Provincial student aid in Canada compared: where to apply and what to know
Provincial student aid in Canada compared: which office to apply to in each province and territory, how federal grants fit in, and key differences.
In Canada, student financial aid is a partnership between the federal government and the provinces and territories. Where you apply depends on where you live, not where you study. This guide explains how the systems fit together and where to apply.
The basic model
The Government of Canada funds Canada Student Grants and Loans. Provinces and territories run their own aid programs and also deliver the application. According to the apply with your province page on canada.ca, you go to your province or territory to:
- Find out if you are eligible for student grants and loans.
- Know how much you could get.
- Apply for student grants and loans.
After you apply, your provincial or territorial student aid service contacts you about next steps.
Where to apply
Canada.ca lists the provincial and territorial student aid offices:
- Alberta: Alberta Student Aid
- British Columbia: British Columbia Student Aid
- Manitoba: Manitoba Student Aid
- New Brunswick: New Brunswick Student Financial Services
- Newfoundland and Labrador: Newfoundland and Labrador Student Aid
- Northwest Territories: Northwest Territories Student Financial Assistance
- Nova Scotia: Nova Scotia Student Assistance
- Nunavut: Nunavut Student Funding
- Ontario: Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)
- Prince Edward Island: Prince Edward Island Student Financial Services
- Quebec: Quebec Student Financial Aid
- Saskatchewan: Saskatchewan Student Loans
- Yukon: Yukon Student Financial Assistance
Follow the links from the canada.ca page to reach each official office.
Three systems that work differently
Quebec, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut run their own student aid programs. The federal grant pages note that Canada Student Grants are not available to students from these jurisdictions, because they have their own programs. Students from these areas should apply to their own programs.
Other provinces and Yukon deliver an integrated application that assesses you for both provincial or territorial aid and federal Canada Student Grants and Loans.
Part-time applications
Canada.ca notes that to apply for part-time student aid in Manitoba, New Brunswick or Yukon, you submit a federal Part-Time Canada Student Grant and Loan Application form. In all other participating provinces, you apply through the province's website. Read more in our part-time student aid guide.
What differs between provinces
Each province or territory sets its own:
- Grant programs and amounts on the provincial side.
- Loan programs and interest rules on the provincial side.
- Residency rules for who counts as a resident.
- Deadlines and application windows.
- Additional supports, such as programs for specific groups or fields.
Federal grant amounts and thresholds are the same nationally for participating jurisdictions, and canada.ca publishes them. For example, the full-time grant is up to $4,200 per school year until the end of the 2026 to 2027 school year.
Because provincial programs change often, we do not reproduce provincial amounts here. Use your province's official site.
Studying in another province
If you move to another province to study, you generally apply to the student aid program of the province where you are considered a resident, usually where you lived before starting school. Check the residency rules on your home province's site.
Confirming enrolment
Canada.ca explains that to receive grant and loan money, you or your school need to confirm your enrolment, and you can log in to your National Student Loans Service Centre account to do so.
Tips for any province
- Apply early to have funding in place before classes.
- Use the province's estimator if one exists.
- Report your full situation, including dependants and disabilities.
- Reapply every year.
- Contact your school's financial aid office for help and for school bursaries.
Frequently asked questions
Do I apply in the province where my school is? Usually you apply in your province or territory of residence. Check its residency rules.
Can I get federal grants if I live in Quebec? Canada.ca says Canada Student Grants are not available to Quebec students, who have their own program.
Is the application free? Yes. Government student aid applications are free.
Where can Ontario students learn more? See how OSAP works.
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.