Quebec Student Aid Overview
| Component |
Details |
| Program name |
Aide financière aux études (AFE) |
| Administrator |
Ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur |
| Federal loans |
Quebec students do NOT receive Canada Student Loans |
| Types of aid |
Loans (prêts) + Bursaries (bourses) |
| Application |
Online at quebec.ca/aide-financiere-aux-etudes |
Aid Amounts (2025-2026)
Maximum Monthly Assistance
| Category |
Maximum |
| Single, no dependants |
~$1,200-1,500/month |
| With dependants |
Higher amounts |
| Living at home |
Lower amounts |
Annual Limits
| Aid Type |
Maximum |
| Loans |
Up to $12,000+/year (varies by situation) |
| Bursaries |
Additional, varies by need |
| Total aid |
Covers tuition + living expenses |
Loans vs Bursaries
| Feature |
Loans (Prêts) |
Bursaries (Bourses) |
| Repayment |
Required |
Not required |
| Priority |
Provided first |
After loan maximum |
| Interest |
Prime rate (after grace period) |
N/A |
| Eligibility |
All qualifying students |
Higher financial need |
How Aid is Allocated
- Maximum loan amount calculated first
- If expenses exceed loan maximum, bursary provided
- Students with lowest family income receive highest bursary proportion
Eligibility Requirements
| Requirement |
Details |
| Residency |
Quebec resident |
| Citizenship |
Canadian citizen, PR, or eligible status |
| School |
Quebec recognized institution |
| Program |
Qualifying program (CEGEP, university) |
| Course load |
Full-time or part-time |
| Academic standing |
Satisfactory progress |
How to Apply
| Step |
Action |
| 1 |
Create account on Aide financière aux études portal |
| 2 |
Complete online application |
| 3 |
Submit required documents |
| 4 |
Receive calculation of aid |
| 5 |
Sign loan agreement |
| 6 |
Funds deposited (often directly to institution) |
Key Dates
| Term |
Application Deadline |
| Fall |
June 15 (to receive first payment on time) |
| Winter |
November 15 |
| Summer |
April 15 |
Apply early — processing can take 4-6 weeks.
Interest Rates and Repayment
Interest
| Period |
Interest Rate |
| During studies |
0% |
| Grace period (6 months after) |
0% |
| After grace period |
Prime rate (~7% in 2024) |
Repayment Terms
| Feature |
Details |
| Start |
6 months after leaving full-time studies |
| Term |
Typically 10 years |
| Minimum payment |
Based on loan amount |
| Prepayment |
Allowed without penalty |
Repayment Assistance
Remboursement différé (Deferred Repayment)
| Feature |
Details |
| Eligibility |
Financial hardship |
| Effect |
Payments reduced or suspended |
| Interest |
Government may cover interest |
| Duration |
Renewable periods |
Programme de remise de dette (Loan Reduction)
After 10 years of repayment, remaining debt may be forgiven if you’ve:
- Met payment obligations
- Enrolled in Repayment Assistance throughout
Quebec-Specific Programs
Bursary for Students with Disabilities
| Feature |
Amount |
| Basic bursary |
$1,200+/year |
| Service animals |
Additional funding |
| Adaptive equipment |
One-time grants |
Single Parent Supplement
| Situation |
Additional Aid |
| Single parent |
Higher monthly amounts |
| Childcare costs |
Additional allowance |
Scholarship for Excellence (Bourse d’excellence)
| Award |
Amount |
| CEGEP (pre-university) |
$1,500-3,000 |
| University undergraduate |
$1,500-3,000 |
| Master’s and doctoral |
Higher amounts |
CEGEP Students
| Feature |
Details |
| Tuition |
$0 for Quebec residents |
| Aid available |
Living expenses, books, transport |
| Mandatory fees |
~$200-400/semester (covered by aid) |
Quebec Education Savings Incentive (QESI)
| Feature |
Details |
| Matching rate |
10-20% of RESP contributions |
| Annual max |
$250 ($500 with catch-up) |
| Lifetime max |
$3,600 per child |
| Higher rate |
20% for families with lower income |
Comparison: Quebec vs Rest of Canada
| Feature |
Quebec |
Rest of Canada |
| Tuition |
~$3,000/year (lowest) |
$6,000-8,000/year |
| Federal loans |
No (own system) |
Yes (NSLSC) |
| Interest-free during studies |
Yes |
Yes |
| Interest rate after |
Prime |
0% federal (as of 2024) |
| Grace period |
6 months |
6 months |