You can receive a mix of loans and grants from both Alberta and Canada. How much you get depends on your financial and academic situation.
Overview
When you submit an application for part-time student aid, you’re automatically considered to receive:
- Canada student loans
- Canada and Alberta grants
Using the information you give us on your application, Student Aid calculates how much you can get from each source. We base our calculations on the policies set by both Alberta and Canada.
Learn more about the details of the two sources of student aid.
Part-time loans
Student loans help you pay for tuition, fees, books and living expenses. Student loans are like any other loan: you eventually need to pay them back.
Part-time students only qualify for Canada student loans, whereas full-time students may also get Alberta student loans.
Canada student loans are interest-free unless you have interest owing prior to April 1, 2023. You don’t need to start paying them back until 6 months after you leave school. If you have full-time Canada student loans and you are continuing your studies part-time, you will need to start making regular payments on your Canada loans in 6 months.
Who can get part-time loans?
Loans are for students enrolled in certificate, diploma, undergraduate and graduate programs at designated post-secondary institutions.
Eligibility for loans depends on financial need, resources and other factors.
How much money can I get?
You can have a maximum of $10,000 owing in part-time Canada student loan. If you make a payment, you can receive additional part-time Canada loan up to the $10,000 limit again.
Part-time grants
Grants can also help cover your educational costs. Grants don’t have to be repaid unless your eligibility changes.
Who can get part-time grants?
Grants are for students with high financial need and/or lower family income, students with disabilities*, and students with other special circumstances.
*You must be a person with a permanent disability, or persistent or prolonged disability as defined by the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program and provide acceptable documentation.
You’re automatically considered for grants based on the information you provide on your application.
List of part-time grants
Below is a list of all the grants part-time students are automatically considered for.
If you qualify for a grant, Student Aid tells you in your award letter.
To estimate how much money you’ll get, use the Student Financial Assistance Estimator.
|
Grant |
Value |
Who it’s for |
|
Up to $600/semester |
Students who are not eligible for the Canada Student Grant for Part-time Studies. |
|
|
Up to $2,520/year |
Students whose yearly income is below the threshold set by the Canada Student Grant for Part-time Students with Dependants *this grant has increased by 40 per cent over the 2019-20 pre-pandemic amounts |
|
|
Up to $2,688/year |
Students with dependants under the age of 12, or 18 and with a permanent disability *this grant has increased by 40 per cent over the 2019-20 pre-pandemic amounts |
|
|
$2,800/year |
Students with disabilities *this grant has increased by 40 per cent over the 2019-20 pre-pandemic amounts |
|
|
Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment - Students with Disabilities |
Up to $20,000/year |
Students with disabilities who need financial support for services and equipment |
How much you get from each source depends on your income and family size. To be eligible your family’s income must be equal to or below the income threshold established for each source.
For details on part-time funding sources, see Types of Part-time Student Aid in the Student Aid policy manual.
Learn more about part-time eligibility.
Losing grant money if your situation changes
There are circumstances where you have to pay back some or all of your grant money. This is called grant overpayment.
This happens when your living or education situation changes and you are no longer eligible for the grant. In this case, Student Aid converts the money into a loan.
- If you withdraw from classes within 30 days of your start date all your grant money will be converted to a loan.
- If you withdraw from classes more than 30 days after your start date Student Aid will determine how much of your grant money will be converted to a loan.
Grant overpayments can also happen if:
- you contact Student Aid to report a change in your personal information that reduces your financial eligibility.
- you fill in your application incorrectly.