Government student loans are available based on your financial need and province/territory of residence.
Eligibility for Alberta Students Finance Funding
Demonstrate Financial Need
Your allowable costs – your resources = financial assistance (loans and grants)
If your allowable costs outweigh your resources, you are considered in financial need.
Allowable costs
- Tuition and mandatory fees
- Books, supplies and instruments
- Living costs (amount is determined by your situation)
Dependent student
Out of regular high school less than four years, or
Have not been available for full-time work for at least two years since leaving regular high school.
Independent student
You are over 22 years old, or
You have been out of high school for more than 4 years, or
You have been available for full-time work for two or more years since you left high school, or
You are married or common law, or
You are divorced, separated, or widowed, or
You are single with dependent children.
Your resources
- Savings
- Expected contribution unless you are a single parent
- Parental contribution (dependent students only)
- Part-time income while in school
- Spouse’s income
- RRSPs if over the allowable $2000 per year since leaving high school
- GICs/stocks/bonds
- Child support/alimony
Items not considered a resource: your home, vehicle, GST rebate or child tax credit.
Register in Full-Time Post-Secondary Courses
- While you don’t have to be accepted to your program to apply for loans, you must be registered in a full-time course load in the program for which you applied for funding (in all semesters) before we can confirm your enrolment.
- Minimum full-time course load = 60 per cent of your program course load. For most programs, this is nine credits or three classes; however, some programs require more credits. Contact a Student Advisor in the Student Resource Centre if you are unsure.
- Only post-secondary programs (certificates, diplomas, degrees) are eligible for student loans. For upgrading and ESL programs, see Alberta Works funding.
Maintain Full-Time Course Load
You must maintain your full-time status for the entire period of studies to keep your funding for the year.
Other Considerations
- First-time loan applicants 22 and older will undergo a credit check
- Previous student loans must be in good standing
- Any bankruptcies must be discharged, and if a bankruptcy included student loans, the appropriate wait time must have passed.
