Canada Student Grants explained: types, amounts and how to get them
Canada Student Grants explained: full-time, part-time, dependants and disability grants, current amounts, and how to apply through your province.
Canada Student Grants are federal grants for post-secondary students that do not have to be repaid. Many students receive them without realizing it, because they are assessed automatically through provincial student aid applications. This guide explains the main grants, current amounts from canada.ca and how to make sure you are considered.
How Canada Student Grants work
The Government of Canada runs the Canada Student Grants and Loans program. You do not apply to the federal government directly. Instead, you apply with your province or territory, and you are assessed for both provincial and federal aid.
The canada.ca page lists the provincial and territorial offices, including Alberta Student Aid, British Columbia Student Aid, Manitoba Student Aid, New Brunswick Student Financial Services, Newfoundland and Labrador Student Aid, Nova Scotia Student Assistance, Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), Prince Edward Island Student Financial Services, Saskatchewan Student Loans and Yukon Student Financial Assistance.
Important: The federal grant pages note that these grants are not available to students from the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Quebec, which have their own student aid programs.
The main grants
Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students
According to canada.ca, full-time students in financial need could receive up to $4,200 per school year, or $525 per month of study, until the end of the 2026 to 2027 school year. Eligibility depends on financial need and family income compared with published thresholds. Canada.ca also notes that most students at private for-profit schools are no longer eligible.
Canada Student Grant for Part-Time Students
Part-time students in financial need could receive up to $2,520 per year until the end of the 2026 to 2027 school year, according to the part-time grant page. The grant will not be more than your assessed need. Eligibility also requires that you successfully completed courses funded by previous grants and that your family income is below the published thresholds.
Grant for Full-Time Students with Dependants
Full-time students with children under 12 or other eligible dependants could receive $280 per month, or $2,240 per year, for each eligible dependant, according to the dependants grant page.
Grant for Part-Time Students with Dependants
Part-time students with eligible dependants could receive up to $2,688 per year, according to the part-time dependants page.
Grant for Students with Disabilities
Students with a permanent or persistent or prolonged disability could receive $2,800 per school year, according to the students with disabilities page. There are also supports for disability-related services and equipment. You usually need to provide proof of disability through your provincial application.
Income thresholds
Most Canada Student Grants use income thresholds based on family size. Below the lower threshold, you may qualify for the maximum. Above the cut-off, you do not qualify. Thresholds are published on each grant page and updated for each school year. The school year for these grants runs from August 1 to July 31.
How to make sure you are considered
- Apply through your province or territory on time.
- Report your situation fully. Dependants, disabilities and part-time status all affect which grants you are assessed for.
- Provide supporting documents when asked, such as proof of disability.
- Sign your loan agreement if you also receive loans, so funds can be released.
- Confirm your enrolment through your National Student Loans Service Centre account or your school, as canada.ca describes.
- Reapply every year.
Grants and academic progress
Grants assume you complete the studies you were funded for. If you withdraw or drop courses, contact your school's financial aid office and your provincial aid office. For part-time grants, canada.ca notes you must have successfully completed courses funded by past grants to stay eligible.
Beyond federal grants
Provincial grants, school bursaries and scholarships can add more non-repayable funding. See:
- How OSAP works for Ontario students.
- Provincial student aid compared.
- Scholarships and bursaries in Canada.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to repay Canada Student Grants? No, as long as you meet the conditions. Loans must be repaid.
Do I need a separate application? No. Apply through your province or territory.
Can Quebec students get Canada Student Grants? Canada.ca says the grants are not available to students from Quebec, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, which run their own programs.
Are the amounts permanent? No. Canada.ca lists current amounts until the end of the 2026 to 2027 school year. Check the official pages for future years.
Before you apply: a quick checklist
- Use the official application site, never a paid third-party service. Applying for government student aid is free.
- Check the current year's deadlines on the official page and on your school's financial aid site.
- Gather your ID, tax information and, if required, a parent's or spouse's information before you start.
- Apply every year you need aid. Most programs require a new application for each school year.
- Read your award notice to see which parts are grants and which are loans.
- Keep your school's financial aid office in the loop. They can explain your package and point to bursaries or scholarships you may have missed.
- Watch for scams: no legitimate program charges a fee to get a grant or scholarship.
Questions to ask your financial aid office
Your school's financial aid staff see hundreds of situations like yours every year. Before you accept an offer or make a big decision, ask them:
- Which parts of my package are grants or scholarships, and which are loans or work-study?
- Are there school bursaries, scholarships or emergency funds I have not applied for yet?
- What happens to my aid if I drop a course or change my program?
- What do I need to do to keep this funding next year?
- Can my aid be reviewed if my family's income has changed?
Write down the answers and the name of the person you spoke with, so you can refer back to them later.
Keep exploring on GrantSift
Find student funding that fits you
Official aid pages are the source of truth, but scholarships, bursaries and grants are scattered across governments, schools and foundations. GrantSift brings student funding from official sources in the US and Canada into one place, with a short student check that matches programs to your province or state, level of study and field. Every listing links to the official page, and student aid that is a loan is labelled as a loan. Search scholarships and student grants or see plans and pricing.