Apply for a Canada Student Financial Assistance (CSFA) Program Loan/Grant as a full-time student

  • Student eligibility and eligible programs
  • Forms that may apply to full-time students
  • Loans available for full-time students
  • Grants available for full-time students
  • What you must do to get your loan or grant
  • Complete your Canada Student Loan or Grant application

The CSFA Loan/Grant for full-time study has 1 application process. The deadline to apply is 2 months before your end date of classes.


  1. Student eligibility and eligible programs

    Eligibility

    Different types of students can apply for a CSFA Loan/Grant. Find out:

    • what if you are eligible; and
    • what category of student you are.

    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

    A dependant student applies:

    • in the territory or province where their family has most recently maintained a family home; and
    • for at least 12 months in a row.

    If the dependant student’s parents are separated or divorced

    Apply to the province or territory of the parent with whom you normally live.

    If the student does not live with their parents

    The student should apply in the province of residence of the parent who financially supports them.

    Independent student

    Where to apply as an independent student

    Apply in the jurisdiction 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.

    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:
      • are legally married; or
      • have been living in a conjugal relationship for at least 1 year.

    Where to apply as a married or common-law student?

    Apply in the jurisdiction 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.

    If your partner lives and/or works in a province or territory other than 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, and responsibility for supporting a 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.

    Are programs eligible for funding?

    • Must be a minimum of 12 weeks in length.
    • Lead to a post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree.
    • 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.


  2. Forms that may apply to full-time students

    Are you a married or common-law student?

    Complete the Schedule B - Spouse or Partner Information and Declaration.

    Are you applying as a dependant student?

    Have your 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 education funding for people with disabilities.

    Program Information Form 

    All applicants are required to have their post-secondary institution complete the program information form.


  3. Loans available for full-time students
    • Full-time post-secondary studies are when you're taking 60% or more of a full course load.
    • A student with a permanent, persistent or prolonged disability can be considered full-time with an accommodated course load of a minimum of 40 per cent.
    • A loan is an amount of money you get to help you pay for school.
    • You must start repaying a loan once your studies are done.

    How much can you receive?

    $300 per week of study. This works out to approximately $4,800 per semester. 

    How long can you receive loans?

    • A maximum of 340 weeks.
    • A maximum of 400 weeks for a student pursuing doctoral studies.
    • A maximum of 520 weeks for a student with a permanent, persistent or prolonged disability.

    When do you start paying back the 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 (NSLSC). If you do not, you'll have to begin making payments.

    How much interest will you pay on your loan?

    Effective April 1, 2023, the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program eliminated interest on student loans. For more information, contact the National Student Loan Service Centre.

    Need assistance to repay your loan?

    The Canada Repayment Assistance Plan can provide support.


  4. Grants available for full-time students

    When you apply for the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program, you are automatically assessed for a loan and eligible grants.  

    You do not need to take out a loan to get a grant. However, you need to apply and qualify 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; and
    • to only receive the grant(s) for which you qualify.

    A grant differs from a loan because:

    • a student may qualify for 1 or more grants;
    • grants do not have to be paid back; and
    • a student may be eligible to get more than 1 grant at the same time.

    Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students

    Eligibility

    • Your program must be a minimum of 60 weeks in length.
    • Your family income for the previous year must be below the maximum threshold.

    Find out more, including the threshold, here: Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students.

    Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students with Dependants

    Eligibility

    • You have dependant children under the age of 12.
    • Your family income for the previous year must be below the maximum threshold.

    Find more information, including the threshold for your family size, here: Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students with Dependants.

    Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities 

    Eligibility 

    • You 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 more. 
    • Find more information:  Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities

    Do you have to pay the grants back?

    You must pay back a Canada Student Grant if you:

    • received the grant in error; 
    • withdraw from full-time studies; or
    • reduce to part-time status.

  5. What you must do to get your loan or grant

    To receive financial assistance you must apply for funding through Yukon Student Financial Assistance.  Once approved, you must:

    What is a Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement (MSFAA)?

    The Master Student Financial Assistance Agreement (MSFAA) outlines the terms of accepting and repaying your student loans.  

    Who needs an MSFAA?

    • 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.
    • An existing loan or grant recipient who has established residency in another province or territory.

    How do you get an MSFAA?

    1. Once your Canada Student Financial Assistance application is approved, the Government of Yukon will provide you with your 10-digit MSFAA number.
    2. You'll 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 info@msfaa-emafe.cibletudes-canlearn.ca; and
      • has the subject line of “Register now to set up your online account.”
    3. To register an account with the NSLSC:
      1. select the URL in the “welcome email”;
      2. paste the URL in the navigation bar of a web browser; and
      3. start your registration on the NSLSC webpage.

    What if you have not received your MSFAA number?

    Email sfa@yukon.ca or phone 867-667-5929, toll free in Yukon 1-800-661-0408, extension 5929. You'll be asked to verify your identity and then your number can be provided over the phone. 


  6. Complete your Canada Student Loan or Grant application

    Do not apply for the Canada Student Loan or Grant if you have fewer than 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.

    You must apply for the Canada Student Loan and be approved to qualify for the grant.

    How to apply

    Online application

    1. Register or log in to the online portal. 

      Log in to Student Financial Assistance portal

    2. Upload a program information form completed by an authorized post-secondary institution representative. 
    3. Submit your completed application with the uploaded forms through the online portal. 

    You can appeal a Canada Student Loan/Grant decision

    Find out how to appeal a loan or grant decision.

    When will you receive your loan or grant money?

    You'll receive the eligible funds when;

    1. You've been approved for a loan or grant.
    2. You’ve sent any required documents to the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC).
    3. The NSLSC has confirmed your full-time enrolment with your institution.
    4. Your loan is 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 owing. If this happens, a lesser amount may be deposited into your bank account.

    Note on processing delays

    We're experiencing delays with the new system implementation, which is impacting assessment timelines for processing completed Canada Student Financial Assistance Loan and Grant applications by approximately 2 weeks. We're communicating directly with students who submitted applications with next steps to ensure a smooth start to the school year. We're also working with post-secondary institutions to request extended timelines for students to pay their fees.
     

    We work one-on-one with students to address their needs and concerns. Students or parents can contact the Yukon Student Financial Assistance Office for assistance at any time:

    • by email at sfa@yukon.ca;
    • by phone at 867-667-5929; or
    • toll-free in the Yukon at 1-800-661-0408, extension 5929.

    To contact the National Student Loans Service Centre, phone 1-888-815-4514.


Contact 

If you have questions, email sfa@yukon.ca or phone 867-667-5929, toll free in Yukon 1-800-661-0408, extension 5929.