Student aid in Canada mixes grants, which you don’t repay, with loans, which you do. The federal government’s Canada Student Grants are the same everywhere except Quebec, while the provincial grants on top of them differ from province to province. This page lists the main provincial grant in each province and links the province’s own student loans page, where the amounts and eligibility rules are set out with their sources. For how students combine grants with loans, scholarships and work, see the student money guide.
How provincial grants are assessed
In every province except Quebec, one application to the provincial student aid program assesses you for federal and provincial grants and loans together. Grants are generally applied first and loans cover the rest of your assessed need. You apply again for each year of study, and the assessment uses your program’s costs, which is why tuition differences between provinces (see what university costs in Canada) also change how much aid you are assessed for. Quebec runs its own program, the Loans and Bursaries Program, and Quebec residents apply to it instead of the federal program.
The main provincial grant in each province
| Province | Program you apply to | Main provincial grant or bursary | Details and amounts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | OSAP | Ontario Student Grant | OSAP guide |
| British Columbia | StudentAid BC | B.C. Access Grant | BC student loans |
| Alberta | Student Aid Alberta | Alberta student grants | Alberta student loans |
| Saskatchewan | Saskatchewan Student Aid | Saskatchewan Student Grant | Saskatchewan student loans |
| Manitoba | Manitoba Student Aid | Manitoba Bursary | Manitoba student loans |
| Quebec | Aide financière aux études | Bursaries under the Loans and Bursaries Program | Quebec student loans |
| New Brunswick | Student Financial Services | New Brunswick Bursary and the Renewed Tuition Bursary | New Brunswick student loans |
| Nova Scotia | Nova Scotia Student Assistance | Nova Scotia Student Grant | Nova Scotia student loans |
| Prince Edward Island | PEI Student Financial Assistance | Provincial grants, the George Coles bursaries and a Debt Reduction Grant | PEI student loans |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | StudentAidNL | NL Student Grants and the Debt Reduction Grant | Newfoundland and Labrador student loans |
What differs between provinces
- Upfront grants vs grants after graduation. Most provinces pay grants while you study. Some also have programs that turn part of the provincial loan into a grant after you finish, such as the Debt Reduction Grants in Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island. Programs that forgive loans after graduation are compared on student loan forgiveness in Canada.
- Program length and level. Some grants pay more for shorter programs or are limited to undergraduate study: the B.C. Access Grant, for example, has a higher maximum for programs under two years and excludes master’s and PhD students (details on the BC page). Graduate students rely more on scholarships and university funding, covered on graduate school funding.
- Targeted grants. Every province has additional grants or bursaries for students with disabilities, and several have programs for Indigenous students, students from rural or northern areas, or former youth in care. They are assessed through the same application or listed on the province’s student aid site.
- Interest on the loan portion. Whatever part of your need is not met by grants is loaned, and provinces differ on whether the provincial loan charges interest; the student loans hub compares them.
The territories
Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut run their own student financial assistance programs for territorial residents, separate from the provincial programs above. Each territorial government’s education department publishes its grants and eligibility rules.
Getting the most from your application
Applying before your province’s deadline, reporting changes in family income or enrolment during the year, and reapplying each year keep your assessment current, since grants are not renewed automatically. Grants are the part of an award worth checking first, because a bank student line of credit or private borrowing comes with interest and no grant component.