Quebec loans & bursaries
Quebec financial aid can help cover your education costs. Here's what you'll need from Concordia to apply.
The Government of Quebec's Aide financière aux études (AFE) offers two types of financial aid to help eligible students cover education costs: loans, which you repay after graduation, and bursaries, which you don't need to repay.
Concordia's role is to confirm your enrolment and academic status on your behalf once you submit your application to the government.
Eligibility requirements
You may qualify for full-time loans and bursaries, or part-time loans.
Eligibility is determined by the Quebec government based on your:
- Residency and immigration status
- Financial situation
- Student status (full-time or part-time)
You may qualify as a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, refugee or protected person if you are deemed a resident of Quebec for student aid purposes at the time you apply.
For complete eligibility rules and funding details, visit the website of Aide financière aux études.
Understand your status: full-time or part-time
Your funding eligibility depends on how many credits you're registered for by the DNE deadline, the last day to add or drop a course.
Note: If you drop a course and receive a tuition refund, those credits no longer count toward your status at the university.
Undergraduate studies
You are full-time if registered in 12 credits or more per term.
You are part-time if registered in fewer than 12 credits per term.
Important: Credits for courses that run across both fall and winter terms are split equally between the two. For example, a 6-credit fall/winter course counts as 3 credits each term.
Graduate studies
- You are full-time if registered in 9 or more credits in per term.
- You are part-time if registered in fewer than 9 credits per term.
Course-based programs
- You are full-time if registered in 9 or more credits per term.
- You are part-time if registered fewer than 9 credits per term.
Note: You may qualify as full-time even with fewer credits if your course load includes internships, project courses, or if you're starting your courses in the summer term.
Thesis-based programs
Your full-time or part-time status is set when you're admitted and stays the same unless you formally request a change, regardless of how many credits you actually register for each term.
To request a change to your status, contact your department.
Private MBA programs
Executive MBA and Investment Management MBA:
You are considered full-time due to the program's structured course schedule per term. You are eligible for loans only, for one term only, but you may be eligible to maintain interest-free status on your loan for the duration of your program.
Your full-time or part-time status is set when you're admitted and stays the same unless you formally request a change, regardless of how many credits you actually register for each term.
To request a change to your status, contact your department.
Student parents and accessibility exceptions
You may still be considered full-time for loan purposes if you're registered for at least 6 credits per term in either an undergraduate or graduate program and fall into a specific category.
Prepare your application
Apply 6-8 weeks before your term begins. This gives the government time to process your file and fund your studies before classes start.
Before you apply, please ensure that you have:
- Completed your course registration before the government's verification period, which is roughly one month before the start of term.
- Registered for the right number of credits for your intended status (full-time or part-time).
Also keep in mind:
- Only courses you're registered in and billed for by the DNE deadline are included in your credit load.
- Waitlisted courses do not count toward your credit load, nor do Complementary University Credits (also known as UNSS)
- Dropping a course after the refund deadline still removes it from your status calculation.
- Credits for fall/winter courses are divided equally between the two terms.
Note: Check your AFE portal to ensure accuracy. If there are any discrepancies or course load changes, contact the Financial Aid and Awards Office.
What you'll need
980000
Use this code in your application to identify Concordia as your school.
A permanent code is a unique 12-digit identifier that Quebec assigns to you.
You already have a permanent code if you attended high school or CEGEP in Quebec, or have received Quebec financial aid. It appears on all official Quebec school certificates and CEGEP transcripts.
If you do not already have a permanent code, you must submit a paper application for the loan or bursary. The Ministère will assign your permanent code when processing your file. You will receive your permanent code by letter before your application result is issued.
Already requested a code from Concordia? Please wait until you receive your permanent code before you submit your application.
Concordia confirms your registration and status directly with the Quebec government after you make a request.
Full-time students: Email fundingyoureducation@concordia.ca or call 514-848-2424, ext. 3507. with your Concordia student ID number. No further action needed.
Part-time students: You don't need to request a confirmation of enrolment. However, if your status in your AFE portal doesn't match your status at Concordia, we can help you fix that discrepancy if you complete your section of the Confirmation of Part-Time Studies form. Email it to fundingyoureducation@concordia.ca. The Financial Aid and Awards Office will fill out the rest and send it back for you to upload in the AFE portal.
The AFE uses a specific code to identify your program of study at Concordia.
Consult the program codes list to find your program code. Part-time loans do not require a program code.
Processing and next steps
Only complete applications are processed (i.e., that include both the application form and required documents). If your application is missing documents, processing will begin once all required documents are received.
For estimated processing timelines, visit the Aide financière aux études website.
If you have concerns about the status of your application, please email us at fundingyoureducation@concordia.ca.
Find your program code
The following program codes are used exclusively by the Quebec government's Aide financière aux études. You will only use this code in your loan or bursary documents to refer to your program of study.
Below, programs are listed alphabetically by name. Search for your program by name or filter results by level of study, faculty and degree type.
If you can't find your program code or are unsure if your program is eligible for funding, contact us at fundingyoureducation@concordia.ca.
Questions?
Contact the Financial Aid and Awards Office (FAAO) for support with Quebec loans and bursaries.