Provincial and territorial loans
If you are an undergraduate or graduate student and a permanent resident or a Canadian citizen, you may be eligible for government student aid in your respective province or through the federal government.
To meet the minimum qualifications for a student loan or bursary, you must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident domiciled in the province or territory for at least one consecutive year without pursuing full-time studies. All provinces and territories encourage the submission of online applications.
Expect to deal directly with your province or territory when it comes to applying for aid and submitting supporting documents. If you need confirmation of your status at Concordia, including completion of program information forms, speak to staff at the Financial Aid and Awards Office.
Concordia's school code
For all out of province financial aid programs, Concordia's school code is FUAC.
Courseload and funding
Your courseload will determine the amount of funding you are eligible to receive.
Therefore, it’s important to register for courses at Concordia before you apply for student aid.
Full-time status
For student loan purposes, full-time status means taking at least 60% of a full courseload.
- Newfoundland and Labrador exception: the government considers you to be a full-time student only when you are taking 80% or more of a full courseload.
Part-time status
Part-time status is between 20% and 59% of a full-time course load.
A few factors to keep in mind
- Waitlisted courses don’t count as part of your courseload
- Lenders will not recognize two-credit internships or stages as constituting full-time status
- Even when you undertake these on a full-time basis, your lender may not recognize internships, stages, practicums or Co-op terms as constituting full-time studies
How to calculate your courseload percentage
Undergraduate studies:
- 3 credits = 20%
- 6 credits = 40%
- 9 credits = 60%
- 12 credits = 80%
- 15 credits = 100%
Professional or course-based master's studies:
- 3 credits= 30%
- 6 credits = 60%
- 9 credits = 100%
Thesis-based master's and PhD studies:
- You are considered full-time in each term for which you are registered.
If you are a special, visiting, qualifying or post-doctoral student, contact the Tuition & Financial Aid Office for eligibility requirements.
Before you apply
Implications of dropping a course
Dropping a course will affect your courseload and may well have implications for your funding.
Please consult with staff at the Tuition & Financial Aid Office for guidance before you drop the course.
Your academic performance
Being in failed standing may affect your status at Concordia and as a result your eligibility for student loans.
In case of disability
If you find yourself facing a permanent disability, your lender will adjust the courseload calculation to determine your status, if you are undertaking studies for at least 12 consecutive weeks.
- Full-time status: 40% or more of a full courseload
- Part-time status: between 20% and 39% of a full courseload
- Your choice: if you are taking between 40% and 59% of a full-time courseload, you may choose full-time or part-time status
Application deadlines
Remember that it’s important to be fully registered for courses in the terms for which you are applying for financial aid, before you submit your application.
Instructions specific to your province or territory
Application deadline:
- 30 calendar days before examinations end, as indicated on the important dates page.
Make sure to indicate the correct term dates.
Application deadline:
- Six weeks before examinations end, as indicated on the important dates page.
If you are a full-time and part-time student, complete your application directly through Student Aid BC.
Application deadline:
- 45 business days before examinations end, as indicated on the important dates page.
Once you have fully registered for courses in the terms for which you are applying for financial aid, complete the first section of the Manitoba Confirmation of Return to School Form.
Send the form to staff at the Financial Aid and Awards Office by email.
In your email, indicate which terms you are applying for student loans for and include your student ID number.
Application deadline:
- Six weeks before examinations end, as indicated on the important dates page.
Once you have fully registered for courses in the terms for which you are applying for financial aid, complete section A of the New Brunswick Student Loan Program Information Form.
Send the form to staff at the Financial Aid and Awards Office by email.
In your email, indicate which terms you are applying for student loans for and include your student ID number.
Application deadlines:
- For fall and winter terms: eight weeks after the start of classes.
- Summer terms deadline: eight weeks after the start of classes, unless your term is fewer than 12 weeks, in which case the deadline is two weeks after the start of classes.
Once you have fully registered for courses in the terms for which you are applying for financial aid, complete section A of the Newfoundland and Labrador Student Aid Information Form.
Send the form to staff at the Financial Aid and Awards Office by email. In your email, indicate which terms you are applying for student loans for and include your student ID number.
Application deadlines:
- For study periods that start after August 1 and before September 30: June 30
- For study periods that start after December1 and before January 31: October 31
- For study periods that start in all other months: one month prior
Once you have fully registered for courses in the terms for which you are applying for financial aid, ask form to staff at the Financial Aid and Awards Office to complete the NWT Student Financial Assistance Form D on your behalf.
Email it to Concordia's Tuition & Financial Aid Office. In your email, indicate which terms you are applying for student loans for and include your student ID number.
Application deadline:
- check your Nova Scotia student assistance account (known as MyPath). Keep in mind this lender requires you to submit pre-study report as a condition of receiving funding, no later than eight weeks before examinations end, as indicated on the important dates page.
If you are applying for funding for both fall and winter terms, indicate September to April in your student assistance application.
Once you have fully registered for courses in the terms for which you are applying for financial aid, ask form to staff at the Financial Aid and Awards Office to complete the NWT Student Financial Assistance Form D on your behalf. Email it to Concordia's Tuition & Financial Aid Office. In your email, indicate which terms you are applying for student loans for and include your student ID number.
Application deadlines:
- Fall term: November 15
- Summer term: July 15
- Winter term: March 1
If you are applying for funding for both fall and winter terms, indicate September to April in your student assistance application.
Complete section A of the Financial Assistance for Nunavut Students form. You will need to complete the form each term.
Once you have fully registered for courses in the terms for which you are applying for financial aid, ask form to staff at the Financial Aid and Awards Office to complete the Student Enrollment Form. Email it to Concordia's Tuition & Financial Aid Office. In your email, indicate which terms you are applying for student loans for and include your student ID number.
Application deadlines, for fall and winter term funding:
- For study periods 21 weeks or greater: 60 days before examinations end, as indicated on the important dates page.
- If you are undertaking a study period of 20 weeks or fewer: 40 days before examinations end, as indicated on the important dates page.
- If you are undertaking a micro-credential program: no later than examinations end, as indicated on the important dates page.
You will need to submit a separate application for summer term funding 40 days before examinations end, as indicated on the important dates page.
Ensure you register to meet the full-time requirement by Spring for Fall and Winter - applicantions.
If you plan to take Summer courses that weren’t included in your original OSAP application, you’ll need to submit a new Summer application through the OSAP portal once the Summer session begins
Application deadlines:
- Fall term: November 15
- Winter term: March 15
Apply by July 15 to guarantee payment by the first day of class
If you are applying for funding for both fall and winter terms, indicate September to April to your application.
Once you have fully registered for courses in the terms for which you are applying for financial aid, complete the Academic Information for Educational Institutions Outside of the Atlantic Provinces Form.
Send the form to staff at the Tuition & Financial Aid Office by email. In your email, indicate which terms you are applying for student loans for and include your student ID number.
Application deadline:
- 30 days before examinations end, as indicated on the important dates page.
Make sure to send the appropriate form (part-time or full-time, depending on your situation).
Saskatchewan considers you to be a full-time student for loan purposes if you are taking nine to 15 credits per term.
You are deemed a part-time student if you are taking fewer than 9 credits per term.
Once you have fully registered for courses in the terms for which you are applying for financial aid, complete the first section of the Program Information Form. Send the form to staff at the Tuition & Financial Aid Office by email. In your email, indicate which terms you are applying for student loans for and include your student ID number.
Application deadlines:
- for the Yukon Grant: six weeks after the start of classes
- Other situation-specific bursaries have their own deadlines.
Once you have fully registered for courses in the terms for which you are applying for financial aid, ask staff at the Financial Aid and Awards Office to complete the Yukon Student Financial Assistance program information form on your behalf. Email it to the Tuition & Financial Aid Office.
In your email, indicate which terms you are applying for student loans for and include your student ID number.
Federal government student loans
Make sure you set up an online account with the National Student Loans Service Centre if you have not done so already, to access important information about your loans.
You must also keep your status, banking or personal information up to date.
To maintain interest-free status on your National Student Aid loans, be sure to submit your application on a term-by-term or academic year basis. If you experience any issues with the application process please contact fundingyoureducation@concordia.ca , for assistance.