The Canada Student Financial Assistance (CSFA) loan or grant for full-time study has 1 application process. The deadline to apply is 2 months before the end date of your classes.
Eligibility
Different types of students can apply for a CSFA loan or grant. Before applying, first find out:
- if you are eligible; and
- what student category you are in.
Student categories
Dependant student
You are a dependant student if, at the start of your classes:
- you are a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident; and
- you meet all the following criteria:
- you are pursuing post-secondary education within 4 years of leaving high school; or
- you have never been in the labour force full-time for 2, 12-month periods or more; and
- you have never been married or in a common-law relationship; and
- you have never been a single parent with legal custody and financial responsibility for supporting a child.
Where to apply as a dependant student
If you are a dependant student, you can apply in the territory or province where your family has most recently maintained a family home for at least 12 months in a row.
Where to apply if you are a dependant student and your parents are separated or divorced
Apply to the province or territory where the parent with whom you mostly live with resides.
Where to apply if you do not live with your parent
You should apply in the province or territory of residence of the parent who financially supports you.
Independent student
You are an independent student if:
- you are neither married nor in a common-law relationship;
- you do not have any dependants; and
- you meet at least one of the following criteria:
- you've been out of secondary school for four years;
- you've been active in the labour force full-time for at least two years. These two years do not need to be consecutive; however, each year of work must have been at least 12 months in a row; or
- you do not have a parent, guardian, sponsor, or other relative supporting you, due to death or disappearance.
Where to apply as an independent student
Apply in the territory or province you last lived in for at least 12 months in a row before the date of your loan application. This does not include time spent in full-time post-secondary studies.
Married or common-law student
You are considered to be married or common-law if, at the date of your loan application:
- you are a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or a protected person; and
- you meet one of the following criteria:
- are legally married; or
- have been living in a conjugal relationship for at least 12 months in a row.
Where to apply as a married or common-law student?
Apply in the territory or province you last lived in for at least 12 months in a row before the date of your loan application. This does not include time spent in full-time post-secondary studies.
If your partner lives or works in a province or territory other than the Yukon, contact the Student Financial Assistance office.
Single-parent student
You are considered to be a single-parent student if, at the start of your classes:
- you are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person; and
- you meet 1 of the following criteria:
- you have legal and physical custody of a child and are responsible for supporting the child; or
- you are not currently married or in a common-law relationship.
Where to apply as a single-parent student
Apply in the territory or province where you last lived for at least 12 months in a row before the date of your loan application. This does not include time spent in full-time post-secondary studies.
Post-secondary program eligibility
To be eligible for the CSFA program, the post-secondary program you're taking must:
- be a minimum of 12 weeks in length;
- lead to a post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree; and
- be at a designated post-secondary institution.
Look at the list of designated educational institutions. If your institution is not on this list, contact the Student Financial Assistance.
Find the form that best suits your student category.
- A married or common law student should complete the Schedule B - Spouse or Partner Information and Declaration.
- A dependant student should have their parents complete the Schedule C - Parent/Legal Guardian Information and Declaration.
Are you applying as a student with a disability?
The Government of Canada provides benefits for students who have persistent, prolonged, or permanent disabilities. Learn more about how to Apply for a grant as a student with a persistent or prolonged disability
Program Information Form
All applicants are required to have their post-secondary institution student financial or registrar's office complete the program information form. The student or the institution can return this form to the Student Financial Assistance office by following the instructions on the form.
You are considered a full-time post-secondary student when you're taking:
- 60 per cent or more of a full course load; or
- 40 per cent or more of a full course load if you are a student with a permanent, persistent or prolonged disability.
You must begin repaying your CSFA loan once your studies are done.
How much can you receive?
You can receive $300 per week of study. This works out to approximately $4,800 per semester.
How long can you receive loans?
You can receive loans for:
- a maximum of 340 weeks when you're enrolled in undergraduate or graduate studies;
- a maximum of 400 weeks when you're pursuing doctoral studies; or
- a maximum of 520 weeks if you're a student with a permanent, persistent or prolonged disability.
When do you start paying back the loan?
You must start repaying your loan 6 months after you finish your full-time studies.
If you stay enrolled in full-time studies, you must tell the National Student Loans Service Centre . If you do not, you'll have to begin making loan re-payments.
How much interest will you pay on your loan?
Effective April 1, 2023, the Canada Student Financial Assistance (CSFA) Program has eliminated interest on student loans. For more information, you can contact the National Student Loan Service Centre.
Need assistance to repay your loan?
You can contact the Canada Repayment Assistance Plan for support in repaying your loan.
When you apply for the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program, you are automatically assessed for a loan and any eligible grants.
You do not need to take out a loan to get a grant. However, you must be eligible for a loan to get a grant.
If you qualify for a loan of at least $1, then you can choose:
- not to take any loan amount; and
- to only receive the grants for which you qualify.
A Canada Student Financial Assistance grant is different than a loan in that:
- you may qualify for 1 or more grants;
- you do not have to pay back a grant; and
- you may be eligible to get more than 1 grant at the same time.
When do you pay back grants?
Grants are not usually paid back. We may convert your grants to a loan if you:
- withdraw from full-time studies; or
- reduce your courseload to part-time status.
Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students
Eligibility
To be eligible for Canada Student Financial Assistance grants:
- your program must be a minimum of 60 weeks in length; and
- your family income for the previous year must be below the maximum threshold.
Find out more, including the threshold, on the Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students page on the Government of Canada's website.
Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students with Dependants
Eligibility
You may be eligible for Canada Student Financial Assistance grants as a full-time student with dependants if:
- you have dependant children aged 11 or under; and
- your family income for the previous year was below the maximum threshold.
Find more information, including the threshold for your family size, on the Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students with Dependants page on the Government of Canada's website.
Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities, you must have a confirmed permanent, persistent or prolonged disability.
You may also be eligible to receive a grant to assist with costs for services and equipment, such as tutoring, note-taking, computer software, and many more.
To find more information, visit Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities.
You must apply for the Canada Student Financial Assistance loan or grant at least 8 weeks before the end of your school year. Your loan will be cancelled if your classes end before your loan is deposited into your bank account.
To qualify for the grant, you must first apply and be approved for the Canada Student Financial Assistance loan.
Apply online
Register or log in to the online portal.
- Upload a program information form completed by an authorized post-secondary institution representative.
- Submit your completed application with the uploaded forms through the online portal.
Appeal a Canada Student Financial Assistance loan or grant decision
You can submit an appeal to review a decision about the Canada Student Financial Assistance loan or grant to [email protected].
When will you receive your loan or grant money?
You'll receive your approved loan or grant funds when;
- you’ve sent any required documents to the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC).
- the NSLSC has confirmed your full-time enrolment with your institution.
Your loan or grant funds are deposited into your bank account:
- either on the first day of your study period; or
- once your full-time enrolment has been confirmed, whichever happens later.
Your institution may ask for some, or all, of your loan amount to go directly towards fees you owe them. If this happens, a lesser amount may be deposited into your bank account.
To contact the National Student Loans Service Centre, phone 1-888-815-4514.
Once we approve your application, you must:
- register for a National Student Loan Service Centre account; and
- complete your Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement online.
The Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement outlines the terms of accepting and repaying your student loans. You'll need a Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement if you're:
- a first-time loan or grant recipient enrolled in full-time or part-time studies;
- an existing loan or grant recipient who has experienced a break in studies of more than 2 years; or
- an existing loan or grant recipient who has established residency in another province or territory.
Once we approve your Canada Student Financial Assistance application, we'll provide you with your 10-digit Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement (MSFAA) number in your approval letter. You'll then receive a "welcome email" from the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC) that:
- invites you to register for your online account with the NSLSC and complete your MSFAA;
- is sent from [email protected]; and
- has the subject line of “Register now to set up your online account.”
Follow the registration instructions in the welcome email from the National Student Loans Service Centre.
What if you have not received your MSFAA number?
If you have not received your Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement (MSFAA) number, email [email protected] or phone 867-667-5929, toll free in the Yukon 1-800-661-0408, extension 5929.
You'll be asked to verify your identity, and then we'll provide you with your number over the phone.
If you have questions, email [email protected] or phone 867-667-5929, toll free in the Yukon 1-800-661-0408, extension 5929.