Types of Part-Time Student Aid

In addition to providing the Alberta Part-time Grant, Alberta Student Aid administers the part-time federal funding on behalf of the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program (CSFAP) for Alberta residents.

A part-time post-secondary student may be eligible for a federal part-time loan or for federal/provincial part-time grants. Eligibility criteria for fund types may differ. As a result, a student may not be eligible for all fund types.

Part-Time Federal Funding

Part-Time Canada Student Loans

Part-Time Canada Student Loans may be provided to a student who requires financial assistance, meets part-time eligibility criteria, and requests to be considered for Part-Time Canada Student Loan on their Application for Financial Assistance for Part-Time Post-Secondary Studies.

To be eligible the student must:

  • be enrolled in at least 20% of a full-course load
  • be enrolled in a program of study designated for federal part-time funding, and
  • have a family income that is below the Income Threshold listed in the table below.
Family Size Income Threshold (in $)
1 75,479
2 105,566
3 125,943
4 138,431
5 149,983
6 160,962
7 or more 170,434

Amount:
The maximum amount of Part-Time Canada Student Loan a student may have owing is $10,000. If a student makes payments towards a Part-Time Canada Student Loan, the student can receive additional Part-Time Canada Student Loan up to the $10,000 limit again.

The minimum that will be issued is $100 per study period.

Canada Student Grant for Part-Time Studies (CSG-PT)

The Canada Student Grant for Part-Time Students may be issued to a part-time student who requires financial assistance and meets the grant-specific eligibility criteria.

To be eligible the student must:

  • be enrolled in at least 20% of a full-course load
  • be enrolled in a program of study designated for federal part-time funding, and
  • have a family income that is below the Income Threshold at Which Grant Eligibility is Cut-off listed in the table below.
Family Size Low Income Threshold/ Income
Threshold for Maximum Grant (in $)
Income Threshold at Which
Grant Eligibility is Cut-off (in $)
1 36,811 68,324
2 52,059 95,664
3 63,760 114,436
4 73,624 126,441
5 82,313 137,460
6 90,170 147,862
7 or more 97,395 156,919

A student cannot receive both the Canada Student Grant for Part-Time Studies and the Alberta Part-Time Grant for the same study period.

A student does not need to be issued Part-Time Canada Student Loan to receive the Canada Student Grant for Part-Time Studies.

Amount:
Eligible students may receive up to $2,520 per loan year not exceeding student’s assessed need.

The grant amount is based on family income and family size. The maximum amount is $2,520 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 amount that will be issued is $100 per study period.

Canada Student Grant for Part-Time Students with Dependants (CSG-PTDEP)

The Canada Student Grant for Part-Time Students with Dependants may be issued to a part-time student with dependants who requires financial assistance and meets the grant-specific eligibility criteria.

To be eligible the student must:

  • be enrolled in at least 20% of a full-course load
  • be enrolled in a program of study designated for federal part-time funding
  • 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 required has been provided, or
    • a wholly dependent individual, such as disabled or elderly family for whom the post-secondary student is financially responsible
  • have remaining part-time eligibility not met by the Canada Student Grant for Part-Time Studies, and
  • have a family income that is below the Income Threshold at Which Grant Eligibility is Cut-off listed in the table below.
Family Size Low Income Threshold/ Income
Threshold for Maximum Grant (in $)
Income Threshold at Which
Grant Eligibility is Cut-off (in $)
2 52,059 95,664
3 63,760 114,436
4 73,624 126,441
5 82,313 137,460
6 90,170 147,862
7 or more 97,395 156,919

Amount:

Eligible students may receive up to $2,688 per loan year not exceeding the student’s assessed need.

For students with one or two dependants:

  • the maximum amount is $56 per week of study
  • the minimum amount that will be issued is $55 per study period.

For students with three or more dependants:

  • the maximum amount is $84 per week of study
  • the minimum amount that will be issued is $80 per study period.

The weekly grant amount is based on family income and family size. Students with family incomes at or below the Income Threshold for Maximum Grant are eligible to receive the maximum weekly grant amount. 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.

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 [permanent disability (PD) or persistent or prolonged disability (PPD)]. It is available once per loan year.

To be eligible a part-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 federal funding,
  • be enrolled in at least 20% of a full-course load
  • be enrolled in a program of study designated for federal part-time funding, and
  • have a family income that is below the Income Threshold listed in the table below.
Family Size Income Threshold (in $)
1 75,479
2 105,566
3 125,943
4 138,431
5 149,983
6 160,962
7 or more 170,434

Students must submit documentation with the Schedule 4 that describes the nature of the disability. For example:

  • the Disability Verification form
  • 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).

If the student receives this grant for one year, in subsequent years that student will not need to provide documentation describing the type of permanent disability or submit a new Schedule 4. The student will only need to:

  • meet all eligibility criteria for receiving federal funding, and
  • must have a family income that falls below the Income Threshold table for this grant.

Amount:
Eligible students will receive $2,800 per loan year (may exceed calculated need).

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 Disabilities is provided to students who have a documented disability (permanent disability (PD) or persistent or prolonged disability (PPD)) that limits their ability to perform daily activities necessary to participate fully in post-secondary studies.

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

To be eligible a part-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 federal funding
  • be enrolled in at least 20% of a full-course load
  • be enrolled in a program of study designated for federal part-time funding, and
  • have a family income that is below the Income Threshold listed in the table below.
Family Size Income Threshold (in $)
1 75,479
2 105,566
3 125,943
4 138,431
5 149,983
6 160,962
7 or more 170,434

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

  • The 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 (permanent disability or persistent or prolonged 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. For example:

  • the Disability Verification form
  • 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 or Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped documentation).

The Schedule 4 form and Disability Verification form are available in the Applications and Forms section. 

Amount:
Regardless of whether the student is full-time or part-time, the maximum amount of the 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 CSG-DSE 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.