New and returning students
Welcome to the school year! Whether you are attending Concordia for the first time or continuing in your program, every year there are some important things that you must do to keep your finances healthy so you can focus on your studies.
From a money point of view, this is the most important requirement for all students. Only when all your courses appear on your student record can your costs be confirmed and any calculations for student aid finalized. Registration opens in the spring of each year and you are encouraged to register as soon as possible. Learn more about registration, including the important dates. There's information for undergraduate and graduate students.
New Students: Students starting their first year of studies at Concordia will need to receive academic advising from their Faculty before they can register. Advising varies from Faculty to Faculty. Here's a good place to start.
If you are relocating to Montreal to study, please review your department’s advising options and complete this important step as soon as possible. This is essential to making your financial plan line up with your timeline for moving to Montreal.
IMPORTANT: All students who are likely to apply for government student aid should aim to complete their registration (i.e. courses show on student record) no later than May 30 for the upcoming school year.
A budget is not just numbers – it’s an expression of your resources and how you plan to use them. Take a moment to think about your goals in attending university – what you want to achieve and why it’s important to you.
Costs
Once your registration and course load are finalized, you’ll be able to calculate your tuition and fees for the upcoming year. Check out Concordia's simulator for these charges.
Then, you need to think about books and supplies, basic living expenses and everything on top of that. Here are a few examples of what the total annual cost of your education can look like.
Resources
Once you know what your required investment will look like, it’s time to check what funds you have on hand, what you can earn, what resources can help pay for your education and how much you may need to borrow.
Making Your Budget Plan
Sometimes it can seem really overwhelming and/or uninteresting to sort out your financial plan, but it doesn’t have to be. These sample budget plans and tips and tricks can help keep you on track.
The Financial Aid and Awards Office offers free seminars on budgeting throughout the year – check out the event listings on the FAAO landing page.
Scholarships and Awards are types of financial support that students do not have to pay back. They can be based on academic achievement, financial need and sometimes other types of activities like community service or involvement in school life. So, where can a student find these types of funds? Check out our information page that has up-to-date information and useful links for students in bachelor’s programs.
Students in graduate-level programs should visit the Graduate Funding information page.
Working on campus can be a great way to earn money to help you pay for school and build up your CV. See the list of available jobs.
Government student aid is a form of financial assistance that helps students and families pay for post-secondary education. It is based on the difference between the cost of attending school and a family’s expected financial contribution. Government student aid may be gift aid, such as grants that do not have to be paid back, or it may be self-help aid such as loans that will need to be paid back after finishing school.
When considering borrowing, it is always advisable to keep debt to a minimum. While loans can be a great way to invest in your future, your future self will also thank you for keeping repayments manageable.
Concordia works with all provincial student aid programs, the Canada Student Loans Program as well as the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid Program. Learn more.
Under Quebec law, student information is considered private. Legally we are unable to supply information to anyone else but you the student and authorized internal individuals. View the policy on personal information privacy here.
If you wish for another individual to access your personal information, or discuss your loan file with us, you must submit a valid and completed proxy form to our office. Please contact our office for information at fundingyoureducation@concordia.ca
As a Title IV post-secondary institution, Concordia is subject to the requirements of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA, 2002); implementing the appropriate safeguards regarding students’ personal information is required by law.
In addition, under Quebec law, student information is considered private. Legally we are unable to supply information to anyone else but you and authorized internal individuals. View the policy on personal information privacy here.
If you wish for another individual to access your personal information or discuss your loan file with us, you must submit a valid and completed proxy form to our office. Please contact our office for an appointment fundingyoureducation@concordia.ca . You and your proxy must bring valid photo id when you present yourselves at the appointment. If you cannot come to our office, please have the proxy form completed by a commissioner of oath, notary or lawyer.
(Examples of valid photo id: Photo Identification cards with your signature ie: unexpired driver's license, government issued identification card, military identification, passport, Concordia University ID card).
