Student assistance is based on need. The federal and provincial governments offer loans and grants to supplement your own earnings and contributions from your family and other sources. Student assistance is not intended to cover the entire cost of your education and living expenses.

The Student Assistance Office calculates your need based on set criteria and the information you supply in your application. The minimum amount that can be issued for a Canada or Nova Scotia Student Loan is $100.

If eligible the maximum assistance amounts are:

Canada Student Loan - $210 per week of study - negotiable when your classes begin

Canada Student Grant for Students from Low-income Families - $250 per month of study

Canada Student Grant for Students from Middle-income Families - $100 per month of study

Canada Student Grant for Students with Dependents - $200 per month of study per child

Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities - $2000 per year

Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Students with Permanent Disabilities - up to $8000 per year

Nova Scotia Student Assistance - $150 per week of study - negotiable halfway through your program.  This assistance is comprised of the following:

• Nova Scotia Student Loan - $120 per week of study
• Nova Scotia Student Grant - $30 per week of study

Nova Scotia Dependent Grant - $20 per week of study

Nova Scotia Supplemental Loan - $140 per week of study - This is available to students enrolled in Medicine (MD), Law (LLB) and Dentistry (DDS)

The maximum loan amount you may receive in one year will vary depending on the number of weeks in the program you are taking as well as the program type for supplemental Nova Scotia loans. For example, if you are registered for a 34-week program, that would not be eligible for supplemental loans, the maximum loan amount you will receive is:

Canada Student Loan ($210 X 34) $ 7140

Nova Scotia Student Assistance ($150 X 34) $ 5100

Maximum for 34 weeks $12,240

With your application for Student Assistance, you will also be assessed for eligibility for the Canada Student Grants available beginning in the 2009-10 year.

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This grant is available to you if you have a calculated need of at least $1 and are enrolled in an approved certificate, diploma or bachelors program at a designated educational institution. The grant may exceed your calculated need. Your 2009 family income (as reported on your Income Tax Return) must be below the established low-income thresholds. Your program of study must be greater than 1 year (60 weeks or greater).

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This grant is available to you if you have a calculated need of at least $1 and are enrolled in an approved certificate, diploma or bachelors program at a designated educational institution. The grant may exceed your calculated need. Your 2009 family income (as reported on your Income Tax Return) must be below the established middle-income thresholds. Your program of study must be greater than 1 year (60 weeks or greater).

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This grant is available to you if you have a calculated need of at least $1 and are enrolled in an approved program at a designated educational institution. The grant may exceed your calculated need. To qualify you must have the care and custody of children under 12 years of age and/or children 12 years of age and older who have a disability (confirmed by a physician). Your 2009 family income (as reported on your Income Tax Return) must be below the established low-income thresholds.

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This grant is available to you if you have a calculated need of at least $1 and are enrolled in an approved program at a designated educational institution. The grant may exceed your calculated need. To qualify you must have a permanent disability (as defined under the Canada Student Loans criteria).

Nova Scotia also provides grants for students.  You will be assessed for these grants at the same time you are assessed for your Nova Scotia Student Loan.

This grant is available to you if you are eligible for Nova Scotia Student Loans as part of your maximum of $150 per week of study.  It accounts for 20% of the total loan amount assessed for Nova Scotia loans. 

For example, if you qualify for the maximum $5100 in NSSL, you will receive $4080 in repayable loan and $1020 in non-repayable grant.

This grant is available to you if you are eligible for Nova Scotia Student Loan and are a high-need students with dependents. You will receive $20 per week of study in the form of grant if you have eligible dependents. Click here to see a definition of a dependent.

This grant is available to you if you have a calculated need of at least $1 and are enrolled in an approved program at a designated educational institution.  You must be able to provide proof of your disability and a letter identifying that you are in need of the assistance from an individual authorized to make such a determination.  This grant requires a separate application and you must submit receipts to support your claim.

This grant is available to dependant students in their 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th year of studies and whose parental contribution is less than $1,000. It will provide up to $2000 to address the amount of the assessed costs that are not covered through student loans and other sources of funding. All applicants to the Nova Scotia Student Assistance Office are automatically considered for the grant upon applying for assistance, however you must submit a PSR (pre-study report) to receive the grant.

Eligibility criteria:

• in receipt of, or entitled to receive, a Nova Scotia Student Loan
• a dependant student
• enrolled full-time at an eligible post-secondary institution in an approved program
• pursuing undergraduate studies that lead to a degree, certificate or diploma where the program length is at least two years and the study period is at least 24 weeks
• assessed with a parental contribution, based on federal criteria, of less than $1,000
• in year 1, 2, 3 or 4 of a program (post 2008)

You can apply for a Student Loan for the number of years in your program of study, plus one additional year. For example, if you enroll in a four-year university program, you can apply for loans for five years to complete that program. If you don't apply for student loans until your third year of a four-year program, you can apply for the number of remaining years plus one year (3 years - the remaining 2 years plus one). We start to count the number of years required to complete your program based on the year you are in when you apply for student loans for the first time. From the time you first apply, each year of study counts whether you continue to apply for loans or not.

If you start another program without having completed the first program, you will be eligible for only the number of years normally required to complete the new program. You will not be eligible for the additional year.

If you switch for a second time, you will only be eligible for the number of years that it takes to complete the new program minus the amount of years that you have already received funding.

For example . . .

John began a 3-year B.A. program in September 2009, so he can take four years to complete the program and still be eligible for Student Loans.

However, in September 2011, after two years of study, he decides to change to a 2-year program at a community college. John will be eligible for a loan for the two years required to complete this program but not for 3 years. He is not eligible for the additional year, because he did not complete the first program. If he goes on to do another program after he completes this one, he will be eligible for the number of years required to complete the program, plus one additional year.

The amount of money you can borrow is based on the number of weeks you spend in school each year. For example, in most university programs you spend 34 weeks of the year in classes. As of 1995/96, your borrowing limit is 340 weeks. If you have applied for Student Loans before 1995/96, your limit is 520 weeks.

• Starting August 1, 2003, Nova Scotia will fund, at the undergraduate level, two degree and one diploma, or one degree and two diplomas.
• For graduate/professional students, only one degree at each level will be funded.

If you have a permanent disability, you may be able to apply for an extension to the number of years you can apply for loans. You may also be eligible for full-time student loans if you are only taking 40% of a full course load. In order to be eligible for the exemption you are required to submit a "Medical Assessment for Student Assistance Form" with your application. The medical form confirms that your permanent disability prevents you from attending school on a full-time basis. To get a "Medical Assessment for Student Assistance Form" you can contact our office and request one or download it from our web site. Click here for more information.

Funding for Part-time study is available through the Canada Student Loan Program and students who apply for part-time funding are also eligible to be assessed for some of the available Canada Student Grants.

• Maximum funding available for part-time loans is up to $10,000
• Part-time students do not have to start repaying their loan while in study, although interest accumulates during this period.
• Canada Student Grants available are:
  • Grant for Part-Time Studies - up to $1,200 per year for students from low-income families if you meet the criteria set out for Canada Student Loans.
  • The Grant for Part-time Students with Dependants offers $40-$60 per week of studies if you meet the criteria set out for Canada Student Loans.

For more information on part-time funding, click here.  If you would like to apply for part-time funding click here to download the application.

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