will receive 100% of their funding at the beginning of their study period.

For students funded for more than one semester:

• 50% is disbursed at the beginning of their study period
• 50% is disbursed at the midpoint of the study period

Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities (CSG-D)

The Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities is provided to address the financial need of students with a documented disability. It is available once per loan year.

To be eligible a full-time student must:

• have a documented disability
• complete a Schedule 4 and have it approved by an authorized official
• meet all eligibility criteria for receiving Canada funding, and
• have at least $1 of Canada calculated need.  

Students must submit documentation with the Schedule 4 that describes the nature of the permanent disability, or the persistent or prolonged disability. For example:

• the Disability Verification form (See Chapter 4: Students with Disabilities)
• a medical certificate
• a learning disability assessment
• a document proving that the applicant is in receipt of federal and/or provincial disability assistance (e.g., Canada Pension Plan – Disability documentation or Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped documentation).

Once the student receives this grant, on subsequent applications the student may not need to provide documentation describing the type of disability or submit a new Schedule 4. The student will only need to:

• meet all eligibility criteria for receiving Canada funding, and
• have at least $1 of Canada calculated need.

Amount:

Eligible students will receive $2,800 per loan year which may exceed calculated need.

Part-time students may also receive this grant if they meet Canada part-time eligibility criteria.

Disbursements:

Students funded for one semester will receive 100% of their funding at the beginning of their study period.

For students funded for more than one semester:

• 50% is disbursed at the beginning of their study period
• 50% is disbursed at the midpoint of the study period

Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment - Students with Disabilities (CSG-DSE)

The Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment - Students with Permanent Disabilities is provided to students who have a documented permanent disability (PD), or a persistent or prolonged disability (PPD).

The grant is intended to support exceptional education-related costs associated with the student’s disability. For a list of costs that may be covered by this grant and a definition of the disability types, see the Disability Chapter.

To be eligible the student must:

• have a documented disability (either a PD, or a PPD)
• complete a Schedule 4, and have it approved by an authorized official
• meet all eligibility criteria for receiving Canada funding, and
• have at least $1 of Canada calculated need.  

A student must submit the following with each new application for financial assistance for which this grant is being requested:

• costs of services and/or equipment being requested must be listed on the Schedule 4 along with copies of quotes/estimates attached
• documentation that describes the need for services and equipment due to the particular type of disability must also be included, if not previously provided.

Students applying for the CSG-DSE for the first time must submit documentation that describes the nature of the disability (either a PD, or a PPD). For example:

• the Disability Verification form See Chapter 4: Students with Disabilities
• a medical certificate
• a learning disability assessment
• a document proving that the applicant is in receipt of Canada and/or Alberta disability assistance (e.g. Canada Pension Plan – Disability or Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped documentation).

Amount:

Regardless of whether the student is full-time or part-time, the maximum amount of Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment - Students with Disabilities is $20,000 per loan year (not to exceed the costs of the services and/or equipment required).

Disbursements:

Funding is disbursed at the beginning of the study period.

By the end of the study period, the student must provide receipts to show that the services and equipment grant was used for its intended purposes for the study period. Any unused or undocumented grant funding must be returned to Alberta Student Aid or it will be deemed overpaid.

Part-time students may also receive this grant if they meet Canada part-time eligibility criteria.

If a full-time student is not eligible for the Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment - Students with Permanent Disabilities or if the student has disability related transportation costs, the Alberta Grant for Students with Disabilities (GFD) may be available.