Full-Time Students

Loans You Have to Pay Back:

Canada Student Loans - Federal Assistance
These federally subsidized loans are interest-free while you are a full-time student. Interest begins to accumulate once you cease to be a full-time student. You are not required to make payments until 6 months after you cease to be a full-time student. The maximum Canada Student Loan is $210 per week of study. Example: for a 34-week university program, the maximum is $7,140 ($210 x 34).

Deadlines: All information and required documentation must be received no later than two months before your period of study ends. Funds cannot be released after your period of study end date.

Manitoba Student Loans - Provincial Assistance
These provincially subsidized loans are interest-free while you are a full-time student and for six months after your studies end. You must begin repayment of the loan six months after you cease to be a full-time student. The maximum Manitoba Student Loan is $140 per week of study. For a 34-week university program, the maximum is $4,760 ($140 x 34).

Deadlines: All information and required documentation must be received no later than two months before your period of study ends. Funds cannot be released after your period of study end date.

Assistance You Don't Have to Pay Back:

Canada Study Grants (CSG):

CSG for Full-Time Students with Dependants
Full-time students may be eligible to receive a grant of up to $3,120 per loan year if the assessed need is more than $275 per week of study. Non-repayable assistance of up to $40 per week ($40 x 34 = $1,360) is available for students with 1 or 2 dependants and up to $60 per week ($60 x 34 = $2,040) for students with 3 or more dependants.

Assistance is available to full-time students with dependants who have applied for Canada/Manitoba Student Loan and have an assessed financial need exceeding $275 per week. You are automatically assessed for this funding when you apply.

Deadlines: All information and required documentation must be received no later than two months before your period of study ends. Funds cannot be released after your period of study end date.

for Female Doctoral Students:
Non-repayable assistance of up to $3,000 annually (for up to three years) is available for female students taking studies at the doctoral (PhD) level in selected non-traditional fields of study. You must first apply for Canada Student Loan/Manitoba Student Loan assistance to establish need and then submit an application for this Special Opportunity Grant.

Deadlines: All information and required documentation must be received no later than two months before your period of study ends. Funds cannot be released after your period of study end date.

for Students with Disabilities

Canada Access Grants (federal):

for Students From Low-Income Families
This grant provides up to $3,000 for first-time, first year students from low-income families and is available to dependent students. Students are automatically considered for this assistance when they apply for Manitoba Student Aid.

Deadlines: All information and required documentation must be received no later than two months before your period of study ends. Funds cannot be released after your period of study end date.

for Students with Disabilities

Millennium Manitoba Opportunities Grants (NEW):

for Dependent Students From Low-Income Families

The Government of Manitoba and the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation provide this grant for dependent full-time students in the first year of a mutli-year post-secondary program. This grant provides up to 50% of the student’s tuition, up to $3,000. Students are automatically considered for this assistance when they apply for Manitoba Student Aid.

Deadline: Two months before your period of study ends. Funds cannot be released after your period of study end date.

for Aboriginal Students

Bursaries

Canada Millennium Scholarship Bursary and Manitoba Bursary (jointly funded by the government of Manitoba and the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation)

This loan reduction program is jointly funded with approximately $10.7 million a year from the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation, and approximately $8.1 million a year from the Manitoba government. These funds reduce the amount of student loan debt incurred annually. Students who successfully completed the 2005/06 academic year had their loan debts reduced approximately $6,400.

Students who apply for Canada and Manitoba Student Loans are automatically assessed for the loan reduction program, which is available to all students who study in Canada.

Loan reductions are applied to student accounts by the middle of September each year following their completed study period. For example, eligible students who are awarded a student loan in September 2006 will have a loan reduction applied to their account by September 2007, after they have successfully completed their study period.

Awards are applied directly to the student's Canada Student Loan and/or Manitoba Student Loan debt. The loan limit is determined each year based on two things: the total budget for the loan reduction program, and the number of eligible students.

Deadlines: All information and required documentation must be received no later than two months before your period of study ends. Funds cannot be released after your period of study end date.

You must negotiate (cash) a Canada Student Loan and Manitoba Student Loan in order to receive a Canada Millennium Scholarship Bursary and a Manitoba Bursary (Millennium Manitoba Bursary).

Millennium Adult Learner Bursary

The Government of Manitoba and the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation provide bursaries to adult students from low-income backgrounds. The project will run for four years beginning with the 2005-06 academic year to improve access to post-secondary education.

Assistance is available to selected low-income college and university students who graduated with a Mature Student Diploma at an Adult Learning Centre (ALC). Adult Learning Centres will identify students who demonstrate academic readiness and motivation and who meet the income threshold.

These bursaries provide $5,000 for the first year, $4,000 for the second year, $3,000 for the third year, and $2,000 for the fourth year for selected ALC graduates who pursue a post-secondary education at a college or university in Manitoba.

Students must apply on the Millennium Adult Learner Bursary application as well as completing an application for Canada Student Loan and Manitoba Student Loan, and must submit supporting documentation.

For more information, contact Manitoba Student Aid at 945-6321, or the Adult Learning and Literacy Branch.

Deadlines: Millennium Adult Learner Bursary - May 1, 2007; Application for Canada Student Loan and Manitoba Student Loan - June 30, 2007

Part-Time Students

Students applying on a part-time basis must apply to the province in which they will be living when attending school Part-time students can apply via the Internet.

Part-Time Canada Student Loans

Part-time Canada Student Loans of up to $4,000 are available to students who are studying on a part-time basis (between 20% and 59% of a full course load, 20% to 39% for students with disabilities). To be eligible you must be enrolled in a post-secondary school, and must be taking a program of study that leads to a degree, diploma or certificate. There are maximum income limits for part-time loan eligibility. You are responsible for paying interest on the loan while studying. Full repayment starts six months after your studies end. The maximum amount you can have outstanding at any one time is $4,000.

Important Instructions: In order to receive your loan you must:

• arrange to have your Certificate of Eligibility and Confirmation of Enrolment (Schedule 1A) completed by your educational institution
• present the completed and authorized Schedule 1A and Part-time Canada Student Loan Agreement to a participating Canada Post Retail Postal Outlet for processing.

Failure to complete these forms correctly will result in a delay in the disbursement of your loan.

Complete details on the Part-time Canada Student Loans Program, information on completing any of the forms, and a list of participating Canada Post Retail Outlets may be obtained on the Canlearn website at www.canlearn.ca

Part-time Canada Study Grants for High Need Students
Grants of up to $1,200 per year are available to students who have a valid reason for studying on a part-time basis (care for young dependent children, students with disabilities, etc.). Assistance is based on an assessment of financial need. There are maximum income limits for eligibility.

Part-time Canada Study Grants for Students with Dependants
Grants of up to $1,920 per year are available for part-time students who have an assessed need after receiving the maximum High-Need Grant for Part-time students ($1,200) and maximum part-time Canada Student Loan ($4,000). Students with 1 or 2 dependants are eligible for $40 per week of study; students with 3 or more dependants are eligible for $60 per week of study.

Aboriginal Students

If you are of Canadian Aboriginal or Métis ancestry, you may be eligible for the following awards, as well as all other federal and provincial student loans, bursaries, and study grants.

Prince of Wales/Princess Anne Awards

Non-repayable assistance of $250 per year available to Canadian Aboriginal students studying in Canada. To be eligible, you must have at least a $1 need as determined on the Canada Student Loan/Manitoba Student Loan assessment.

Millennium Manitoba Opportunities Grants (NEW)
For Independent Aboriginal Students

The Government of Manitoba and the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation provide this grant for independent Aboriginal students in the first year of a multi-year post-secondary educational program. This grant covers tuition costs up to $4,000 or assessed need, whichever is less. Students are automatically considered for this assistance when they apply for Manitoba Student Aid and self-identify as an Aboriginal student.

Fly Higher!
Business Council of Manitoba Aboriginal Education Awards

Aboriginal Education Awards of up to $3,000 for university and $1,500 for college students are available to students of Aboriginal ancestry who are planning to, or are already attending a post-secondary school.

Recipients of the awards may be considered for summer and/or part-time employment with one of the Business Council’s member companies.

These awards were introduced in 2001 to assist Aboriginal students attending post-secondary schools with costs such as tuition, books and supplies for the academic year. The Business Council of Manitoba initiated a partnership arrangement with the Governments of Canada and Manitoba to provide education awards to eligible Aboriginal students. Funding for the awards is based on matching contributions from each of the partners. Due to the success of the program, the three partners have doubled their portion of funding from $75,000 to $150,000 per partner. In the first year of the new agreement, 120 Aboriginal students will share a total of $312,000 in awards.

To be eligible for these awards, you must:

• be a Canadian citizen
• be a permanent resident of Manitoba for at least 12 months
• be enrolled in a post-secondary public school
• maintain full-time status (at least a 60% course load)
• be in need of financial assistance

Even if you are receiving funds from other sources you may still apply for this award.

To apply you must:

• complete an application form
• attach a brief essay in your own handwriting
• attach a copy of your most recent transcript or academic history
• submit all information to the financial services office at your post-secondary school

You do not need to enclose proof of acceptance at the university or college but will need to produce it before the award is released.

Applications are screened based on the combined criteria of personal achievements, academic standing, and financial need.

Aboriginal students don’t have to be enrolled in a post-secondary school to apply for these awards. They can be in the planning stage as well (potential high-school graduate students planning to attend a post-secondary school upon graduation can apply as long as they apply for the current fall session).

Deadline: The deadline for applications is March 1. Students can apply each year for this assistance.

For further information, contact the school directly:

Assiniboine Community College -- 204-725-8700 (ext. 6964)
Brandon University -- 204-727-9737
University of Manitoba -- 204-474-9531
University of Winnipeg -- 204-786-9458
Red River College -- 204-632-2437
University College of the North -- 1-866-627-8500
Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface -- 204-235-4408
Winnipeg Technical College – 204-989-6520

Students with Disabilities

Canada Study Grants for the Accommodation of Students with Permanent Disabilities

Non-repayable assistance of up to $8,000 is available to cover the exceptional education-related costs associated with permanent disabilities. Types of disabilities may include: deafness or hearing impairment, blindness, visual impairment, physical disability, learning disability, etc. Students must first apply for a Canada Student Loan/Manitoba Student Loan in order to establish need. They must also submit an application to Manitoba Student Aid for the grant including verification of their disability (such as a medical certificate, or a learning disability assessment, or a document proving that they receive federal and/or provincial disability assistance), confirmation of the disability-related services or equipment required, and a detailed cost-estimate. If you have a permanent disability and wish to receive only the grant, you must submit a letter stating this.

Canada Access Grants for Students with Permanent Disabilities

This up-front grant will cover the lesser of $2,000 or the student's assessed federal need. Assistance of up to $2,000 is available per loan year.

For information about part-time assistance for students with disabilities see the information for Part-Time Students.

ACCESS Programs in Manitoba

What is an ACCESS program?

The ACCESS Programs provide a support network designed to increase student success. The major focus is on academic and personal support, and, for those who qualify, financial support in the form of ACCESS bursaries, grants and student loans. Manitoba Student Aid works with representatives from the ACCESS programs to administer assistance to students who qualify for funding. There are several academic programs of study supported by the ACCESS programs in Manitoba.

Who qualifies?

Typically qualifying students are from under-represented groups, specifically people of Aboriginal ancestry, northerners, residents of the inner city, people with disabilities, women, single parents, immigrants and refugees.

How is eligibility determined?

Students can apply directly to any ACCESS Program office at participating public Colleges and Universities in Manitoba. Students complete an ACCESS program application form and submit by the due date in spring. Applications are paper screened for eligibility by the ACCESS Program. Students that meet basic criteria are invited to an interview and selection process. Students are notified by the ACCESS program if they have been successfully chosen in their area of study.

How much is provided?

Students who are selected and qualify will receive an ACCESS Bursary as well as the maximum CSL of $210 per week. ACCESS bursary funded students do not receive a MSL therefore do not incur that debt. ACCESS bursaries are designed to meet all financial need of students while attending school. Students may also qualify for other bursaries and grants depending on their situation.

Who do I contact for more information?

For details about the ACCESS Programs as well as application forms, contact the program office of choice at any participating college or university you wish to attend in Manitoba.