The Student Loan program is considered a social program made possible by a joint effort from the provincial and federal Canadian governments. Because it is considered a social assistance program, people can be denied funding if they do not meet the requirements.

The government expects a student's education to be funded via three avenues including parental contribution, student contribution and student loans. This means that the purpose of the student loan is not to cover the whole cost of education but rather supplement a student's costs.

General Requirements

To be eligible for a student loan funding one must be a Canadian citizen, landed immigrant or convention refugee.

Landed immigrants do not qualify for provincial funding unless they have lived in a single province for at least 12 months consecutively without being a full-time post-secondary student. After the 12 months he/she qualifies for both provincial and federal loan funding.

Convention refugees qualify for both provincial and federal loan funding upon proving their status with a copy of their SIN in the 900 series and a Protected Persons Status Document (PPSD). The PPSD must be valid for the entire period of study.

In order to qualify for this status in regard to your loan you must:

a) Have a PPSD which is valid for your entire period of study.

b) Be able to prove financial need.

c) Be a full-time student (at least 60% of a normal full course load, 40% if a student with a permanent disability).

d) Maintain passing grades in at least 60% of a full course load.

e) Have not defaulted or have bad standing on previous student loans.

f)  Have not reached the student loan debt limit for the student's level of education, type of degree or program.

Provincial Assistance Programs --->